The Senate clash over the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas lasted less than three hours as Democrats moved quickly on Wednesday to dismiss the charges as unconstitutional.
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00:00I will ask unanimous consent to allow for debate time,
00:05to allow for Republicans to offer and have votes on trial resolutions,
00:10and allow for Republicans to offer and have votes on points of order.
00:16Never before in the history of our Republic
00:18has the Senate dismissed or tabled articles of impeachment when the
00:21impeached individual was alive and had not resigned.
00:25We find ourselves in the awkward position
00:30because we're in impeachment proceedings of being able,
00:34unable to discuss in public the merits of Senator Schumer's claim
00:41and at the same time my Democratic friends have refused to go into closed
00:47session so we can't discuss it.
00:49The majority leader's position is asking
00:52members of this Senate to vote on political expediency
00:56to avoid listening to arguments. The only rational way
00:59to resolve this question is actually to debate it, to consider the Constitution
01:03and consider the law.
01:05We gave your side a chance for debate in public where it should be
01:11and your side objected. We are moving forward.
01:14Our colleagues know that we are obligated to take these proceedings
01:19seriously. This is what our oath prescribes.
01:23It's what the history and precedent require
01:27and I would urge each of our colleagues to consider that this is what the
01:31framers actually envisioned.
01:35On this vote the yeas are 51, the nays are 48.
01:39One senator responded present. The point of order is well taken and the article
01:44false.
01:44Madam President.
01:46Majority leader is recognized.
01:47I raise a point of order that impeachment article 2
01:51does not allege conduct that rises to the level of a high crime or misdemeanor
01:56as required under article 2 section 4 of the United States Constitution
02:01and is therefore unconstitutional.
02:04On this vote the yeas are 51, the nays are 49.
02:09The point of order is well taken. Article 2 falls.
02:13Madam President.
02:14Majority leader is recognized.
02:16I move to adjourn the impeachment trial of
02:18Alejandro N. Mayorkas, sine die and I ask for the yeas and nays.
02:24Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. Clerk will call the
02:28roll. On this vote the yeas are 51, the nays
02:32are 49. The motion is to agree to the Senate
02:35sitting as a court of impeachment stands adjourned sine die.
02:40This means that the Senate can ignore in effect the House's
02:46impeachment. It doesn't make any difference whether
02:49our friends on the other side thought he should have been impeached or not. He
02:54was and by doing what we just did
02:59we have in effect ignored the directions of the House which were
03:06to have a trial. No evidence,
03:11no procedure. This is a day that's not a proud day in the history of the Senate.