Democrats want to impeach Trump, again, but Biden is non-committal
Following the shameful violence at the United States Capitol, Democrats have been laying the groundwork to impeach outgoing President Donald Trump, again, but his successor Joe Biden refused to endorse the idea. The Democrat admitted he feels Trump is unfit for the position but he is now concentrating on taking office and the responsibility it demands, reports AP. Here are more details.
This week, hundreds of Trump supporters defiled the US Capitol, when a session to formally certify Biden's win was underway. They took over the Senate Chamber, shouted slogans declaring they don't agree with the outcome of polls, and clashed with law enforcement agencies. The riot was blamed on Trump as he refused to concede since November, peddling claims that Democrats stole the election.
Though Trump has less than two weeks left in office (Biden will be sworn-in on January 20), Democrats are working to push him out of the White House, giving a disgraceful end to his four years of tumultuous presidency. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats are pressurizing Vice President Mike Pence to use the 25th Amendment to unseat Trump and take charge.
On Friday, Pelosi also said that the House will "preserve every option" along with impeachment, after a meeting with the party colleagues. The final decision is, however, pending. If Trump doesn't resign immediately, Pelosi said she has "instructed the Rules Committee to be prepared to move forward with Congressman Jamie Raskin's 25th Amendment legislation and a motion for impeachment."
The Democrats are likely to furnish their impeachment resolution on Monday. One of the reasons cited in the resolution is "incitement of insurrection." Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated it would be difficult for the Senate to consider any House-approved articles of impeachment until after Trump leaves the White House. If he is convicted, Trump could be prohibited from holding public office ever.
As per a report in NYT, the House might impeach Trump soon and hold on to other articles until Democrats take the majority in the Senate. To recall, Trump was impeached by the House in late 2019 but was acquitted by the Republican-led Senate in 2020. Notably, a Republican Senator, Lisa Murkowski of Atlanta, has also joined the chorus to remove Trump.
"I want him to resign. I want him out. He has caused enough damage. If the Republican party has become nothing more than the party of Trump, I sincerely question whether this is the party for me," Murkowski said.
While Democrats are determined about Trump's impeachment, Biden has different thoughts. "I've thought for a long, long time that President Trump wasn't fit for the job. That's why I ran," he told reporters in Delaware. He added that if Trump's term had six months left "we should be doing whatever it took" to remove him. But for now, Biden is just thinking about assuming office.
