Growing frustration among Mayorkas impeachment managers about not starting a trial
A lack of 'clear roles' or strategy is frustrating House impeachment managers: "We might fall on our face"
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}There is growing frustration among the 11 House impeachment managers about when they will present their articles to the Senate in the case of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
House managers serve as "prosecutors" and argue the impeachment case before the Senate.
One impeachment manager told Fox they had been given "no clear guidance" about the roles they might play or when the House may even transmit the articles to the Senate.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox was told the earliest the Senate could begin a trial is Wednesday. However, the decision lies at the feet of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Fox is told that it is extremely unlikely that an impeachment trial for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will begin this week.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Several factors are at play. The Senate must be ready to receive the articles. And Fox is told that the worst-kept secret in Washington is that no one wants to start a trial until there is some resolution to averting a partial government shutdown this week and a full government shutdown next week.
That said, the Senate must at least start the trial at some point – even if Democrats move to dismiss the articles quickly and short circuit the trial.
Some House impeachment managers have been grousing about having little information about when the trial may start or what their roles may be when they present their case to the Senate.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A senior House leadership source says that the impeachment managers were given what was termed a "comprehensive briefing" last week and "detailed" portfolios about the articles and the House case against Mayorkas. Moreover, the managers were chosen because of their familiarity with the case against Mayorkas.
Despite the carping, the House GOP leadership source says that "we are confident (the managers) will be prepared."
The House recently voted to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. (Michael A. McCoy)
Some House Republicans – and some impeachment managers – are itching to get started, but that could backfire without preparation.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox was told two weeks ago that House impeachment managers believed they might meet late last week to prep and organize – even doing "mock trial" sessions. Democrats who were impeachment managers conducted such dry runs in late 2019 and early 2020 ahead of the first impeachment trial of former President Trump. However, such sessions never materialized, although there were conversations among chiefs of staff for the impeachment managers.
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"We hoped to get clarity on the next steps two weeks ago, if not the end of last week," said one frustrated manager.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}There has been some chatter that the House might not even send over the impeachment articles until the issue of two looming government shutdowns subsides.
After the attempt to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas failed, House Speaker Mike Johnson led his caucus through a second vote, ultimately impeaching the first cabinet secretary in almost 150 years by a vote of 214 to 213 on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. The impeachment triggers a trial in the U.S. Senate which is expected to easily acquit Mayorkas of the charges of high crimes and misdemeanors. (Chip Somodevilla)
Managers expressed concern about how they should prepare or if the managers would be assigned "subject lanes" to argue before the Senate.
One manager feared that House leaders might want to send over the articles promptly, initiating a trial without any preparation. The manager worried how that would look if Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) decides to give impeachment managers some latitude and present their arguments.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We might fall on our face," said one manager.