House Democrats formally introduced their resolution to impeach President Donald Trump on Monday, [PDF, text] charging him with "incitement of insurrection" for his role in last week's riots at the US Capitol.
The single impeachment article, which was introduced when the House gaveled into a brief pro-forma session Monday, points to Trump's repeated false claims that he won the election and his speech to the crowd on January 6 before pro-Trump rioters breached the Capitol. It also cited Trump's call with the Georgia Republican secretary of state where the President urged him to "find" enough votes for Trump to win the state.
"In all this, President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government," the resolution says. "He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of Government. He thereby betrayed his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States."
The resolution, which was introduced by Democrats David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Ted Lieu of California, also cited the Constitution's 14th Amendment, noting that it "prohibits any person who has 'engaged in insurrection or rebellion against' the United States" from holding office.
I just murdered my neighbor's family dog. His kids are crying. The parents want to call the cops on me, but I don't know how that would unify the neighborhood.
Democrats on Monday sought to take up a resolution from Raskin urging Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment. Hoyer asked for unanimous consent to bring up the resolution, but West Virginia GOP Rep. Alex Mooney objected to the request. Pelosi has said the Democrats will move to bring the resolution for a floor vote on Tuesday. [...]
A Senate impeachment trial beginning on January 20 -- Biden's inauguration -- would grind the chamber to a halt, unable to confirm nominees or enact legislation until the trial was finished.
One option being considered is waiting until later to send the articles to the Senate: House Democratic Whip James Clyburn said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday the House might wait until after Biden's first 100 days in office before sending the impeachment articles to the Senate to begin the trial. But Hoyer's comments Monday seemed to suggest that was an unlikely move, since it would cut against Democrats' argument that removing Trump is an urgent priority.
I don't get the "urgency" argument -- my understanding is that there is no path to removing him from office before Jan 20 via impeachment. Only the 25th Amendment can do that. And Pence -- the guy who Trump's goons intended to lynch on Wednesday -- won't do that.
My impression is that they are going for a play wherein Trump is impeached while still in office, and then a conviction in the Senate happens after the 20th. This would not remove him from office but it would bar from future office.
If that is indeed the plan, I am skeptical that the D-party actually has the internal discipline to pull it off. Gang that couldn't shoot straight.
Tom, if you were a military prosecutor, what sentence would you ask for if you could prove intentional plans to kidnap and hold hostage the three people next in line for the presidency?
I wonder if it would prevent (or invalidate) a Trump pardon for everyone who happened to be in DC last week.
Yes, "unity and moving on". Because it's the Republicans (as explained by the Soviet Stepford Wife) who are the real victims.
McConnell says it's impossible for him to reconvene the Senate before the 20th but he is lying. After 9/11 they started adding an emergency reconvene provision to adjournment resolutions.