Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas agrees to testify as House GOP pursues impeachment

WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas offered to testify in the House GOP’s impeachment inquiry against him, but the committee chairman leading the probe is accusing him of refusing the panel’s request.

The House Homeland Security Committee officially launched impeachment hearings this week after a yearlong investigation into a border crisis they say Mayorkas has failed to mitigate. Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., sent Mayorkas a letter on Jan. 5 asking him to appear for a hearing on Jan. 18.

Green is now accusing Mayorkas of refusing the committee’s request after his staff suggested that they work together to find another date.

In a letter to the committee sent Thursday morning that was obtained by NBC News, the DHS Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs wrote, “In keeping with the Secretary’s commitment to cooperate with Congressional Committees, he will make himself available to testify before the Committee. Consistent with the customary accommodations process, we look forward to working through the details with Committee staff and agreeing upon the date and structure of the hearing.”

“As you can appreciate, the Secretary’s schedule is quite committed with the work of the Department including hosting Mexican Cabinet Members next week to discuss border enforcement,” the letter said.

Moments after the letter was sent, Green responded in a statement, writing, “It is deeply troubling that Secretary Mayorkas has refused the Committee’s multiple requests to appear before a co-equal branch of government. For months, we have tried to work with his office to secure his testimony before the Committee so the American people can receive some much-needed transparency about the