US House set to vote to impeach Trump on Wednesday
(Sourced from PTI)
The US House of Representatives is all set to vote on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Wednesday. The article of impeachment charges Trump with a count of 'incitement of insurrection' for his actions on January 6, when he delivered a speech inciting his supporters to lay siege to the Capitol. The resolution passed was approved by 223-205 votes.
The move came after the House passed a resolution calling on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to strip Trump of his duties. Pence, in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a top Democratic leader, declined to do so.
In the letter to Pelosi, Pence said, "It would not be in the best interest of the nation and it was time to unite our country as we prepare to inaugurate President-elect Joe Biden." Already scheduled to leave office next week, Trump is on the verge of becoming the only president in history to be impeached twice.
The lawmakers had reconvened at the Capitol for the first time on Tuesday since the bloody siege. They were also bracing for more violence ahead of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden's Inauguration on January 20. All of us have to do some soul searching, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., during a House rules debate, pleading for a change of heart among colleagues still backing Trump.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned of armed protests at all 50 US state capitals, including Washington DC, in the lead-up to next week's 59th Presidential Inauguration. Additionally, the US National Guard Bureau has also warned of possible riots next week.
Two Republicans, Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and John Katko of New York became the first Republicans to announce they would vote to impeach Trump. "To allow the President of the United States to incite this attack without consequence is a direct threat to the future of our democracy," Katko said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Trump warned the lawmakers and suggested it was the drive to oust him that was dividing the country. "To continue on this path, I think it's causing tremendous danger to our country, and it's causing tremendous anger. I want no violence," he said.
