House Republican Tells MSNBC He’ll Vote Against Mayorkas Impeachment: ‘It’s Wrong’

Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) said he will not vote to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

After describing himself as a “lean no” on the matter earlier this week, Buck appeared on Thursday’s Chris Jansing Reports on MSNBC and said he opposes the measure.

House Republicans are seeking to impeach Mayorkas over his handling of the southern border. Only one cabinet secretary has been so sanctioned, in 1876.

“A new and potentially fatal blow to House Republican efforts to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas,” Chris Jansing noted shortly before welcoming Buck to the show. “Republicans can only lose two votes when the full House takes up articles of impeachment next week and we’re just learning they’ve lost one.”

She asked Buck about his decision.

“Well, this is not a high crime or misdemeanor,” he said, referring to the grounds for impeachment outlined in the Constitution. “It’s not an impeachable offense. This is a policy difference. Let me from the outset say there is a crisis on the border. The law needs to be enforced. But if we start going down this path of impeachment with a cabinet official, we are opening a door as Republicans that we don’t want to open. The next president who is a Republican will face the same scrutiny from Democrats. It’s wrong, and we should not set this precedent.”

Jansing noted that Buck had just told NBC News he is a “solid no” and asked if he could change his mind.

“Have leaders been trying to convince you otherwise?” she asked. “And is there anything that will change your mind? Or, when you say ‘solid no,’ you mean ‘solid no’?”

“Yeah, I’m not changing my mind,” Buck responded. “I believe I have done my due diligence and I am standing firm at this point on this. If there’s some new evidence, I’m happy to look at it, but I don’t believe there will be.”

Watch above via MSNBC.