Articles of impeachment sparked by Capitol siege drafted by House Democrats
WASHINGTON — Articles of impeachment accusing President Trump of “inciting an insurrection” have been drafted by House Democrats in the wake of the deadly Capitol siege and will be formally introduced on Monday, according to reports.
The document, which has over 150 sponsors, accuses Trump of violating his Constitutional duty by encouraging a crowd of his supporters to fight the vote to certify Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory and denounces him as a “threat to national security.”
“In all of this, President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States government. He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transfer of power, and imperiled a coordinate branch of government,” the document reads.
“He thereby betrayed his trust as president, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States. Wherefore, President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,” it continued.
“President Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, and profit under the United States.”
The document, prepared by Reps. David Cicilline (D-RI), Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), could prevent Trump from running again in 2024.
It is the second time that Congress has moved to impeach Trump. He was impeached by the House and acquitted at trial by the Senate last year after he was accused of improperly pressuring the Ukrainian government to investigate Joe Biden and son Hunter Biden.
No president has ever been impeached twice.
In a statement, a White House spokesman said impeachment would only cause further division, especially with Trump set to exit the White House on Jan. 20.
“As President Trump said yesterday, this is a time for healing and unity as one nation. A politically motivated impeachment against a president with 12 days remaining in his term will only serve to further divide our great country.”
Dozens of Democrats and a growing number of Republicans have called on Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump, claiming he is no longer fit for office.
Echoing threats she made on Thursday, Pelosi on Friday said that Congress would move forward with new articles of impeachment if Pence did not act — comparing Trump’s acts to those of President Nixon in the Watergate scandal.
“Yesterday, Leader Schumer and I placed a call with Vice President Pence, and we still hope to hear from him as soon as possible with a positive answer as to whether he and the Cabinet will honor their oath to the Constitution and the American people,” she wrote.
“Nearly fifty years ago, after years of enabling their rogue President, Republicans in Congress finally told President Nixon that it was time to go. Today, following the President’s dangerous and sedition acts, Republicans in Congress need to follow their example and call on Trump to depart his office — immediately,” she went on.
“If the President does not leave office imminently and willingly, the Congress will proceed with our action,” she warned.
It’s unclear if Pence and his cabinet will take such a dramatic and destabilizing act in the final two weeks of Trump’s presidency.
At least two cabinet members and multiple staff members have quit in protest over the president’s handling of the deadly riot which killed five people. White House senior counselor Hope Hicks is also reportedly heading for the exits.
A growing number of Democrats, including House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) have announced their support for impeaching Trump as early as next week, but any move is likely to follow the same fate as the impeachment of Trump last year over the Ukraine pressure scandal.