Ken Buck, Republican, opposed impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas
House dismisses GOP-led attempt to impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas amid border crisis.
The House of Representatives narrowly dismissed a Republican-led attempt to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, regarding his management of the U.S.-Mexico border crisis.
The tally stood at 216 to 214 in the vote, as four Republicans deviated from their party’s stance and aligned with the Democrats.
Who is Ken Buck?
Among the dissenting Republicans was Ken Buck, who serves as the representative for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. Buck, a lawyer and former district attorney, has held his congressional seat since 2015. He is affiliated with the conservative House Freedom Caucus and previously served as the chair of the Colorado Republican Party.
Buck has voiced strong opposition to Mayorkas and the immigration policies of the Biden administration, alleging that they have led to both humanitarian crises and national security concerns at the border. Additionally, he has endorsed former President Donald Trump’s initiatives to construct a border barrier and limit legal immigration.
Nevertheless, Buck contended that pursuing Mayorkas’s impeachment was an inappropriate approach to addressing the border issue. He asserted that impeachment should be reserved for severe crimes and misdemeanors rather than disagreements in policy or incompetence. In an opinion piece published on The Hill, he emphasized that “mismanagement or incompetence does not meet the threshold of what our founders deemed impeachable conduct.”
“Just to clarify, Secretary Mayorkas has utterly faltered in his role. He exhibits incompetence and is a source of embarrassment. It’s highly probable that he will go down in history as the most ineffective Secretary of Homeland Security in the annals of the United States,” he added.
Buck also voiced apprehension that the impeachment of Mayorkas would establish a hazardous precedent and erode the separation of powers. He suggested that Congress should utilize its oversight and legislative powers to ensure accountability within the executive branch and implement necessary reforms.
‘I’m here to do what I think is right’: Ken Buck
Buck’s decision to vote against impeachment wasn’t the initial instance of him coming into conflict with his party’s leadership or diverging from the expectations of his conservative constituency. He has previously adopted independent or bipartisan stances on matters like antitrust, criminal justice, and foreign policy.
As an illustration, Buck has emerged as a prominent Republican advocate for bolstering antitrust enforcement targeting major tech firms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. He has collaborated with Democrats by co-sponsoring multiple bills aimed at restraining the market dominance and sway of these platforms.
Buck has additionally thrown his support behind certain criminal justice reforms, including the reduction of mandatory minimum sentences and the expansion of drug treatment initiatives. Collaborating with Democrats, he has co-sponsored bills aimed at lifting the federal ban on marijuana and granting states the authority to oversee its regulation.
Regarding foreign policy, Buck has voiced criticism of certain decisions made by Trump, such as the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate agreement. Additionally, he objected to Trump’s veto of a defense bill containing sanctions against Turkey for its purchase of a Russian missile system.
Buck has emphasized his willingness to confront his party or the president when he believes they are mistaken. Additionally, he has stated that he is not motivated by aspirations for higher office or a desire for popularity. In an interview with The Denver Post, he remarked, “I’m not here to gain allies. My focus is on doing what I believe is correct.”
