House impeachment managers formally handed over two impeachment articles against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The delivery was delayed last week but was carried out on Tuesday by direction of House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The articles were initially passed in February but were held back until after the appropriations process concluded.
Schumer has urged all senators to be present this week as they will be sworn in as jurors for the impeachment trial on Wednesday.
It’s uncertain if the trial will proceed as some Senate Republicans want to dismiss it using a motion to table.
Meanwhile, some Democratic senators like Sens. Jacky Rosen and Sherrod Brown have expressed support for dismissing the trial.
Democratic senators facing tough re-election battles are key in determining the trial’s fate.
Sens. Bob Casey, Jon Tester, and Tammy Baldwin have not disclosed their plans yet.
With the Senate divided narrowly 51 to 49 between Democrats and Republicans, each vote is crucial.
Schumer hasn’t indicated whether Democrats will seek to end the trial procedurally, despite some caucus members favoring this approach. He emphasized the need to address the issue quickly but also cautioned against using impeachment to resolve policy disputes.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is advising Republican candidates in competitive states to pressure their Democratic opponents during the impeachment trial. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for the upcoming elections, particularly with the southern border issue gaining importance among voters.
