Top Democrat Hakeem Jeffries says Trump impeachment 'on the table'
The invasion of the Capitol by Trump supporters has reignited Democratic impeachment efforts, with the clock ticking on Trump’s last two weeks in office.
Three ‘squad’ members called for Trump’s impeachment on Wednesday – and a key Democratic leader didn’t rule out the idea.
‘Impeach,’ wrote Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
‘When I say all options are on the table, I mean all options should be on the table,’ Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY.), chair of the House Democratic Caucus told ABC News.
‘Donald J. Trump should immediately be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate as soon as Congress reconvenes,’ tweeted Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Minnesota. ‘This is dangerous & unacceptable,’ she added.
‘When I say all options are on the table, I mean all options should be on the table,’ Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY.), chair of the House Democratic Caucus told ABC News
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), a ‘squad’ member and favorite target of Trump’s, Tweeted that she was drawing up impeachment articles. She did so as U.S. Capitol Police, awaiting more reinforcement from U.S. National Guard, were seeking to regain control over the U.S. Capitol building.
Trump had egged on his supporters to march to the Capitol, after promoting and addressing a rally where he called the election ‘rigged,’ once again touted baseless election fraud allegations, called Republicans ‘weak,’ and demanded Mike Pence not count votes certified for Democrat Joe Biden.
‘I am drawing up Articles of Impeachment. Donald J. Trump should be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate,’ tweeted Omar.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) said she is drawing up impeachment articles
Vice President Mike Pence, who presided over the count on Wednesday, would take office if Trump were removed
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification
U.S. Capitol Police stand detain protesters outside of the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC
Jeffries served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s Senate trial in January
‘We can’t allow him to remain in office, it’s a matter of preserving our Republic and we need to fulfill our oath.
The idea of impeachment Trump for a second time – he was acquitted when he was tried early this year in the Senate following his infamous call to the President of Ukraine – was not being written off by Democratic leaders, some of whom were rushed to a secure location during the incursion.
Making it through an impeachment in a matter of days would be an extremely heavy lift.
The prior impeachment featured weeks of House hearings, followed by a House debate and a trial in the Senate, under rules governed by past precedents.
In the event that Trump were impeached, power would fall to Vice President Mike Pence – who announced Wednesday he would not bend to Trump’s pressure not to accept votes in states where he is claiming fraud.
‘Mike Pence is going to have to come through for us, and if he doesn’t that will be a sad day for our country because you’re sworn to uphold our Constitution,’ Trump said shortly before his backers took the Capitol.
In the event he were impeached, Trump would be barred from serving if he tried to run again in 2024.
‘Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
In an extraordinary statement, Jay Timmons, head of the National Association of Manufacturers, called what happened ‘mob rule’ and termed it ‘dangerous.’
‘Vic President Pence, who was evacuated from the Capitol, should seriously consider working with the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to preserve democracy.’
Timmons is a former top aide to a member of the Senate leadership.
He was referring to a complex procedure where the cabinet could vote that the president is incapable of fulfilling his duties – subject to supermajority votes in Congress.
That scenario has the vice president, and a majority of the ‘principle officers’ transmit to Congress a declaration that ‘the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.’
Trump was acquitted on two impeachment articles in December, but only Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) voted to convict on an article.
