U.S. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sends a kiss to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as he and Senator Mitch McConnell arrive for a joint session to certify the results of the 2020 election, inside the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill, Washington, USA, January 6, 2021.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
Lead Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer called for the removal of President Donald Trump on Thursday, the day after a crowd spurred on by the President invaded the Capitol while lawmakers recorded President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
“What happened yesterday at the United States Capitol was an insurrection against the United States, instigated by the president. This president should not occupy another day,” said the New York Democrat in a statement.
“The quickest and most effective way – this can be done today – to remove that president from office would be for the vice president to immediately invoke the 25º “he continued.” If the vice president and the cabinet refuse to stand, Congress must meet again to accuse the president.
Biden will become president on January 20, after Trump for months spread conspiracy theories that widespread electoral fraud cost him a second term. More lawmakers have warned that another two weeks of the Trump presidency could further erode American democracy or lead to more deaths after four people died during the attack on the Capitol on Wednesday.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Schumer’s statement.
– CNBC’s Dan Mangan contributed to this report
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