Republicans clash with Sec. Mayorkas as final impeachment hearing approaches WITHOUT him: DHS fires back at GOP ‘sham trial’ despite warning of ‘last chance’ before possible contempt of Congress quote

The second and final impeachment hearing in Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas’ handling of the southern border disaster will take place Thursday — without the secretary.

It comes amid a clash between the Republican Party and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over making the secretary available for questioning.

Top Republican Mark Green says his committee’s multiple requests for Mayorkas to testify publicly over the past six months have been denied by DHS, and he is reportedly “considering” a contempt of Congress charge.

Notably, the committee has previously subpoenaed Mayorkas for documents related to Afghan vetting and other information, but not for testimony. It is unclear whether a new subpoena would be issued before Republicans move forward with a contempt citation.

DHS spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg accused the Republican Party of engaging in a “sham” impeachment trial and said Mayorkas would “make himself available” to testify before the committee — but the Jan. 18 date didn’t work because he’s hosting a Mexican delegation.

A GOP aide dismissed the agency’s response, telling DailyMail.com that this is just the latest in a pattern of procrastination and failure to act in good faith by DHS.

And with the final hearing fast approaching, Republicans reversed course and demanded in a letter to Mayorkas on Wednesday that he at least provide written testimony, calling it his “last chance.”

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas listened to Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge Anthony Crane last week

The DHS spokesperson fired back, saying that since Mayorkas’ offer to testify publicly last week, the committee “has not been able to respond to DHS to find a mutually agreeable date.”

“Instead, they made this offer of written testimony to the media before reaching the ministry,” Ehrenberg continued.

“It is abundantly clear that they are not interested in hearing from Secretary Mayorkas because it does not fit with their bad faith, predetermined and unconstitutional rush to impeach him.”

She also noted that Mayorkas has testified on Capitol Hill more than any other Cabinet official: 27 times since he took the job.

After the final hearing, the committee’s next step would be to take up articles of impeachment by the end of the month.

If Republicans succeed in removing Mayorkas, he would be the first Cabinet official to be impeached in nearly 150 years. This would require near-total Republican unanimity, given their narrow three-seat majority.

Thursday’s hearing will feature Cochise County, Arizona, Sheriff Mark Dannels and Tammy Nobels, whose son was allegedly murdered by MS-13 gang members.

The latest impeachment hearing comes as the number of border crossings has reached a record high, surpassing 2.4 million in the 2023 budget year, according to government figures released in October. Last month alone, there were more than 300,000 border crossings at the southern border.

More than 2.3 million migrants have been released into the United States at the southern border under the Biden administration, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. DHS.

Meanwhile, White House and Senate negotiators are trying to salvage a massive immigration and foreign aid deal.

Republicans in the House of Representatives have expressed skepticism about the negotiations led by their Senate counterparts, insisting that they will only accept the hardliner border bill passed in the House of Representatives last year.

And ahead of a meeting at the White House Wednesday afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson threw cold water on any deal made by the Senate.

The first impeachment hearing took place last week and brought President Biden’s border policies to the forefront.

Top law enforcement witnesses from across the country blamed Mayorkas for the negative effects of fentanyl and the increase in crime resulting from illegal border crossings into their communities.

The first impeachment hearing came after nearly a year of investigations and reports from the House Homeland Security Committee.

Migrants cross the Rio Bravo River, known in the United States as Rio Grande

If Republicans succeed in ousting Mayorkas, he would be the first Cabinet official to be impeached in nearly 150 years

The House Homeland Security Committee, led by Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., investigated Mayorkas for several months and prepared a comprehensive report on his “dereliction of duty.”

In November, the Hose voted to refer the articles of impeachment drafted by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to his committee on a 209-201 vote.

Green said the referral highlighted the “importance of our participation in the impeachment process,” which continues today.