US Democrats move to impeach Trump
CHARGE HIM WITH INCITING INSURRECTION AT CAPITOL
House Democrats yesterday introduced a resolution to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time, setting up a vote this week unless Vice- President Mike Pence uses his constitutional authority to remove the president.
A majority of members in the Democratic- controlled House have signed on to the resolution led by Representatives David Cicilline, Jamie Raskin and Ted Lieu charging Trump with inciting the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6. It seeks to both remove him from the presidency and prevent him from ever holding office again.
Resolution
Cicilline said yesterday it has enough support for passage, including some Republicans.
“I expect we will have Republican support,” he said. “We should pass it and the Senate should take it up immediately.”
The four- page resolution includes a single article accusing Trump of high crimes and misdemeanour for “Incitement of Insurrection,” and says he “wilfully made statements that, in context, encouraged — and foreseeably resulted in — lawless action at the Capitol” as Congress was certifying the Electoral College results that affirmed Joe Biden won the presidency. It also cites Trumps call to Georgia’s secretary of state urging him to “find” enough votes to overturn Biden’s win there.
“In all this, President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government,” the resolution says.
Republicans blocked House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer from fast- tracking a resolution urging Pence and Trump’s Cabinet to use the 25th Amendment to oust Trump. That sets up a roll- call vote on the measure today.
24- hour ultimatum
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said if Pence doesn’t respond to the ultimatum in 24 hours, the House will move toward a vote on an impeachment resolution, which Hoyer said could happen on Wednesday.
Pence has privately dismissed the possibility that he would convene the cabinet to remove Trump.