Republicans will not have unanimity in next week’s vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Rep. Ken Buck, Colorado Republican, said Thursday he is a “solid” no on removing Mr. Mayorkas but not because he supports the man who has overseen a border chaos that Republicans blamed on his open-border practices.
The “border is a disaster,” he said.
But “the people that I’m talking to on the outside, the constitutional experts, former members agree that this just isn’t an impeachable offense,” he said.
“It’s maladministration. He’s terrible. The border is a disaster, but that’s not impeachable,” said Mr. Buck, who had previously said he was undecided on impeaching Mr. Mayorkas.
Republicans will almost need unanimity because of their thin House majority and some health issues among members, so Mr. Buck’s “no” vote looms large.
If he stands firm, the GOP can afford to lose only one other vote.
A Newsmax analysis Thursday counted four other Republicans who have expressed doubts or skepticism about impeaching Mr. Mayorkas, though none has yet said “absolutely not.”
Even if Republicans do get the article of impeachment out of the House, it would take a two-thirds majority in the Senate to remove him from office. With Democrats holding a majority in that chamber, the chances of that happening are essentially zero.