Republicans delay DHS Secretary Mayorkas' impeachment trial until next week

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson will delay sending articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate until next week, his spokesman said, as Senate Republicans consider ways to inflict political pain on Democrats, including a threat to bring the upper chamber to a halt.

Johnson, R-La., had planned to transmit the articles to the Senate on Wednesday. But, "to ensure the Senate has adequate time to perform its constitutional duty, the House will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate next week," said Taylor Haulsee, a spokesman for Johnson.

Senate Republicans had personally urged Johnson to postpone sending the articles to give senators more time to debate the matter at the beginning of the week rather than late this week, when lawmakers are preparing to fly back to their home states.