WASHINGTON (US) – Congressional Democrats on Monday started off with their drive to oust President Donald Trump from office. This would further trigger a week of legislative action that could come to an end with a vote, making him the only president in US history to be impeached twice.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, many of her fellow Democrats and a handful of Republicans have over and over raised voices against Trump saying he should not be trusted to serve out his term, which ends on Jan. 20.
Pelosi wrote to fellow House Democrats on Sunday, “In protecting our Constitution and our Democracy, we will act with urgency, because this President represents an imminent threat to both.”
When the House convenes at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) on Monday, lawmakers will start off with a resolution urging Vice President Mike Pence to employ the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution, which has never been used before.
That said, Republicans have exhibited little interest in invoking the 25th Amendment. Pence’s office have not responded to questions on the issue. A source said last week he was opposed to the idea.
If Pence does not take an action, Pelosi said the House could vote for impeaching Trump on a single charge of insurrection. That vote might be out by the end of the week.
House Democrats had impeached Trump in December 2019 for putting pressure on Ukraine to conduct an investigation about Biden, but the Senate voted against convicting him.
The lawmakers who drafted the impeachment charge say they have so far the support of at least 200 of the chamber’s 222 Democrats. Biden has so far not stressed on an impeachment, saying it is a matter for Congress.
Even if the House impeaches Trump for a second time, the Senate would not impose the charges until January 19 at the earliest, Trump’s last full day in office.
It is to be noted that a conviction would prevent him from running for president again in 2024.
Washington continues to be on high alert ahead of Biden’s inauguration.
