WASHINGTON – The House is expected to vote on a resolution on Tuesday that asks Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office.
The measure says that Pence must “summon and mobilize” the Trump Cabinet to activate the 25th Amendment to declare the president “unable to perform his duties and immediately exercise his powers as incumbent President.” The resolution is sponsored by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.
The House is expected to vote for him around 10:30 pm Eastern Time, according to a schedule released by House majority leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
Spurred on by the events of last Wednesday, when pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol, the six-page resolution says the crowd “threatened the security and life of the vice president, the mayor and the senate pro tempore president. , the first three individuals in the line of succession to the presidency, while the rowdies were recorded shouting ‘Hang Mike Pence’ and ‘Where’s Nancy’ when Trump tweeted to his supporters that ” Mike Pence did not have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our country. “
The move provides evidence that Trump has incited his supporters to commit violence on Capitol Hill and says the president “has repeatedly, consistently and spectacularly demonstrated his absolute inability to fulfill the most basic and fundamental powers and duties of his office.” He says Trump has not respected the results of the 2020 presidential election, is not respecting the peaceful transfer of power, is not defending the constitution and has not protected Americans.
Pence, however, is unlikely to get Trump out of office. As of Monday morning, several sources said that Pence was not inclined to sign the 25th Amendment invocation and instead is waiting for the time to run out to reach “full” January 20.
The vice president met with Trump in the Oval Office on Monday night, said a senior government official, who was the first contact since the attack on the Capitol. The official said that they had a good conversation, reflecting on the past four years, and that both said that those who broke the law and invaded the Capitol do not represent America.
Pence is leading a Covid-19-related video conference with governors on Tuesday, while Trump plans to travel to Alamo, Texas, to visit part of the border wall.
Assuming Pence will ignore the House’s request, the House is planning to vote on Wednesday on an impeachment article that would accuse Trump of “inciting insurrection” by inciting his supporters to march to the Capitol last week and fight. The Senate would then hold a trial to decide whether to condemn Trump and potentially eliminate his ability to run again.
Kristen Welker and Peter Alexander contributed.