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A Texas Republican has filed articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, wasting little time into the new Congress to act on a GOP priority leadership has said would come after thorough investigation.

Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) filed the paperwork for the resolution Jan. 3, the first day of the 118th Congress, though with delays in securing a House Speaker, the document was officially filed late Monday.

The resolution claims Mayorkas “engaged in a pattern of conduct that is incompatible with his duties,” complaining that he has failed to maintain operational control over the border.

The resolution comes amid a busy week in the Biden administration. President Biden visited the border over the weekend for the first time since taking office, pledging to deliver more resources to the officers that patrol the region.

And Mayorkas is in Mexico this week, meeting with officials there on a variety of issues, including the shared migration agreement rolled out by the Biden administration last week.

Mayorkas is also due to discuss coordination on trans-national crime with Mexican authorities. His office did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Fallon’s resolution won’t move without further action from GOP leadership, but it would otherwise jump start a process House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has treaded carefully on.

“House Republicans will investigate every order, every action and every failure will determine whether we can begin impeachment inquiry,” McCarthy said at a press conference in El Paso, Texas, in November.

Still, impeachment charges against Mayorkas were all but certain under Republican control of the House, as the DHS secretary has been a constant foil for the GOP during the Biden administration.

Republicans claim that under Biden, DHS has dismantled the border security apparatus built under former President Trump, leading to border chaos.

Most border and immigration analysts agree that increased migration due to security, economic and governance conditions in the Western Hemisphere is the primary reason for the high number of migrants encountered at the border.

And Mayorkas has taken flak both from the right and the left, as DHS has maintained many of the Trump administration’s border policies, which immigrant advocates say violate human rights.

Still, Republicans see the border as a winning issue for them, and Mayorkas is the Biden administration’s face on that issue.

Mayorkas, the first Latino to ever hold that post, has often butted heads with congressional Republicans at oversight hearings.

In April, Mayorkas clashed with Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee, including a notable exchange with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) over his agency’s record on deportations from the interior of the country.

That combative exchange could set the tone for impeachment proceedings.

The potential for a political circus is concerning for Republicans fresh off a nationally-televised Speaker’s race that highlighted divisions in the party. The Hill’s 12:30 Report — Biden’s recovered classified docs embolden GOP Elizabeth Vargas joining NewsNation 

Some Republicans have expressed reservations about going after Mayorkas without careful study. 

“You’ve got to build a case. You need the facts, evidence before you indict,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas).

“Has he been derelict in his responsibilities? I think so,” he said.

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Sources: DFA’d by Nats, Lowe set to join Red Sox

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Sources: DFA'd by Nats, Lowe set to join Red Sox

First baseman Nathaniel Lowe and the Boston Red Sox are finalizing a deal, sources told ESPN, paving the way for him to join one of the strongest lineups in baseball.

The deal, which will be for a prorated portion of the major league minimum after Lowe was designated for assignment by Washington earlier this month and went unclaimed on waivers, adds a veteran bat to a first-base mix that has been uncertain since Triston Casas‘ season-ending knee injury in May.

Lowe, 30, had been a consistent presence for the Texas Rangers for the past four seasons, including their World Series championship run in 2023. But after an offseason trade to the Nationals, Lowe posted career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Nevertheless, Boston was thrilled to bring him in, hopeful he can find a resurgence at Fenway Park, where he could fit nicely on the left side of a platoon. Lowe has hit 14 home runs in 337 plate appearances against right-handed pitching this season, posting an OPS+ 20% better than league average.

The Red Sox have split time at first between veterans Abraham Toro against right-handed starters and Romy Gonzalez against left-handers. In 109 plate appearances against lefties, Gonzalez is punishing them, hitting .354/.404/.667. After a strong start to the season, Toro’s performance has faltered over the past five weeks, leaving a potential opportunity for Lowe.

Despite the questions at first, Boston ranks fourth in runs scored in the major leagues with 626 in 125 games, just 14 behind the big league-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox have got potential fortification waiting at Triple-A as well, with rookie Kristian Campbell righting his swing, Vaughn Grissom still playing well enough for an opportunity and top prospect Jhostynxon Garcia slugging 17 home runs in 65 games.

With Lowe going unclaimed on waivers, the Nationals will owe him most of the remainder of his $10.3 million salary. Lowe will be arbitration-eligible next offseason, offering the possibility Boston could bring him back in 2026.

At 68-57 this season, the Red Sox are tied with the Seattle Mariners for the top wild-card spot, a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees. The next-closest team in the AL wild-card race is Cleveland, which is 3½ games behind New York.

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M’s Robles ejected for throwing bat at AAA pitcher

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M's Robles ejected for throwing bat at AAA pitcher

LAS VEGAS — Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles was ejected from a minor league game during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday after he was nearly hit by an inside pitch and tossed his bat at the pitcher.

Las Vegas starter Joey Estes’ first pitch to Robles in the third inning was inside and Robles whacked at it to avoid getting hit. After taking a few steps behind the plate and dropping his bat, Robles picked up the bat and threw it in Estes’ direction and was immediately ejected from the game by plate umpire Joe McCarthy.

Robles, who was hit by a pitch three times in his previous four games with Tacoma, took some steps toward the mound while yelling at the pitcher but was held back by McCarthy and Las Vegas teammates.

After going into the dugout, Robles threw a box of snacks toward the field before heading to the clubhouse.

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Thailand plans to launch crypto payment sandbox for tourists

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Thailand plans to launch crypto payment sandbox for tourists

Thailand plans to launch crypto payment sandbox for tourists

The Thai government is reportedly set to allow tourists to exchange crypto for Thai baht and make electronic payments through e-money service providers.

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