Republican senators are reportedly planning to obstruct legislative proceedings in the Senate if a full trial into the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is not conducted. Sources have revealed that around a dozen GOP senators have been strategizing for over a week to impede regular Senate business unless certain points of order are addressed in the impeachment trial.
According to Senate Republican aides, any single senator can disrupt Senate operations by objecting to unanimous consent, a key element in Senate proceedings. Discussions on this potential obstruction have been ongoing for some time, with several senators expressing support for slowing down or halting legislative activities if the impeachment trial is not given due consideration.
While Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not yet commented on these developments, a top Senate Republican source acknowledged that such delays are possible in the Senate, especially if the articles of impeachment are delivered soon. House Speaker Mike Johnson's decision to delay delivering the articles until next week was influenced by GOP senators who preferred not to have the trial over the weekend when many senators would be returning to their states.
If the Democrats attempt to table the impeachment trial next week, Republican senators could potentially object to basic procedural measures, causing further disruptions. The appetite within the Republican conference for such protests remains uncertain, although sources indicate that the idea was discussed at a recent Republican Senate lunch and received support from multiple senators.
The proposed Senate standstill would involve objections to motions for adjournment, recess, and executive business, as well as hindering regular Senate activities like wrapups and unanimous consent requests. The aim of this strategy from conservative Republicans is to prompt negotiations with Schumer and the Democrats regarding the Mayorkas impeachment trial.
The White House Counsel's office and the Department of Homeland Security have not yet provided comments on these potential disruptions, with DHS reiterating its support for Mayorkas and emphasizing its commitment to ensuring national security.
