US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has stepped up the pressure on Vice-President Mike Pence to act to remove Donald Trump from office over his role in last week’s storming of Congress.
Lawmakers are expected to bring up a resolution asking Mr Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to declare the president unfit for office.
In a letter to her Democratic colleagues on Sunday night, Speaker Pelosi (D-California) urged them to adopt Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin’s 25th Amendment resolution by unanimous consent. The move is poised to be blocked by Trump’s remaining Republican allies.“
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If we do not receive Unanimous Consent, this legislation is planned to be brought up on the Floor the following day. We are calling on the Vice President to respond within 24 hours. Next, we will proceed with bringing impeachment legislation to the Floor.“
Evoking the “horror of the ongoing assault” on US democracy and the Constitution in the wake of the Capitol siege, Pelosi urged the lawmakers to “act with urgency, because this President represents an imminent threat to both.”
The Republican president has been accused by Democrats and an increasing number of fellow Republicans over the riot, following a rally in which Mr Trump repeated unsubstantiated allegations of vote fraud. Five people died in the attack, including a Capitol police officer.
Mr Trump has made no public statements since he was banned from several social media platforms – including Twitter.
He is due to leave office on 20 January, when Democrat Joe Biden will be sworn is as president. Mr Trump has said he will not attend Mr Biden’s swearing-in ceremony.
