AP Top News at 2:58 p.m. EDT

Senate convenes the Mayorkas impeachment trial as Democrats seek a quick dismissal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer quickly moved on Wednesday to end the impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, calling for separate votes to dismiss two articles of impeachment. If the Senate votes to dismiss the articles, the trial will be over before arguments begin. Schumer said the House Republicans' case fails to meet "the high standard of high crimes and misdemeanors" and could set a dangerous precedent. “For the sake of the Senate's integrity and to protect impeachment for those rare cases we truly need it, senators should dismiss today's charges,” said Schumer, D-N.Y.