The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hired 13 employees from the private law firm Debevoise and Plimpton to defend Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during his impeachment proceedings earlier this year, according to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

Internal emails obtained by the Heritage Foundation’s oversight project revealed that the DHS spent $1,625,815.26 of federal taxpayer money on legal representation for Mayorkas.

The firm describes itself as a “premier” global law firm.

The Biden Administration is taking the idea of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas being impeached seriously.

They have brought on a private law firm, Debevoise & Plimpton, to defend against the potential impeachment of Mayorkas. pic.twitter.com/uH7jmJd5SU

— Mark Nantz (@BullseyeBanjo) February 12, 2023

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Mike Howell, executive director of the oversight project at the Heritage Foundation, criticized the expenditure. “It’s obscene that Mayorkas spent taxpayer dollars to hire a fancy law firm to represent himself in his impeachment,” Howell said in a statement.

“These records show just how elaborate his defense actually was, all paid for by the people of the country he ordered invaded.”

The records identified one of the 13 staff members as Carter Burwell, a former top lawyer for the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee, who worked as a counselor.

The other 12 individuals included associates, a senior litigation case manager, a senior information security engineer, a partner, and a head of global information security.

Mayorkas faced impeachment in February when House Republicans, led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), brought charges against him.

Secretary Mayorkas worked with dark money NGOs to finance the illegal alien invasion of America.

The invasion through our southern border which Kamala Harris was appointed Border Czar to protect.

The Harris/Biden administration has committed treason.

We must secure the border! pic.twitter.com/6eg2hR9RQO

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) August 8, 2024

The impeachment resolution, crafted by the House Homeland Security Committee, accused Mayorkas of a “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” and a “breach of the public trust” in his handling of the southern border crisis.

The Republican-controlled House narrowly impeached Mayorkas on two counts.

However, the Democrat-led Senate declined to hold a trial, effectively halting the impeachment process.

While Mayorkas’ use of taxpayer funds to hire outside legal representation did not violate any laws, the decision sparked controversy, particularly as DHS has sought additional funding for Border Patrol agents amid the ongoing border crisis.

The hiring of Debevoise and Plimpton had been disclosed earlier this year, but the FOIA documents provided new details about the extent and cost of the legal team.

Conservatives have called for increased scrutiny of Mayorkas and his role in managing the border crisis.

Howell suggested that Mayorkas’ accountability could shift after the current administration ends. “Starting Jan. 20, he’s not going to be able to hide behind that shield any longer,” Howell said.

“Americans deserve true accountability for the purposeful damage he inflicted.”

As debates over border security and government accountability continue, the use of taxpayer dollars for Mayorkas’ legal defense has become a flashpoint for criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups alike.