Mitt Romney says Alejandro Mayorkas’s actions do not merit impeachment

Republican senator says homeland security secretary is following position of party and will not vote to remove him if it goes to trial

Alejandro Mayorkas is not guilty of a high crime or misdemeanour, the Republican senator Mitt Romney said, making clear he will not vote to remove the US homeland security secretary from office if his impeachment goes to a trial.

Secretary Mayorkas is following the position of his party and of the president who was elected," Romney, from Utah and his party's nominee for president in 2012, told reporters at the Capitol on Tuesday.