Washington, D.C. (February 13, 2024) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) issued the following statement after voting in support of the impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for knowingly and systematically refusing to comply with federal immigration laws and breach of public trust. This impeachment vote follows a nearly yearlong investigation conducted by the House Homeland Security Committee, which found that Secretary Mayorkas is “chiefly responsible for the chaos and devastation that has unfolded over the past three years” at America’s borders. The Impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas passed the House by a vote of 214 to 213.

 

“The primary role of the Secretary of Homeland Security is to ensure the security of our homeland. Effective control of our borders is critical to the safety and security of Americans. Secretary Mayorkas has failed to secure the border and has violated his oath of office. Secretary Mayorkas has willfully and deliberately subverted the laws of the United States of America and instructed his subordinates to do the same. The results of his actions has created unprecedented national security and humanitarian crises on our southern border.

 

“When ordered by a federal judge to reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy, Mr. Mayorkas refused. While testifying before Congress on numerous occasions, he promised Congressional lawmakers that the southern border was, “secure and fully operational,” even though he knew his testimony was misleading. His reckless behavior and open-border policies have endangered our communities, empowered drug cartels, and undercut efforts to combat illegal immigration.

 

“I do not take the power of impeachment lightly and have opposed impeachments when the actions did not rise to Constitutional criteria; however, Secretary Mayorkas’ behavior by intentionally subverting the law, and his conduct by ordering his subordinates to violate the law clearly rises to the Constitutional criteria of misdemeanors. It is the duty of Congress to provide effective oversight and accountability to the executive branch, and my vote to impeach Mr. Mayorkas is about ensuring that those who defy their oath of office and violate the public trust are held to the highest degree of accountability. When one branch of government deliberately subverts the lawful authority of the other two, it’s a major affront to our Constitution and warrants impeachment.”

This week, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) asked critical questions to new Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Director Andrea Gacki about the agency's failure to comply with reporting requirements under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). This bill, which was signed into law by former President Trump in January 2021, requires FinCEN to evaluate whether the thresholds for currency transaction reports (CTRs) and suspicious activity reports (SARs) need to be adjusted. He raised concerns that FinCEN has not followed the statutory deadline in reporting on CTR and SAR thresholds to Congress. 

 

Rep. Loudermilk also stressed the importance that FinCEN recognize the real costs of compliance which are passed on to consumers. 

 

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This week, Rep. Loudermilk (GA-11) joined a group of 22 of his colleagues in Congress in filing an amicus brief in American Securities Association and Citadel Securities v. SEC in the Eleventh Circuit of Appeals, challenging the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposed funding scheme for its Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT). The CAT would collect vast amounts of private information of every American investor, including any American with a retirement account, without any suggestion of wrongdoing by the investor. Because Congress never authorized or provided funding for the CAT, the SEC’s proposed scheme would force the investors themselves to pay to be surveilled, increasing their costs, and invading their privacy all at once.

 

The amicus brief may be found here.

 

The following members of Congress also signed the brief:

 

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) 

Sen. John Boozman (R-Arkansas)

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Indiana)

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota)

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana)

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee)

Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana)

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas)

Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska)

Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina)

Rep. Mark Alford (Missouri-04)

Rep. Don Bacon (Nebraska-02)

Rep. Mike Collins (Georgia-10)

Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (Wisconsin-05)

Rep. French Hill (Arkansas-02)

Rep. Alex X. Mooney (West Virginia-02)

Rep. Ralph Norman (South Carolina-05)

Rep. John Rose (Tennessee-06)

Rep. Keith Self (Texas-03)

Rep. Randy Weber (Texas-14)

Rep. Steve Womack (Arkansas-03)

Epoch Times: 

 

Two key U.S. Capitol Police security cameras that were pointed at the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) offices during the Jan. 6, 2021, pipe bomb incident were remotely redirected by police and didn’t record or broadcast critical portions of the police response, The Epoch Times has learned.

 

“As part of our overall investigation into the events surrounding January 6, critical questions remain unanswered on the DNC/RNC pipe bomb investigation,” Mr. Loudermilk told The Epoch Times in a statement. “As we continue our investigation, my Oversight Subcommittee will continue working with anyone interested in uncovering the truth." 

 

“The American people have a right to full transparency and complete accountability on this matter,” Mr. Loudermilk said.

 

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Cherokee Tribune & Ledger News: 

 

U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk was among Congressional Republicans applauding the passage by one vote of impeachment articles for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after a defeat of the same measure last week.

 

Loudermilk, who represents the 11th District, outlined the charges levelled against Mayorkas including failing to enforce U.S. immigration laws as well as a mandate to lock up migrants who cross the border illegally.

 

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