House GOP fails to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas

The surprise maneuver by House Democrats that sunk the Alejandro Mayorkas impeachment vote came at the last minute.

Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas, who has been absent recovering from surgery, was expected to miss the vote, which would have given House Republicans the margins they needed to impeach the Homeland Security secretary.

But, sources said, Green was wheeled onto the House floor at the last minute with no shoes, to vote against impeaching Mayorkas and deliver a stunning defeat to Republicans.

Leading up to the vote, Republicans believed that Green’s absence would give them the cushion they needed if a few GOP lawmakers defected and felt confident they would be able to squeak the vote through up until the last minute.

Up until Green’s vote changed the margins and tipped the vote over the edge against Republicans, the plan to bring him back was in flux, a source familiar with the plans told CNN.

Even Republicans acknowledged that Democrats’ decision to wait to reveal Green’s presence was well-played.

“I like a good game. They played a good game. I don’t like that we lost” GOP Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona told CNN.

Green’s return may have caught Republicans by surprise – but Democratic leaders said they were ready for it.

“It was not a surprise,” House Minority Whip Katherine Clark told CNN of Green’s return.

Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi said Green “had been out, but he saw the importance of coming and he did.”

Green was not the only lawmaker rushing back to the Capitol for the crucial vote.

Rep. Hal Rogers, a Kentucky Republican who has been recovering from a car accident, appeared on the House floor in a large neck brace, and GOP Rep. Nick Langworthy of New York returned just in time to vote after leaving the Capitol for an emergency. 

 “It was all hands on deck,” Thompson reflected.