Amidst the chaos orchestrated by Donald Trump supporters as the U.S. Congress sat to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win, the call for his removal from office is garnering momentum.
The president, who has adamantly been stoking conspiracy theories of election fraud in attempt to overturn the result of the presidential election which he lost, supported the organized protest by the pro-Trump group who has unleashed mayhem at the Capitol.
The National Guard was reportedly authorized by Vice President Mike Pence to quell the insurrection, as Trump was reluctant to do so. Police said four persons have been killed in the unprecedented event of today that has been described as “attempted coup” and frontal “attack on U.S. democracy.”
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The Capitol has never seen such an attack since the invasion of the British on August 24, 1814.
The chaos prompted some GOP members who had decided to object to the electoral votes of Biden to change their minds. Now many are calling for Trump’s impeachment or the invocation of the 25th Amendment.
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Vice President Pence on Wednesday evening, asking him to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove President Trump from office.
Rep. David Cicilline shared the letter signed by more than 10 others, including Rep. Cori Bush, Steve Cohen and Madeleine Dean, on Twitter, imploring Pence to remove Trump from office “after today’s events.”
“It is with sadness that we write to you following the incidents that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol today. As you presided over the U.S. Senate, angry supporters of President Trump attempted an insurrection, illegally storming and breaching the U.S. Capitol building to stop the certification of President-elect Biden’s victory,” says the letter.
They pointed out that Trump has shown he is not capable to lead the country, which means the 25th Amendment, which provides an avenue through which the vice president and Cabinet can remove a sitting president who is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office’ should be applied.
“Even in his video announcement this afternoon, President Trump revealed that he is not mentally sound and is still unable to process and accept the results of the 2020 election.
“For the sake of our democracy, we emphatically urge you to invoke the 25th Amendment and begin the process of removing President Trump from power. President has shown time and again that he is unwilling to protect our Democracy and carry out the duties of the office,” the lawmakers Wrote to Pence.
Pence, who defied Trump on Wednesday has been under intense pressure from him to overturn the result of the presidential during the Jan. 6 Electoral Votes certification.
Trump’s relentless effort to discredit the outcome of the Nov. 3 election, calling it “rigged” and alleging it was fraudulent has resulted in escalation of events that undermine American democracy, forcing many of his close supporters to desert him.
The event of Wednesday however seems to have gone beyond what the Congress’ partisan could condone, now the lawmakers are teaming up to save the day.
“Every Republican who believes in freedom and democracy needs to call for the president’s resignation or removal. Now,” wrote Rep. McGovern.
Reports from The White House say members of Trump’s Cabinet are seriously considering invoking the 25th Amendment, and GOP members are backing the plan. Calls to remove GOP Senators, Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz who have been heralding Trump’s conspiracy theories which fueled the event of Wednesday, have also been on high.
Republicans are now furious at Trump for fomenting an attack on American democracy and disgracing their party. He has been blamed for their loss of Georgia’s senatorial election which has given Democrats the control of the Congress.
There is growing concern among Republicans and Americans that if Trump is allowed to spend the remaining 13 days of his term in White House, he will cause further harm and create more hatred and division than what has been witnessed in more than three years.
“The president is unfit to remain in office for the next 14 days. Every second he retains the vast powers of the presidency is a threat to public order and national security. Vice President Pence … should immediately gather the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment,” said George Conway, Lawyer and Washington Post columnist.