House Republicans were licking their wounds after votes Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and provide aid to Israel were rejected.
But Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday there will be another vote to impeach Mayorkas, likely next week, and he also hit back at those who are questioning his leadership.
"Last night was a setback, but democracy is messy," Johnson told a press gaggle about the failed votes.
The impeachment vote saw four Republicans join with Democrats to defeat the resolution 216-214. (One of the GOP no votes was procedural to request another impeachment vote.) The Israeli aid legislation failed 250-180, 40 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to advance the measure.
"We live in a time of divided government," Johnson said. "We have a razor-thin margin here and every vote counts. … We have a duty and a responsibility to take care of this issue. We have to hold the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security accountable. Mayorkas needs to be held accountable. The Biden administration needs to be held accountable.
"We will pass those articles of impeachment. We'll do it on the next round."
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., posted Wednesday morning on X that ousting Johnson's predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, as speaker was an "unmitigated disaster" for Republicans.
"All work on separate spending bills has ceased," Massie wrote. "Spending reductions have been traded for spending increases. Warrantless spying has been temporarily extended. Our majority has shrunk."
The House majority has shrunk to 219-212 because three Republicans, including McCarthy, resigned and another, George Santos, was expelled.
Johnson agreed the ouster of McCarthy "was a mess" but he defended his leadership.
"We're cleaning it up and Massie is one of my dear friends and colleagues," Johnson said. "I don't think this is a reflection on the leader, it's a reflection on the body itself, a place where we've come in this country. Look, the nation is divided; we lament that. The difference is the chasm between the two parties right now is wider than it's ever been. … What we need to do in a time like this, a time of great challenge, is lead on principle, and that's what we're doing.
"The process is messy sometimes, but the job will be done and we're going to govern this country. It's the greatest country in the history of the world. The entire world is counting upon us. We have steady hands at the wheel. We'll get through it. Everybody take a deep breath. It's a long game. We're going to get the job done."
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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