Hours after passing a resolution that urges Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office over the Capitol riot, five GOP members announced that they will back the Democrat-controlled House in the bid of impeaching the President at today’s debate.
Pence had refused, however, to use his constitutional authority to “further divide and inflame the passions of the moment.”
In today’s House reunion, lawmakers will discuss and vote for their other alternative, a second impeachment article against Trump.
“The President summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack,” Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney said. “Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the president. The president could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not.”
Rep. Adam Kinzinger said that for him, Trump used his Executive position to attack the Legislative: “So in assessing the articles of impeachment brought before the House, I must consider: if these actions are not worthy of impeachment, then what is an impeachable offense?”
New York Rep. John Katko said that the president created “a combustible environment of misinformation, disenfranchisement, and division.”
“When this manifested in violent acts on Jan. 6, he refused to promptly and forcefully call it off, putting countless lives in danger.”
The same point was shared by Washington Rep. Herrera Beutler: “I understand the argument that the best course is not to further inflame the country or alienate Republican voters. But I am a Republican voter. I believe in our Constitution.”
