Padilla Statement on Mayorkas Impeachment Trial

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, issued the following statement after the Senate agreed that the articles of impeachment against U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas did not actually allege conduct that rises to the level of a high crime or misdemeanor as required under Article II, Section 4 of the United States Constitution:

"Impeachment is a serious matter reserved for adjudicating high crimes and misdemeanors - it's not for policy disagreements or political theatrics.

"Secretary Mayorkas is an exemplary public servant who has dedicated his career to honorably serving the United States. House Republicans failed to provide a shred of evidence of any impeachable offenses. The Senate voted accordingly to deem these impeachment articles unconstitutional.

"Rather than wasting time on these political stunts that vilify immigrants, I stand ready to work with my colleagues to actually address the root causes of migration and modernize our immigration system."

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