COVID prevented Rep Chu from blocking Mayorkas impeachment

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) caught a case of Covid-19 preventing her from attending the House vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Tuesday evening.

Chu, the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress, represents parts of Southern California’s Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley.

The lingering virus played a key role in the vote. The result: 214-213 win for Republicans who voted to impeach Mayorkas.

Since the Reconstruction era, this is the first impeachment of a sitting presidential cabinet member, The Orange County Register reported.

“Unfortunately, I recently tested positive for COVID-19 and am isolating in accordance with CDC guidelines,” Chu said in a statement.

“Today, I was unable to be on the Floor to vote once again against impeaching Secretary Mayorkas,” Chu continued.

Last week House Republicans failed to impeach Mayorkas. If Chu had been healthy, the second House vote would have likely led to another tie as three Republicans sided with the Democrats.

House Republicans succeeded in the impeachment of Mayorkas, on Tuesday. with the return of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), who was absent from the first vote due to blood cancer treatment. However, other members, Reps. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Brain Mast (R-Fla.) were not in attendance because of delayed flights.

The articles of impeachment filed accuse Mayorkas of “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law,” alleging that failed to enforce immigration laws by not detaining enough migrants.

“As I stated last week when this was first put to the House: impeaching a Cabinet member over policy disagreements isn’t a solution to our broken immigration system,” Chu said.

The Department of Homeland Security and President Biden disputed the claims and argued that the impeachment was unconstitutional, The Hill reported.

On social media, users displayed frustration in Chu’s absence.

One post read “Why weren’t you? Unless you’re fighting for your life, you deserve to be voted out.”

Others, like Alan Clayton a politically engaged member of Chu’s district, backed her absence.

“Judy Chu has been one of the strongest leaders for political empowerment for the Asian community in the U.S.,” Clayton said. “It’s a shame if anybody’s criticizing her for not showing up because she was ill. If she could have made it, she would have made it.”