Read on Twitter
If you're watching Washington today, settle in. It is a long day ahead. The House convenes at 9AM ET while House Rules Cmte finalizes the 25A resolution asking Pence & Trump's cabinet to remove him for unfitness. Vote on 25A expected late tonight, i.e. after 8PM.
@CourthouseNews
@CourthouseNews
I'll have a report for you later and will post updates on this thread as we go today. And as always, here's a link to the live-stream of the House: https://www.c-span.org/video/?507878-1/house-session
After convening this a.m. then briefly recessing to finish legislative business off floor, Leader Hoyer says by approx. 6:00 p.m., the House will come back to begin 1 hr of debate on the resolution and then vote. They estimate votes starting by 7:30 - I think that's optimistic.
You can read the text of the resolution - introduced by @RepRaskin - calling on @VP Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment here:
https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/raskin-impeachment.pdf
@CourthouseNews
https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/raskin-impeachment.pdf
@CourthouseNews
OK, the House is gaveled in for a brief session before breaking apart again and returning for the vote later on 25A.
"We confess our complicity in the animosity & betrayal felt throughout our nation. House chaplain Rear Adm. Margaret Kibben opens the session. "Preserve each of us, those who speak & those who hear, from being caught up in hatred & vitriol ever present in these deliberations."
After some brief legislative work, the House is now in recess as the resolution goes through the regular processes of the House Rules Cmte before it can be debated on and voted on later.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Less than a week after sustaining a barbaric attack by an insurrectionist mob, the House of Representatives will vote Tuesday night on a resolution to invoke the rarely used 25th Amendment on President Donald Trump.
Story will update. https://www.courthousenews.com/house-asks-vp-pence-to-oust-trump-over-capitol-attack/
Story will update. https://www.courthousenews.com/house-asks-vp-pence-to-oust-trump-over-capitol-attack/
Worth noting that Trump is going to be in Alamo, Texas today (Over 200 miles from site of the actual Alamo) to promote his immigration policy, border wall, his reputation etc., less than a week after white supremacists, insurrectionists and his supporters stormed the Capitol.
Live-stream of the soon-to-start House Rules Cmte where lawmakers will debate and finalize Rep. Raskin's 25A resolution: https://www.c-span.org/video/?507917-1/house-rules-debates-resolutions-remove-president-trump-office
While we wait, how about some history on the 25th Amendment?
Let's begin with Article II Section 1 Clause 6 of the U.S. Constitution.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C6-1/ALDE_00001125/
Let's begin with Article II Section 1 Clause 6 of the U.S. Constitution.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C6-1/ALDE_00001125/
While this seems clear enough at first blush to some, in reality, the line of succession from PTOUS to VPOTUS was, for a long time, a bit murky.
As pointed out by law professors Brian Kalt and David Pozen - the question of what, precisely, the "office" of the president meant, i.e. duties and responsibilities was at issue.
https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/amendment-xxv/interps/159
https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/amendment-xxv/interps/159
There were also Q's over how succession of the VP would work if the VP was filling in for the president. As noted by Kalt and Pozen, before 25A was adopted, one VP resigned, 7 died and 8 took over for presidents who died in office.
It wouldn't be until 1967 that the 25A was actually ratified. It was spurred by JFK's death. Incidentally, the section House lawmakers lean on today (Section 4) to remove Trump, was one former President Gerald Ford heartily supported. More inside.
UPDATED https://www.courthousenews.com/house-asks-vp-pence-to-oust-trump-over-capitol-attack/
UPDATED https://www.courthousenews.com/house-asks-vp-pence-to-oust-trump-over-capitol-attack/
House Rules Cmte is underway and they are debating Raskin's 25A resolution.
Off the bat: Rep. Tom Cole,R-OK says this is not the right course of action. Today's resolution asks the House to assume a power it does not have, he says.
"That power lies with the VP and cabinet"
Off the bat: Rep. Tom Cole,R-OK says this is not the right course of action. Today's resolution asks the House to assume a power it does not have, he says.
"That power lies with the VP and cabinet"
One thing all lawmakers can agree on today - love for @RepRaskin who recently lost his son.
. @RepRaskin, who introduced the 25A resolution calling on Pence to invoke it against Trump, offers heartfelt gratitude and smilingly, v. kindly, says he has some refutations to what his GOP colleagues might say today.
It is very clear the president did not discharge the proper duties of office, @RepRaskin says. And when we discuss impeachment, there might be degrees of dispute over responsibility of Trump but in this, 1/6 attack, the conduct fell well below standards of POTUS.
Raskin says - the first way to remove a threat stemming from the exec. branch is to vote them out. He notes how Biden crushed Trump in Electoral College and beat him out in the popular.
But Trump has refused to accept election results and his determination to discredit, nullify and overturn the election results has led us to the current national crisis we are in, Raskin argues.
