GOP AGs Urging Impeachment Of Secretary Mayorkas Squirm When Asked About Trump

WASHINGTON ― Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) made a panel of GOP state attorneys general squirm on Wednesday when he got them to all agree on what counts as impeachable offenses ― and then asked them about Donald Trump’s conduct.

House Republicans brought in three GOP state attorneys general to testify in a hearing in support of impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Republicans, who have been blaming President Joe Biden for a record surge in migration at the U.S.-Mexico border, are now refocusing on Mayorkas in their efforts to make the border crisis a major political issue heading into the 2024 elections.

The hearing itself was a stunt. The standard for impeachment, per the Constitution , is committing “high crimes and misdemeanors” like treason or bribery. Mayorkas, a cabinet secretary charged with carrying out immigration laws, as broken as they may be, has not been accused of any such crimes.

But Swalwell took the opportunity to ask the GOP’s witnesses ― Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Oklahoma Attorney General Genter Drummond and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey ― what they consider to be an impeachable offense.

“Bribery?” Swalwell asked the panel. All three said yes.

“Extortion?” Swalwell asked. All said yes.

“Obstruction of justice?” he continued. All three said yes, though Knudsen said he thought it would require a conviction first.

“Inciting violence against police officers?” asked Swawell. Knudsen said yes, if there was a conviction. Drummond said yes. Bailey said he “would need more facts.”

And then, the California Democrat threw them for a loop. He brought up Trump’s conduct in recent years, and asked the attorneys general for their legal opinions on whether their