Impeachment again?
House considers second attempt at removing Trump
WASHINGTON — As House Democrats on Friday discussed whether to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time, President-elect Joe Biden said “the quickest way” to remove Trump from office is through the Jan. 20 inauguration at which Biden will be sworn in.
“What happens before or after that is a judgment for the Congress to make,” Biden said at a Delaware news conference, declining to take a position on impeachment.
The president-elect’s remarks came as House Democrats were nearing the end of a 31⁄2-hour caucus call to debate their options. Ahead of the call, more than half of the caucus had signaled their support for impeachment, but the call ended with no final decisions.
In a statement, Speaker Nancy Pelosi characterized the call as a “sad, moving and patriotic” conversation, and said the deliberations would continue.
“It is the hope of members that the president will immediately resign,” the California Democrat said. “But if he does not, I have instructed the Rules Committee to be prepared to move forward with Congressman Jamie Raskin’s 25th Amendment legislation and a motion for impeachment.”
Pelosi emphasized that “the House will preserve every option,” which includes potentially bringing
a privileged impeachment resolution up for a vote. Her rhetoric Friday showed less urgency than the remarks she made to reporters Thursday, saying that while Trump has limited time left in office, “any day can be a horror show for America.”
Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Ted Lieu of California and Jamie Raskin of Maryland have drafted a resolution that leadership could use that charges Trump with “incitement of insurrection.” Cicilline said on CNN Friday that they plan to introduce it during the House’s pro forma session on Monday.
Raskin’s 25th Amendment legislation Pelosi referenced does not — at least as he introduced it last fall — provide a quick remedy to remove Trump. The measure would establish a 17-member commission that would be able to assess the president’s fitness for office, but only if called upon through House and Senate approval of a concurrent resolution.
Although Trump has only 12 days left in office, Democrats, infuriated by the president’s supporters raiding the Capitol on Wednesday, say the president is “dangerous” and should not be allowed to finish his term or hold elected office again. Biden agreed with the sentiment that Trump shouldn’t serve another day, but he did not endorse any specific efforts that would remove the president before his term ends.
The House previously impeached Trump in December 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate voted to acquit Trump of both charges in February.
Democrats, and even some Republicans, have said Trump incited his supporters to violence with his rhetoric about overturning the election results and suggesting they could persuade Congress to prevent certification of the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden during Wednesday’s joint session.
“You’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong,” Trump told supporters outside the White House on Wednesday.
Hours later, a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol and broke into the building looking for lawmakers, destroying property, firing chemical irritants and wielding weapons. Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick died of injuries suffered while defending the Capitol.
Impeachment isn’t Democrats’ first choice. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer appealed to Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and work with the cabinet to remove Trump, but Pence has yet to provide them with a response. Business Insider, followed by other outlets, reported Thursday night that Pence opposed invoking the 25th Amendment.
Ahead of Friday’s caucus call, Pelosi sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to Democrats saying she and Schumer still hoped to get a positive response from Pence. She also called on Republicans to follow the example their party set with former President Richard Nixon and urge Trump to resign.
“If the President does not leave office imminently and willingly, the Congress will proceed with our action,” Pelosi said.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy put out a statement Friday in opposition to impeachment, saying the two parties should instead work together to facilitate the peaceful transfer of power to the Biden administration.