The second way to remove is to impeach in the House and then try in the Senate.
The final mechanism for removing a president failing to meet the most basic duties of his office and indeed, harming the republic with his conduct, is the 25th Amendment, @RepRaskin says.
The final mechanism for removing a president failing to meet the most basic duties of his office and indeed, harming the republic with his conduct, is the 25th Amendment, @RepRaskin says.
Contrary to popular belief, the 25th Amendment has been activated and employed numerous times since its adoption in 1967. It was used when Nixon resigned and Ford became POTUS. Before then, it was unclear whether veep was becoming POTUS or just exercising his powers.
If you look at legislative history of 25a, it was deeply intended to promote collaboration among the different branches to guarantee the stability of gov't and continuity in office, Raskin says.
It is, indeed, up to the VP to decide to invoke in Section IV, and Raskin says House is not trying to strip him of powers as GOP might suggest. "But the time of emergency has arrived.. it has arrived at our doorstep. It has arrived in our chamber," Raskin says.
No amount of euphemism or displacement will ever let us forget what took place on that day, @RepRaskin says.
Trump did everything in his power to overturn the authentic popular results of the 2020 election, esp. in critical swing states like GA.
Trump did everything in his power to overturn the authentic popular results of the 2020 election, esp. in critical swing states like GA.
Raskin notes Trump's pressure campaign on GA officials, including his recorded request that the secy of state "find" votes for him.
Trump called GA Secy of State Raffensperger an "enemy of the people" after he refused to overturn them on Trump's request. Reminder, Trump called it "very risky" for Raff. to go against his request.
The president was hellbent on trying to challenge and overturn the results of the election. That is a profound dereliction of the president's duties under the Constitution, Raskin says.
So, what are those duties? What are the duties ref'd by 25A that the POTUS must live up to?
So, what are those duties? What are the duties ref'd by 25A that the POTUS must live up to?
Raskin: The president swears an oath to uphold, defend the Constitution, including peaceful transition of power, counting of Electoral College votes.
He has a duty to defend American ppl, the congress, the country against armed insurrection, mob rule, invasion of public offices
He has a duty to defend American ppl, the congress, the country against armed insurrection, mob rule, invasion of public offices
When Trump was called upon to send more help, he was extremely reluctant to do so. Instead, he continued to send supportive tweets for periods in which we were under duress, Raskin says.
He urged everybody to "fight like hell."
He urged everybody to "fight like hell."
Raskin notes the tweet Trump posted and deleted which, as attack was unfolding that said "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly treated for so long."
Raskin says lawmakers are asking Pence to stand up now, stand up to Trump.
He notes that the president brought 62 cases and lost 61 of them soundly, decisively and in many cases "humiliatingly."
He notes that the president brought 62 cases and lost 61 of them soundly, decisively and in many cases "humiliatingly."
The Cabinet can help transfer peacefully the powers of the president to Pence for the remainder of this term so we can have a peaceful transition of power, Raksin says.
On sites that helped build 1/6 rally, he notes, they're calling for mobs to come back to DC, continue assaults.
Raskin: "They are calling for continued war. And they are calling it a war against our gov't. They want to see this mob insurrection spread." https://www.courthousenews.com/fbi-warns-of-armed-election-protests-nationwide/
Raskin: "They are calling for continued war. And they are calling it a war against our gov't. They want to see this mob insurrection spread." https://www.courthousenews.com/fbi-warns-of-armed-election-protests-nationwide/
Raskin notes one disturbing post he read. It said "they would come back with so many people, that no army would be able to stop them."
This is not just a crisis or emergency, it is a continuing crisis and emergency, Raskin says.
This is not just a crisis or emergency, it is a continuing crisis and emergency, Raskin says.
Rep. Raskin asks the question many have for some time now but only underlined in light of events last week:
"Can we say we feel safe being in the hands of this president? With the horror and threats returning to this capital?"
"Can we say we feel safe being in the hands of this president? With the horror and threats returning to this capital?"
Rep. Jim McGovern, chair of House Rules, says to Rep. Jim Jordan, who is against 25a, "This isn't a both sides issue. Five people are dead...There were homegrown fascists that came here to desecrate this symbol of democracy and freedom and to do harm to people.
With all due respect, he says to Jim Jordan, all it took for you to call for unity was for our freedom and democracy to be attacked.
But for the last several months, you have given oxygen to the president's conspiracy theories.
But for the last several months, you have given oxygen to the president's conspiracy theories.
McGovern: We all want healing but in order to get the healing, we need truth and accountability.
People came to the Capitol building to try to launch a coup, to stop us from upholding our constitutional responsibilities.
People came to the Capitol building to try to launch a coup, to stop us from upholding our constitutional responsibilities.
