Top Senate Republicans are calling for a full impeachment trial for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, despite its doomed prospects.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday afternoon that a trial “would be the best way to go forward.” And Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) said that the Senate needs to hold a trial and that “people need to be held accountable.”

But many Democrats aren’t looking to hold a thorough trial, with even centrists like Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) saying they would support a quick dismissal. The Senate majority isn’t interested in furthering the GOP narrative about the Biden administration’s failures at the southern border.

Dismissing the trial only takes a simple majority and would effectively kill the House’s long-coming impeachment effort in mere minutes. If a trial proceeds, the outcome is a foregone conclusion: Democrats will vote to acquit Mayorkas.

The Senate is still waiting for the House impeachment managers to deliver the formal articles against Mayorkas, which narrowly passed the lower chamber. Those are not expected this week, as government funding negotiations dominate Congress’ schedule.

Ursula Perano contributed to this report. 

Related posts:

House majority may hinge on the Rio Grande Valley Manchin emphatic he ‘will not vote’ to kill the filibuster Democrats clash over aid for first-time homebuyers Sasse to Biden: ‘Stop listening to all of your advisers who say Zelenskyy is a dead man walking’ McConnell says he hasn’t decided how he’ll vote on Ketanji Brown Jackson Fiscal winter is coming: Lawmakers’ 5 chilly hills to climb Biden projects Dems will fall short of House majority Sinema outraised by Gallego again, further clouding her future House Republicans look to lock in their speaker pick behind closed doors Steve Scalise is the GOP’s next pick for speaker Bipartisan Senate group games out border policies to tie to Ukraine aid Senate GOP debates advancing foreign aid bill without border policies