The chaos at the Capitol in Washington has forced political leaders to more closely scrutinize President Trump and the role his rhetoric has played in Wednesday’s violent riots — and if he is fit to remain in office, even if his term expires in just 13 days.
The American votes that declare Joe Biden as the nation’s next president have been certified at local, state and national levels. Members of Congress were meeting on Jan. 6 to count and approve those certifications, the final step in affirming Biden’s title as President-elect.
As representatives convened in Washington Wednesday, so, too, did pro-Trump rioters. A large group of extremists — some armed — stormed the nation’s Capitol buildings in a bid to challenge Biden’s victory, forcing lawmakers to flee in search of safety. As of Wednesday evening, the Associated Press reports that four people died during the chaos; one woman was shot inside the Capitol.
Though clear to many before, lawmakers, TV pundits and Americans alike agreed that Trump’s spewing of false election claims and encouragement of violence and defiance contributes to dangerous behaviors like those seen Jan. 6.
Read: Experts: Capitol riot product of years of hateful rhetoric
In response, lawmakers are calling on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the Constitution’s 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.
Michigan lawmakers have joined representatives around the country in asking Pence to invoke the amendment and assume Trump’s duties as president for the remainder of his term.
Learn more: What is the 25th Amendment and how does it work?
Michigan Rep. Andy Levin, Michigan’s 9th District
Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, Michigan’s 14th District
I cannot fulfill my duties as a Member of Congress if I do not stand up and call for the removal of Donald Trump from office to save our country.
The Vice President and Cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment, or Congress should impeach and remove the President.
— Brenda Lawrence (@RepLawrence) January 7, 2021
Rep. Haley Stevens, Michigan’s 11th District
Rep. Dan Kildee, Michigan’s 5th District
President Trump is wholly unfit to serve as commander-in-chief.
After today’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol incited by the president, he should either resign, be impeached again by Congress or removed by the Cabinet under the 25th Amendment.
— Rep. Dan Kildee (@RepDanKildee) January 7, 2021
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (sort of), Michigan’s 13th District
This is on Donald Trump, period. He called folks to D.C. and gave them marching orders. He needs to be impeached and removed immediately.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) January 6, 2021
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, from Massachusetts
Led by: Congressman David Cicilline, from Rhode Island
Speaker of the U.S. House Rep. Nancy Pelosi, from California, previously introduced legislation in October requesting Congress to intervene under the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. The legislation did not move forward, but the effort was seen as a tool to stoke questions about Trump’s fitness.
More coverage
- LIVE STREAM: Congress resumes Electoral College vote after pro-Trump riot at Capitol
- Pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol in bid to overturn election
- Michigan representatives react to riots as pro-Trump groups storm US Capitol, force lockdown
- Twitter, Facebook lock Trump’s accounts after he responds to Capitol chaos with more false election claims
- Michigan Gov. Whitmer, former Gov. Snyder call for unity amid riots in Washington
- Biden urges restoring decency after ‘assault’ on democracy
- ‘A moment of great dishonor and shame’: Former President Barack Obama condemns Capitol riots
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