Vice President Pence rejected calls from the mayor on Tuesday Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiMan is seen carrying Pelosi’s pulpit during Capitol riot released on bail K Trump and Pence speak for the first time since Capitol disturbances FBI seeks help to identify Capitol protesters who carried the Confederate flag MORE (D-Calif.) And other Democrats to invoke the 25th amendment to remove President Trump
Republican Party leader Donald TrumpHouse tells members to stop spreading lies in the turmoil, Antifa DC attorney general says the Trump Organization wrongly paid the K account incurred during the opening 70K QAnon Twitter accounts suspended after the uproar in Capitol MORE from office.
“I do not believe that such a course of action is in the interest of our nation or consistent with the Constitution,” wrote Pence in a letter to Pelosi released Tuesday night.
“Last week, I did not give in to pressure to exercise beyond my constitutional authority to determine the outcome of the election, and now I will not give in to the efforts of the House of Representatives to play political games at such a serious moment in the life of our nation,” he added.
Pence wrote that using the 25th Amendment to remove Trump “would set a terrible precedent”. Instead, he argued that it should only be used in cases where the president is disabled or has a disability that prevents him from performing the job.
“I urge you and all members of Congress to avoid actions that further divide and inflame the passions of the moment,” wrote Pence. “Work with us to lower the temperature and unite our country as we prepare for the inauguration of the elected president Joe Biden
Joe BidenCapitol police confirm an investigation into the behavior of some officers during the riot. Republican Party lawmakers have told Trump that he takes some responsibility for the disputes between the Chief of Staff of the Capitol Army Chief of the Capitol Police account of the National Guard detachment MORE as the next president of the United States. I swear to you that I will continue to do my part to work in good faith with the next government to ensure an orderly power transition. So help me God. “
Pelosi’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The vice president wrote to Pelosi on the eve of a House vote on an impeachment article against Trump for his role in Wednesday’s Capitol riot, where several people died, including a Capitol police officer. Several Republicans have said they will vote for Trump’s impeachment just a week before his term ends.
Thousands of supporters of the president went to Washington, DC, last week to protest against the certification of election results by asserting Biden as the next president, after Trump spent weeks refusing to yield and insisting that the election had been “stolen”.
Trump, at a rally that morning, urged his supporters to walk to the Capitol and encourage lawmakers to reject the results. He also repeatedly pressured Pence to intervene and prevent Biden from being declared the winner, something the vice president does not have the power to do.
Later, pro-Trump mobs dominated law enforcement and invaded the Capitol complex. The vice president, legislators, officials and journalists were either evacuated or ordered to take shelter there.
Since then, videos and first-hand reports about the mafia have appeared, attacking the police, breaking down doors, smashing windows and carrying zippers. Dozens were arrested in connection with the chaos, including a man who entered Pelosi’s office.
Trump’s conduct sparked Democrats’ calls for Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, whereby the vice president and most Cabinet members can find the president unfit for the post and push to remove him. But the movement has gained little traction as several Cabinet members who would need to sign resigned after last week’s riot.
Trump has yet to acknowledge his role in the chaos or publicly comment on the death of the Capitol police officer. The president told reporters on Tuesday that he thought his comments to supporters on the day of the unrest were “entirely appropriate”.
In a speech at the end of the day in Texas to publicize his immigration agenda, Trump nodded at the unlikely scenario in which he would be removed from office through the 25th Amendment.
“The 25th Amendment is zero risk to me, but it will come back to haunt Joe Biden and the Biden government,” said Trump. “According to the expression, be careful what you want.”