McGovern: "I was on the House floor and one of the last people to walk out and when I went to the speaker's lobby, I saw this mob trying to break glass doors to get access to the floor and god knows what else. I saw in their eyes, hate and evil."
McGovern: "They came here to destroy things, to desecrate things and they did so because the president told them to do it."
McGovern asks Jordan to admit that Biden won and the election was not rigged or stolen.
McGovern asks Jordan to admit that Biden won and the election was not rigged or stolen.
Jordan will say that Biden won, but he will not back down off the false arguments about the election being unfair or rigged against Trump. (It was not, according to Trump's own DOJ)
McGovern asks Jordan to put it on his Twitter account, stop selling people the lie that the election was fraudulent.
Jordan says objectors' concerns were based on rule changes that he, personally, found unconstitutional.
"That's all we were pointing out," Jordan contends.
Jordan says objectors' concerns were based on rule changes that he, personally, found unconstitutional.
"That's all we were pointing out," Jordan contends.
McGovern says, that is not the question I asked, as Jordan concedes Biden is president but Jordan won't budge on his support of (baseless) fraud claims already blown to smithereens in court.
Raskin says we have to step up the conversation from rhetorical combat and political point-scoring.
The argument about fraud from Trump was made, the mob came in, and lawmakers still kept the objections going to prolong the process, Raskin says and rejects Jordan's arguments.
. @RepRaskin: "All of us should do some soul searching about five dead Americans, a Capitol police officer dead, dozens wounded and a country on edge and an inflamed right-wing that thinks we are on the verge of a civil war."
@CourthouseNews
@CourthouseNews
@RepRaskin: "Now come on guys, can we get it together to act as a rules committee? To ask the VP to simply acknowledge the reality that POTUS isn't fit for the job and we face a lot of danger over the next 8 days?"
@CourthouseNews
@CourthouseNews
Jordan is still objecting, defending his position to challenge the results of the election. He will not give an inch to McGovern's real Q here - will he stop perpetrating the falsehoods about the election in order to help bring national temp down?
Jordan tries the argument that Dems were opposed to Trump's election in '16. Raskin/McGovern shut him down, saying they never incited a mob but accepted results.
McGovern notes Rep. Jim Jordan,, R-OH, went to a Stop the Steal rally.
McGovern notes Rep. Jim Jordan,, R-OH, went to a Stop the Steal rally.
Another member of House Rules, Rep. Norma Torres, D-CA, calls on Pence to invoke 25A. "There's no debate that the mob that reached these walls was energized by misinformation, bald-faced lies and claims in direct odds with our Constitution."
Rep. Torres: She was caught in the attack, 1 of 12 trapped in House gallery. She heard the shots being fired. She saw the smoke from the tear gas. She watched 1 officer w/no protective equipment face a raging mob.
She chokes up and says they crawled across the length of a balcony to escape. She was in the last group to be evacuated. They ran down the hall and stairs and near a mob being held on the ground at gunpoint.
Rep. Torres sheltered 4-5 hours in a room packed shoulder to shoulder with people.
Adding more trauma to the riot they just survived, were several Republicans refusing to wear a mask.
Is gunfire in the lobby the new normal you want to accept? Torres asks
Adding more trauma to the riot they just survived, were several Republicans refusing to wear a mask.
Is gunfire in the lobby the new normal you want to accept? Torres asks
If gunfire in the Capitol isn't what you want, she addresses GOPers: Do you have the courage to stand up for basic American principles?
"Anyone who does not support Raskin's amendment continues to support the hateful agenda of Donald Trump."
@CourthouseNews
"Anyone who does not support Raskin's amendment continues to support the hateful agenda of Donald Trump."
@CourthouseNews
"They wanted to hang him," Torres underlines of the threat to Pence during the insurrection.
Indeed, a makeshift gallows had been erected outside of the Capitol and the chants by marauders were ones of "Hang Pence" and "Where's Nancy?"
Indeed, a makeshift gallows had been erected outside of the Capitol and the chants by marauders were ones of "Hang Pence" and "Where's Nancy?"
Rep. Norma Torres: Trump called for insurrection on social media, on a stage with television cameras capturing his every word.
I am saddened that my colleagues will dare to stand on this stage and do the same.
I am saddened that my colleagues will dare to stand on this stage and do the same.
Six Americans are dead, 2 were Cap police, 50 injured, 15 hospitalized.
Trump incited this attack and there should be no question as to what VP Pence needs to do right now - Torres says
Trump incited this attack and there should be no question as to what VP Pence needs to do right now - Torres says
Context: We are six days removed from what has been reasonably described the world over as a domestic terrorist attack on the seat of the US federal government.
The emotions are raw. Torres ran for life six days ago. Six days ago.
The emotions are raw. Torres ran for life six days ago. Six days ago.
