Lafayette Reporter

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today delivered a strong message to Senate Democrats regarding the impeachment proceedings against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Kennedy cautioned against bypassing a trial and emphasized the importance of following established Senate precedent.

In his address, Kennedy expressed concern that Senate Democrats may choose to discard the articles of impeachment without allowing for a fair trial process. He highlighted the significance of hearing both sides of the argument, stating, "They don’t want to let the House impeachment managers make their case. They don’t want to let Secretary Mayorkas make his case. They just want to ignore the House’s evidence summarily, sweep it under the rug and move on. And that is wrong."

Kennedy underscored the historical significance of the Senate's role in impeachment proceedings, stating, "The Senate has never in its history tabled an impeachment. Never." He also pointed out the unprecedented nature of dismissing charges without a trial, emphasizing the need to uphold established procedures.

The Senator emphasized the importance of considering the evidence presented by the House of Representatives and addressing the concerns of the American people regarding the border crisis. Kennedy stated, "Americans, however, are not nearly so sanguine about the border crisis that has brought death, drugs, violence, chaos, criminals and mayhem into their neighborhoods."

In his concluding remarks, Kennedy outlined his resolution aimed at ensuring a fair and efficient trial process. He warned of potential consequences if Senate Democrats choose to ignore established precedent, stating, "If the majority leader and my Democratic colleagues table or dismiss these charges and destroy Senate precedent, a precedent we’ve established to conduct full and fair impeachment trials, they will regret it. They will regret it."

Kennedy's impassioned plea serves as a reminder of the critical importance of upholding Senate precedent and conducting a thorough impeachment trial that respects the rule of law and democracy.