House votes on resolution urging Mike Pence to remove Donald Trump with 25th Amendment

Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday night he will not try to remove President Donald Trump from office, shortly before the House passed a measure calling on him and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment.

The Democratic-held chamber approved a resolution urging the executive branch to push Trump out of the White House because he helped to foment last week’s deadly attack on the Capitol. The House approved the measure in a 223-205 vote. One Republican, Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, supported it, and no Democrats voted against it.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had pressed Pence to remove the president. She said that if the vice president did not act, the chamber would vote Wednesday to make Trump the first president ever impeached twice. The House looked all but certain to charge the president with high crimes and misdemeanors after Pence rejected the 25th Amendment route.

“I do not believe that such a course of action is in the best interest of our Nation or consistent with our Constitution,” Pence wrote in a letter to Pelosi. He did not mention Trump’s name.

Pence argued that using the process now would “set a terrible precedent” because the amendment as written applies to cases of presidential incapacity or disability. He wrote that “our Administration’s energy is directed to ensuring an orderly transition” to President-elect Joe Biden’s administration.

While Pence did not specifically mention the impeachment push, he urged Congress “to avoid actions that would further divide and inflame the passions of the moment” as “we prepare to inaugurate President-elect Joe Biden as the next President of the United States.”

The 25th Amendment measure passed by the House does not compel Pence and Cabinet secretaries to take action. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., tried to approve the resolution by unanimous consent on Monday. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., blocked it.

The Democrats, who on Monday introduced an article of impeachment against Trump, said they have enough votes to charge the president with high crimes and misdemeanors. At least five Republicans will join Democrats in impeaching the president.

The insurrection at the Capitol, which left five people including a police officer dead, sparked a rush to hold Trump accountable with only a few days remaining in his term. Supporters of his removal say leaving the president in office even until Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday poses too much risk.

Some members of both parties have said they prefer censuring the president, in part because the Senate may not have enough time to remove Trump even if the House sends articles across the Capitol as soon as possible. But those who back impeachment argue a symbolic censure vote will not hold Trump to account for his role in the riot that threatened lawmakers’ lives and disrupted their count of Biden’s election victory — a formal step in the peaceful transfer of power.

Trump spoke publicly Tuesday for the first time since the Capitol riot. He did not take any responsibility for the mob violence and warned a second impeachment could be dangerous for the country.

Speaking later in the day at the border wall in Texas, Trump made a vague threat against Biden while insisting Pence and his Cabinet will not remove him from office.

“The 25th Amendment is of zero risk to me, but will come back to haunt Joe Biden and the Biden administration,” he said. “As the expression goes, be careful what you wish for.”

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[ejgdude]

Maybe it only matters when violence comes to their front door, to hell with OUR front door.

[IntuitiveGoat]

why couldn't they move this fast to get us some money when we really needed it.. but now with only 8 days left.. they got so much energy and time to vote on nonsense.. bs I straight call bs..

[mattfromtinder]

Are these people serious? We're awake. It's too late. Give yourselves up.

[shilohsaves]

Show us the video that proves what you are saying... YOU Can't, Because P. Trump Didn't...

[ericwinnick]

The 25th amendment states that the president can only be removed when a majority of the cabinet believes that they be mentally or physically incapable of performing their duties, or if two thirds of both chambers concur. I don’t see how telling people to be peaceful can be construed as meeting the necessary requirements. Even if the requirements are met there isn’t a majority in the cabinet or 2/3rd Majority in either chamber.

[mattninja]

How much money are they wasting on this

[diyautoschool]

What a JOKE -- 4 days till the end and this is what they concentrate on?? Pathetic..

[Sibree]

Aka just because they don't like them. They are setting a very dangerous precedent by doing this.

[travisjohnson]

THIS IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF A COUP D'ETAT

[Mr.David_V]

We must continue the good fight my fellow God loving American Patriots. We the people have the obligation to defend the country and our Constitution from all threats, including the lost lefties. We must pray and fight for this beautiful land we call home The United States of America 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[thomaswise]

Pence said no. Nothing to see here but the mocking birds.

[milaarucan]

Why..???.you guys on the other side if the sisle...you.are all power hungry

[mariemanella]

Four (4) YEARS of House
Impeach, Impeach, Impeach Impeach, and
Impeach and
ImPeach

Ever heard the saying what goes around Comes back too YA!~●

[chetkillips]

Thank you for your service! President Trump. You broke things that will take politicians years to fix, see you in 2024 to fix the crap in our government. We the People

[gearzone]

How does 25th amendment suits against Trump? I don't get it.

[milaarucan]

Pence should not listen to the media regarding impeachinh trump

[jackielewis]

Partially at fault hell he started the whole thing

[josephhidayat]

What are they all affraid of?? Democrats doesnt act like they are winning or unifying!

[ledzeppelin]

I cannot wait to leave the republican party and become an independent

[kelaarin]

"A President's fitness for office must be determined by science and facts. We must be very respectful of not making a judgment on the basis of a comment or behavior that we don't like, but based on a medical decision."
- Nancy Pelosi, Oct. 2020