House Democrats will vote to impeach President Trump
Donald Trump Kim says North Korean efforts will focus on bringing the US to its knees. Pelosi urges Democrats to prepare to return to DC this week amid impeachment calls Ken Klippenstein: ‘Ideological’ blind spot kept law enforcement from responding urgently to Capitol riots MORE for encouraging violence from the Capitol crowd on Wednesday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiPelosi urges Democrats to prepare to return to DC this week amid impeachment calls Pelosi says rioters prefer their ‘whiteness’ over democracy Trump stares at new impeachment threat MORE (D-Calif.) Announced Sunday night.
Pelosi said the Democrats’ preferred response to the attack on the Capitol is to remove Vice President Pence Trump by invoking the 25th Amendment – an unlikely scenario less than two weeks before Trump will leave.
But in a letter to fellow Democrats, the Speaker promised to cast a vote on impeachment if Pence takes no action, paving the way for a historic first: the impeachment of a president for the second time in his term.
“We will act urgently in protecting our constitution and our democracy, because this president is an immediate threat to both,” Pelosi wrote in the letter to regular colleagues. “As the days go by, the horror of this president’s ongoing assault on our democracy intensifies, as well as the immediate need for action.”
Pelosi, who was personally targeted by some members of the pro-Trump gang during Wednesday’s uprising, explained the Democrats’ strategy for the next few days.
On Monday they will try Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin
Jamin (Jamie) Ben Raskin Trump stares at new impeachment threat Democrats ready to impeach Trump again Pelosi pledges to impeach Trump again – if Pence doesn’t remove him first MORE25th Amendment resolution unanimously – an opportunity certainly blocked by Trump’s conservative allies.
“If we don’t get unanimous consent, this [Raskin] legislation is scheduled to be discussed on the Floor the next day. We are calling on the vice president to respond within 24 hours, ”Pelosi wrote.
“Then we will continue to introduce impeachment laws to the floor,” she added.
The speaker didn’t say when the impeachment vote might take place, but Democratic aides said they are aiming for mid-week.
Majority whip Representative James Clyburn (DS.C.) earlier Sunday suggested that Democrats could now impeach Trump but delay the sending of the articles to the Senate, pushing the incoming president Joe Biden
Joe BidenKim says North Korean efforts will focus on bringing the US to its knees. Amazon Suspends Parler From Web Hosting Service Pelosi Urges Democrats To Prepare To Return To DC This Week Amid Impeachment Calls MORE the time to put his cabinet and launch his 100-day agenda before an impeachment lawsuit hangs Congress up indefinitely.
“We will have the vote we have to hold in Parliament. And [Pelosi] will decide when is the best time to get that vote and have the managers nominate and hand that legislation over to the Senate, ”Clyburn told CNN’s Jake Tapper
Jacob (Jake) Paul Tapper John Kelly Says Trump Cabinet Should Discuss 25th Amendment GOP Senators In Aftermath Challenges To Electoral College Voting Tapper Spars With DeWine On GOP Efforts To Destroy Election Results MORE on Sunday.
“Let’s give President-elect Biden the 100 days he needs to get his agenda off the ground,” Clyburn added. “And maybe we’ll send the articles some time after that.”
Pelosi’s announcement follows an extraordinary week of violent unrest in the nation’s capital, unprecedented in the country’s history.
Trump, speaking at the White House on Wednesday, had encouraged thousands of his supporters to march to the Capitol to prevent Congress from declaring Biden the winner in November’s election. Many of them obeyed and stormed the Capitol in the midst of Congressional debate to verify state-backed electoral votes.
What happened next will be permanently entrenched in the most gruesome episodes in American history.
The rioters broke through the Capitol, looting offices, smashing windows, damaging historical artifacts, and tracking their own excrement through the country’s best-known emblem of democracy. Some threatened to hold lawmakers hostage – or worse.
The attack set off a bed-ridden scene across the Capitol as lawmakers, executives and reporters took cover and some of Trump’s closest GOP allies urged the president to tell his supporters to step down.
Amid the chaos, at least four protesters died – including a California woman who was shot by a Capitol Police officer while trying to access the House floor. Another Capitol Police officer was killed after being injured in a showdown with protesters. A third officer reportedly died over the weekend, while off duty, after defending the Capitol during the siege.
Pelosi has not publicly decided which articles on impeachment to include. But the Democrats rally behind a single article written by representatives Raskin, David Cicillin
David Nicola Cicilline Trump Looks At New Impeachment Threat Democrats Ready To Impeach Trump Again Pence Opposes Removal Of Trump Under 25th Amendment: Reports MORE (RI) and Ted Location
Ted W. Lieu Trump stares at new impeachment threat Capitol riots spark fear of Trump’s military powers in the last days Democrats ready to impeach Trump again MORE (California), which accuses Trump of serious crimes and felonies for “willful incitement to violence against the United States government.”
More than 200 Democrats have already signed up as co-sponsors; they need at least 217 to get it through parliament. It’s unclear whether House Republicans will support it.
“Therefore, President Trump has demonstrated through such behavior that he will continue to threaten national security, democracy and the constitution if he remains in office, and has acted in a way that is totally incompatible with self-government and the rule of law.” Sets the deposition article.
“President Trump thus justifies impeachment and trial, removal from office and disqualification from holding and enjoying an office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States,” it continues.
Updated at 7:53 PM