The resolution, tabled by Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, asks Vice President Mike Pence “to immediately use his powers under section 4 of the 25th Amendment to summon and mobilize key executive department officials in the Cabinet to declare what is obvious to a horrified nation: that the president is unable to successfully fulfill the duties of his office. ”
In addition, he asks Pence to assume “the powers and duties of the incumbent president”.
The approval of the resolution by the Democratic-led House will be a symbolic rebuke to the president, as many lawmakers are furious and reeling from the deadly attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
House Democrats plan to vote on Wednesday for Trump’s impeachment, House majority leader Steny Hoyer said in a summons on Monday, establishing an impeachment vote a week after protesters stormed Capitol police and violated some of the most secure areas of the Capitol.
The House will vote Tuesday night on the resolution urging Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump, and then plans to vote on Wednesday at 9 am ET on the impeachment resolution, Hoyer said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement on Monday that Democrats are “asking the vice president to respond within 24 hours after approval” of the 25th Amendment resolution.
Invoking the 25th Amendment would require Pence and a majority of the Cabinet to vote to remove Trump from office due to his inability to “fulfill his office’s powers and duties” – an unprecedented step. Pence has so far given no indication that he would take such an action.
Pelosi and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer called Pence the day after the Capitol attack to discuss the 25th Amendment – but Pence never took the call after they were on hold for 25 minutes.
“At least. Of course, I was – I was at home, so I was washing the dishwasher, putting my clothes in the laundry. We are still waiting for him to call back,” she told CBS on Sunday night.
In his statement on Monday, Pelosi said that as a “next step”, House Democrats “will move forward with the presentation of impeachment legislation”.
Early Monday, Democrats tried to accept the 25th Amendment resolution by unanimous consent, but it was blocked by Republicans.
Pelosi accused House Republicans of “allowing the president’s unbalanced, unstable and disorderly acts of sedition to continue”, adding: “Your complicity endangers America, erodes our democracy and it must end”.
CNN’s Daniella Diaz and Jeremy Herb contributed to this report.