[The bill has nearly 160 cosponsors, a sign of the broad support
among House Democrats to take action in the wake of the violence at
the Capitol. It says Trump should be removed and disqualified from
holding public office again.] [[link removed]]
HOUSE DEMOCRATS TO INTRODUCE ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT VS TRUMP
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Rebecca Kaplan, Kathryn Watson, Grace Segers
January 8, 2021
CBS News
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_ The bill has nearly 160 cosponsors, a sign of the broad support
among House Democrats to take action in the wake of the violence at
the Capitol. It says Trump should be removed and disqualified from
holding public office again. _
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Three House Democrats plan to introduce an article of impeachment
against President Trump on Monday for incitement of insurrection after
Wednesday's riots at the U.S. Capitol, multiple sources familiar with
the efforts tell CBS News.
The article of impeachment accuses the president of "willfully
inciting violence against the Government of the United States." While
Congress was counting the Electoral College votes, the article says
that Mr. Trump, addressing supporters nearby, "willfully made
statements that encouraged — and foreseeably resulted in —
imminent lawless action at the Capitol."
"Incited by President Trump, a mob unlawfully breached the Capitol,
injured law enforcement personnel, menaced Members of Congress and the
Vice President, interfered with the Joint Session's solemn
constitutional duty to certify the election results, and engaged in
violent, deadly, destructive, and seditious acts," the article says.
As a result, he "gravely endangered the security of the United States
and its institutions of government. He threatened the integrity of the
democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power,
and imperiled a coordinate branch of government. He thereby betrayed
his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the
United States."
For this, the article says, Mr. Trump should be impeached, removed and
disqualified from holding public office again.
This development comes two days after a mob of Trump supporters
overran the Capitol on Wednesday in riots that resulted in the deaths
of five people, including a Capitol policeman who was trying to help
reestablish control at the Capitol complex.
The bill has nearly 160 cosponsors, a sign of the broad support among
House Democrats to take action in the wake of the violence at the
Capitol. It was authored by Democratic Representatives Ted Lieu of
California, and David Cicilline of Rhode Island, who began drafting it
while sheltering in place Wednesday in the Capitol complex. Maryland
Representative Jamie Raskin also helped write the article.
For three hours Friday, the caucus spoke on a conference call to
discuss the prospect of removing the president from office, according
to a source who was on the call.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi argued that "the president chose to be an
insurrectionist," and raised both impeachment and the 25th Amendment
as means to remove the president.
"Impeachment encourages conversation on the 25th Amendment," she said.
"That's picked up a lot of steam."
Democrats overwhelmingly back the effort, with just one, Oregon
Congressman Kurt Schrader, arguing that such a move would be too
divisive for the country.
The White House called the impeachment article "politically motivated"
and repeated Mr. Trump's assertions in a video Thursday that he was
calling for "healing and unity."
Pelosi told House Democrats that her preference would be to see Mr.
Trump removed through the 25th Amendment, but impeachment would be on
the table if that did not happen. She intends to discuss the matter
with President-elect Joe Biden Friday afternoon.
Before his conversation with Pelosi, the president-elect did not
express a preference for action; at a Friday press conference, Mr.
Biden told reporters, "What the Congress decides to do is for them to
decide."
A House impeachment resolution would move to the floor and could get a
vote quickly, because there would be no hearings to present evidence.
The Judiciary Committee has not yet been constituted for the 117th
Congress, so an impeachment resolution would go directly to the floor
under what's known as a "privileged resolution." A simple majority of
members in the House is required for impeachment, so it seems likely
to pass.
However, this is where the proceedings could be an impediment to Mr.
Biden: the impeachment article would then move to the Senate for
consideration, monopolizing the calendar just ahead of Mr. Biden's
inauguration.
Once the Senate receives articles of impeachment, it is required to
consider them before acting on any other business — including
confirming any nominees for the incoming president's cabinet. There's
already a confirmation hearing scheduled for Mr. Biden's pick to lead
the Defense Department, retired General Lloyd Austin, on January 19,
the day before inauguration. That would potentially be delayed. The
Senate would also have to delay a vote on a waiver to allow him to
serve as defense secretary, given his recent departure from the
military.
Two-thirds of the Senate — 67 senators — would be required to
remove him from office. Mr. Trump is on track to be the first
president in U.S. history to undergo impeachment proceedings twice.
The House impeached Mr. Trump in December 2018 on charges of
obstruction of Congress and abuse of power, although he was acquitted
by the Senate in early February 2019. Only one Republican senator,
Mitt Romney, voted to remove Mr. Trump from office.
Here is the article that will be introduced:
_Rebecca Kaplan covers the presidential campaign for CBS News and
National Journal._
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