On Monday, House Democrats introduced an article of impeachment against President Trump following the Capitol riot as Republicans blocked a previous attempt to pass a resolution calling on Vice President Mike Pence to use the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office.
Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W. Va.) objected to the Democrats’ attempt to win unanimous consent for the resolution, which means that the House is expected to reconvene Tuesday to hold a floor vote on the measure.
Democrats are building up pressure on Pence to take action following Wednesday’s Capitol attack by pro-Trump supporters, who stormed the building and forced lawmakers and Pence into hiding for their safety. Five people died during the riot.
The 25th Amendment hands Vice President the power to remove a president who is unfit or incompetent. If Pence does not invoke the amendment, Democrats are expected to hold a vote to impeach Trump.
It would be the second impeachment attempt of Trump, first, one being when last year over the pressurized Ukrainian government officials to investigate then-presidential rival and now President-elect Joe Biden.
The House resolution, drafted by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), is a first step in the effort from the Democrats’. It calls on Pence and Trump’s Cabinet to use the amendment “to declare what is obvious to a horrified nation: That the president is unable to successfully discharge the duties and powers of his office.”
The vote would pressurize Republicans to make a politically difficult decision on whether to back the 25th Amendment removal or to support the president days after the violence in the Capitol.
Pelosi provided Pence with an ultimatum: He would have 24 hours to act, after which “we will proceed with bringing impeachment legislation to the floor.”
“Incitement of insurrection” is the only one charge includes in the impeachment.