The Democrat-controlled Senate voted on Wednesday to quash a pair of articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas‚ ending a months-long effort by Republicans to hold the Cabinet official accountable for his handling of the border crisis before a full trial could be held. House impeachment managers tasked with prosecuting the case did not even get a chance to speak when the proceedings wrapped up in one afternoon. Senators were sworn in as jurors‚ fought over how to conduct the trial for a couple of hours‚ and ultimately voted 51-48 to nix one article of impeachment and 51-49 to crush the second. The impeachment charges accused Mayorkas “willfully and systemically” refusing to comply with federal immigration laws and alleged he “breached the public trust” with false statements and obstructing lawful oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Back in January‚ Mayorkas claimed he was facing “false accusations” that “do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career and to which I remain devoted.” One week after a failed attempt to advance the articles‚ the GOP-led House approved the impeachment resolution by a 214-213 vote in mid-February‚ making Mayorkas the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached since 1876. Three Republican lawmakers broke ranks and joined Democrats in opposing it. The GOP-led House transferred the articles to the Senate on Tuesday. Republicans were hoping for a full trial. A two-thirds vote would have been required for a conviction‚ which would lead to removal from office. “If the Senate fails to hold a trial‚ it is an endorsement of [President Joe] Biden’s border catastrophe‚” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) warned in a post to X before the proceedings began on Wednesday. House Democrats argued “policy disagreements are not a legitimate basis for impeachment.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP During the trial‚ presided over by Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-WA)‚ Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) unveiled a plan allowing for limited debate followed by motions to dismiss‚ but that strategy was quickly abandoned when Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) objected. Schumer then moved to effectively dismiss each of the articles on the view that they were unconstitutional because they failed to rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. He used a point of order‚ which the Senate glossary says is a “claim made by a senator or representative from the floor that a rule of the Chamber is being violated‚” that led to a vote to kill each article of impeachment. Republicans sought to prolong the proceedings after Schumer made each point of order‚ offering an assortment of motions that included moving to a closed session and adjourning the court of impeachment for weeks or months‚ but each one got voted down. “Our colleagues know that we are obligated to take these proceedings seriously‚” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said before introducing one of the motions. He added‚ “This process must not be abused. It must not be short-circuited. History will not judge this moment well.” After both points of order prevailed in rejecting the articles of impeachment‚ Schumer teed up a vote to dismiss the trial. It succeeded by a 51-49 vote. The Senate currently has 49 Republicans‚ 48 Democrats‚ and three independents who caucus with the Democrats. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was the sole Republican to vote “present” on the point of order that squelched the first article of impeachment‚ but she voted with her fellow Republicans to preserve the second one.

A California bill that would make purchasing child sex a felony up from a misdemeanor moved forward on Tuesday‚ but not before Democrats made significant changes. The bipartisan bill would raise solicitation of a minor from a misdemeanor to a felony punishable by up to four years in prison‚ and a fine of up to $25‚000. The bill would also require a person convicted of soliciting a minor to register as a sex offender for 10 years. However‚ the new version of the bill would only allow prosecutors to level felony charges if the minor was under 16‚ meaning those who attempted to buy sex with a 16-year-old or 17-year-old could still only be charged with a misdemeanor. On Tuesday‚ Democrats on the Senate Public Safety Committee passed the bill after making this and several other changes. The bill’s author‚ Republican State Senator Shannon Grove‚ reacted with dismay to the new amendments‚ her voice shaking as she responded. “To force these amendments on me in front of survivors‚ to water this down to avoid 16 and 17-year-olds‚” Grove said. In a statement after the committee hearing‚ Grove criticized the “hostile amendments” to her bill. Under the new version‚ buyers would still be “ineligible for prison” even if the child they solicited was 15 or younger‚ she said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “I’m incredibly disappointed that not only did my colleagues reject my proposal to make the buying of children for sex a prison felony‚ but that I was blindsided when they amended my bill without my consent‚” Grove said. “Unfortunately‚ the members of the public safety committee continue their soft on crime approach at the expense of California’s most vulnerable‚ our children‚” she added. Last week‚ Grove explained that she spoke to sex trafficking survivors last year who told her‚ “You’ve got to go after the buyers” in order to really crack down on the child sex trade. “I want to make the solicitation‚ the person who’s going out there going‚ ‘Hey little 13-year-old‚ 14-year-old‚ 15-year-old‚ I want to get that person. I want that person to face felony charges. That’s what the bill does‚” Grove said during a phone interview with The Daily Wire. The Democrat who moved to amend the bill was State Senator Nancy Skinner‚ who represents the Berkeley area. Two other Democrats‚ Scott Wiener and committee chairwoman Aisha Wahab voted to move forward with the amendments against Grove’s will. Wiener‚ who represents the San Francisco area‚ previously sponsored a law in 2020 that says adults who have oral or anal sex with a child ten years younger than them may not have to register as sex offenders‚ leaving that decision to a judge. The law supposedly addressed discrimination against LGBT people. In 2022‚ Wiener sponsored another law that made California a sanctuary state for child transgender surgery‚ prohibiting doctors and officials from cooperating with out-of-state attempts to stop a child from getting puberty blockers‚ cross-sex hormones‚ or gender surgery.

After seven seasons with American Idol‚ Katy Perry is retiring as a judge‚ and she knows exactly who should be her replacement‚ Jason DeFord. Katy shared he opinion with E&;#33; News earlier this week saying that Jason‚ better known as Jelly Roll‚ left a lasting impression on her when he visited the show during Seasons 21 and 22‚ and she knew then that he would fit “I gotta say Jelly Roll was crazy when he came on the show‚” she said. “I was convinced at anything he said. He could run for president; he could be my pastor. I might go back to church for him. He could sell me anything.”  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jelly Roll (@jellyroll615) “To have any of these guys plus Jelly on the show would be amazing‚” she added. “I love you‚ Jelly&;#33;” Jelly Roll had his big break in 2020 when he released the poignant single Save Me. He has since become one of the industry’s biggest stars with his unique rap-country blends. The singer has also become known for his openness about his past and his brutal honesty on pop culture and major issues‚ which is a quality Katy has come to appreciate. “I want a truth teller‚” she continued. “I want someone that is not afraid to tell the truth in a graceful way.” Katy Perry Is Not Retiring From Music Katy Perry announced her upcoming exit from American Idol back in February. She admitted that the decision was tough because she and her fellow judges‚ Luke Perry and Lionel Richie have grown close over the years. But with a 3-year-old and a fiance at home and a massive singing career‚ she has too much on her plate. View this post on Instagram A post shared by American Idol (@americanidol) “I’m just trying to make space for other things‚” she told ET. “It’s not like me ending this show means I’m going to go retire on an island‚ even though that would be fabulous. I’m gonna go to work.” This story’s featured image is by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images. The post Katy Perry Reveals Who She Wants To Replace Her On “American Idol” And The Moving Reasons Why appeared first on InspireMore.

'I would have played it a lot better'

'These criminals thought they were more sophisticated than the police. They were wrong'

The Senate quickly killed the impeachment trial

Maddow made the claim during a recent episode of her show‚ 'The Rachel Maddow Show‚' on MSNBC

'Hellbent on infiltrating and influencing'

What a guy

'Right-size the business'