We reported earlier on how Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas did not have a good day today on Capitol Hill thanks to the grillings he received from a number of frustrated Republican Senators during a hearing on the border crisis, a crisis which is actually even worse than a lot of people realize.

For example, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) blistered Mayorkas during an exchange where Cruz pressed him on the number of sexual assaults and deaths that have happened at the southern border and how many COVID-positive illegal immigrants were released into America. The secretary had no good answers, and as a result, Cruz throttled him over his and the Biden administration’s gross incompetence on effectively managing the worsening situation, which was brought on largely by Joe Biden’s lax border policies.

In addition to Cruz, another Republican Senator who did not mince words with Mayorkas was Josh Hawley (Mo.) who, in addition to bringing the fire to Mayorkas on the issue of the vetting of Afghan refugees, had a rather revealing back and forth when Hawley began questioning him on the role Vice President Kamala Harris was given by Biden as it relates to the border issue.

Hawley asked him a number of times what her exact role was, how many times they’d connected/met to discuss the border, and if she had been part of the decision-making process in terms of policy decisions Mayorkas in his role as DHS Sec. had either been considering or had implemented in response to the border surge.

Mayorkas never could give him any specific answers, speaking in vague terminology about the working relationship between himself and Harris, who has come under fire for her leadership failures in the aftermath of Joe Biden putting her in charge of getting to the “root causes” of the border surge back in March. Here’s an excerpt from their exchange:

“So what is she doing, exactly?” the Missourian asked. “Y​o​u said she’s not the borders ​czar.
T​hat’s not ​her role. We’re wrong about that. She’s not doing anything like that. She’s doing something very different, is what your testimony is, but you’re not actually consulting with her ​on any policy. So what is it that she’s doing, exactly?​”​

“​Senator​,​ as I have repeatedly testified, she is focused on addressing the root causes of irregular migration ​i​n the context of the migration channels,” Mayorkas responded.

“How’s that been going?” snarked Hawley.

“That is a — We are advancing considerably, and in fact, I am contributing to that effort​,” said Mayorkas, who cited trips he had made to meet with officials in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and other countries.

“And those efforts are working? That’s been successful?” Hawley asked. ​

“This is a process that takes time and delivers an enduring solution,” Mayorkas insisted.

Watch:

Just incredible that Mayorkas couldn’t be any more specific, but maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised considering not even Joe Biden himself could recall why he’d picked Harris as his running mate during a speech he gave in August honoring women’s accomplishments.

Hawley’s aggressive questioning on Harris’ responsibilities as Biden’s point person the border crisis comes at a time when the embattled Vice President is being hit with another wave of bad press, with even CNN getting in on the action by reporting how Biden staffers were allegedly growing increasingly frustrated with Harris. In addition to that are reports of an alleged rift between Biden and Harris, which is said to be growing even as the lame excuses for it all are brought forth.

Back in October, Harris was also blasted for being seen at a New Jersey bakery partaking in some sweet treats alongside Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) while Mayorkas and other senior administration officials were holding high-level talks in Mexico on a new accord that would help combat what most would suggest were part of the “root causes” of the border issue Harris was supposed to be addressing.

It wasn’t the first time Harris was seen enjoying bakery treats in the midst of the crisis. Back in April, Harris was spotted at a Chicago bakery just a week or so after Biden had announced her border role. When asked why Harris was at the bakery and not visiting the border, White House press secretary Jen Psaki incredibly said that Harris was “allowed” a snack like every other American was.

Related reading (via my RS colleague Jennifer Oliver O’Connell):
Kamala Harris Is the Poster Child of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; It’s Not a Good Look