Congress is considering a second impeachment of Donald Trump for his role encouraging the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump was impeached in 2019 before losing the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden.
Trump Could Be Impeached For “Incitement of Insurrection”
There Is Bipartisan Support for A Second Impeachment. “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday threatened to impeach Mr. Trump unless he resigned “immediately” for inciting the mob attack on the Capitol this week, and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska became the first Republican senator to follow her lead. “I want him out,” Ms. Murkowski told The Anchorage Daily News. “He has caused enough damage.”” [NY Times]
Speaker Pelosi Calls For Impeachment If 25th Amendment Is Not Invoked. ““It is the hope of Members that the President will immediately resign. But if he does not, I have instructed the Rules Committee to be prepared to move forward with Congressman Jamie Raskin’s 25th Amendment legislation and a motion for impeachment,” she said. “Accordingly, the House will preserve every option — including the 25th Amendment, a motion to impeach or a privileged resolution for impeachment.”” [NBC]
Impeachment Would Accuse Trump Of “Incitement Of Insurrection.” “A draft article of impeachment obtained by NBC News titled “Incitement of Insurrection” charges that Trump “engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by willfully inciting violence against the Government of the United States.” It continues to state that Trump “threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coordinate branch of government,” betraying “his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.”” [CNBC]
Republican Response
Trump Is Considering Adding Rudy Giuliani And Alan Dershowitz to His Second Impeachment Defense Team. “Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, is expected to represent him, the sources said, and Trump is also considering hiring Dershowitz, a controversial attorney.
Dershowitz initially declined to comment to CNN, saying, “I don’t talk to CNN, I sue them.” But he told Politico on Friday that it would be his “honor and privilege” to defend the President.” [CNN]
GOP Senator Admits Trump Has Committed Impeachable Offenses. “Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who has played a leading role in opposing efforts to throw out the results of the 2020 election, on Saturday said President Trump has “committed impeachable offenses.” “I do think the president committed impeachable offenses,” Toomey said during an interview on Fox News’s “The Journal Editorial Report.”” [The Hill]
Republicans Beg Pelosi Not To Impeach Trump Again. “In the letter, sent by Congressman Ken Buck of Colorado, the Republicans said that “America is intensely divided at this moment, and people across the nation are frustrated and angered,” and called on Biden to “hasten the process” of healing the divisions. Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tom McClintock of California, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Chip Roy of Texas, Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota, and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin were also signatories of the document.” [Newsweek]
History
Trump Was Impeached In 2019. “The impeachment of Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, was initiated on December 18, 2019, when the House of Representatives approved articles of impeachment on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate acquitted Trump of these charges on February 5, 2020.” [Wikipedia]
One of the first political bloggers in the world, Oliver Willis has operated OliverWillis.com since 2000. Contributor at Media Matters for America and The American Independent. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. Full bio.