In an official statement, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) called for the removal from office of President Donald Trump. “What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president,” Schumer said. “This president should not hold office one day longer.”
Schumer is now one of several lawmakers who believe that under the 25th Amendment of the U.S. constitution that Trump should be removed from office. The 25th Amendment says that a president “is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office” should be removed and replaced with the vice president.
While Trump’s presidential term is due to end in just 13 days, the president’s address to the rioters yesterday has led many Senators and members of the House to advocate publicly for Trump’s immediate removal.
The duty of removing the president, however, lies with the vice president. Vice President Mike Pence has been increasingly separating from Trump as seen by his unwillingness to object to the certification of the Electoral College on Wednesday. Trump publicly and privately asked Pence to object to the certification of the Electoral College citing false claims of widespread voter fraud.
Schumer’s statement joins a letter signed by 17 members of the House Judiciary Committee sent to Pence today asking him to invoke the 25th Amendment.
