A growing number of lawmakers are calling for Congress and Trump’s cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove the president from office following the U.S. Capitol insurrection on Wednesday.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House is prepared to move forward with impeachment if the 25th Amendment is not invoked and Trump removed: “If the vice president and the cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment. [Trump is] a very dangerous person who should not continue in office. This is urgent, an emergency of the highest magnitude.”
Senator Chuck Schumer called for Trump’s removal in a statement Thursday morning: “What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by President Trump. This president must not hold office one day longer. The quickest and most effective way—it can be done today—to remove this president from office would be for the Vice President to immediately invoke the 25th amendment. If the Vice President and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress must reconvene to impeach President Trump.”
GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) also threw his support behind the idea.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA):
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has called for Trump’s impeachment and removal.
Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe also invoked the 25th.
And Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has filed articles of impeachment:
The Hill reports: “A source confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday night that administration officials have started discussing the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office, an extraordinary step that would require a majority of Cabinet officials plus Vice President Pence to declare to Congress that Trump is unable to fulfill his duties as president.”
CNN adds: “Some Cabinet members are holding preliminary discussions about invoking the 25th Amendment, a well-placed GOP source told CNN Wednesday night. The discussions are ongoing but it’s unclear if there will be enough Cabinet members to result in Trump’s removal. The conversations have reached Capitol Hill where some senators have been made aware of the discussions, the source said.”
