Lawmakers introduce articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and others introduced legislation today to impeach President Donald J. Trump for a second time.
The measure charges President Trump with one article of "inciting an insurrection" for his actions that led to a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, in which a mob of Pro-Trump rioters stormed the building seeking to physically prevent Congress from certifying the results of the election for his opponent.
The legislation – currently cosponsored by more than 210 members of Congress – is expected to be brought up for a vote in the House as early as Wednesday. If it's approved, Trump would become the first U.S. president ever to be impeached twice. It would also begin the process of a trial in the U.S. Senate, giving lawmakers there an opportunity to remove him from office immediately and bar him from ever holding another elected office again.
"President Trump attempted to overthrow our government," DeGette said. "He is a threat to this nation and should be removed from office immediately. If the vice president and the cabinet refuse to act, we will impeach him Wednesday."
In addition to formally introducing the legislation to impeach Trump for a second time, DeGette and others introduced a separate measure Monday that would give Vice President Pence and the cabinet 24 hours to remove Trump from power immediately – through invocation of the 25th Amendment – to stave off a second impeachment vote in the House.
Shortly after it was introduced, the lawmakers moved to have that resolution giving Pence 24 hours to act immediately approved by the House Monday morning through a process known as Unanimous Consent – which allows the chamber to approve legislation without a vote as long as no member objects – but that effort was blocked by at least one Republican member of the House.
Lawmakers now plan to hold a vote Tuesday to approve that resolution by a simple majority, giving Pence and the cabinet 24 hours from then to act.
If the Vice President and cabinet fail to remove Trump from office by Wednesday, the House will likely vote to impeach him that afternoon.
A copy of the legislation introduced today is available here.