House Democrats could introduce an indictment resolution as early as Monday.
House Democrats on Friday spoke of moving forward with efforts to charge President Donald Trump for a second time, circulating a draft of a single article citing the “incitement to insurgency” they could introduce as early as Monday and celebrate a plenary vote in the House in the middle of next week.
The article accuses Trump of having “deliberately incited violence against the U.S. government” with his comments at the rally in front of the White House that he said “encouraged and predictably led to imminent action. without law in the Capitol “.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a lengthy conference with her school on Friday on how to proceed with just 12 days to go before Trump leaves office.
“The president chose to be an insurrectionist,” Pelosi told members at the outset, according to a source in the call.
Earlier, he sent a letter saying Democrats should pursue the ouster unless Trump resigns “immediately.”
“Dismissal encourages conversation on the 25th Amendment. That gained strength,” he told Democrats in the call, according to the source. “How we move forward is an issue for this group.”
Pelosi also said he hoped Watergate would be a “model” for Republicans and that they would start pressuring Trump to resign.
Pelosi was due to speak with President-elect Joe Biden on Friday afternoon.
Asked about the dismissal effort on Friday, Biden did not accept the idea.
“What Congress decides to do, it’s up to them to decide,” said Biden, who added that he would focus on fighting the pandemic.
Although there has been no official statement from Pelosi’s office about the next steps for the dismissal, he told reporters as he left the Capitol on Friday afternoon: “Our conversation continues. We have several options so far.” .
In response, White House Deputy Secretary of Press Judd Deere said in a written statement, “As President Trump said yesterday, this is a time of healing and unity as one nation. A destitution of political motivation. against a president, who has done a great job, with 12 days in office will only serve to further divide our great country. “
The prospects for any trial in the Senate were far from certain, even if the House proceeded with a vote of dismissal.
One Republican, Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, said he would consider any dismissal resolution sent by the House. Some have suggested Democrats could go to trial once they take control of the Senate later this month.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-California, who has expressed support for moving to dismissal if Trump does not resign, set out the arguments and timing of the call at Pelosi’s request. – and warned his fellow Democrats of possible pitfalls and challenges.
Representative David Cicilline of Rhode Island, author of the impeachment resolution, told colleagues that the process could move forward quickly in the House. His effort already had the support of more than 130 Democrats as of Friday afternoon.
At least one Democrat has expressed concern about accusing Trump of the Capitol mafia attack.
Representative Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., A moderate leader, compared the dismissal processes to a “lynching,” expressing concern about the due process.
The draft impeachment resolution also notes Trump’s call on Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger, pressuring him to “find” enough votes to undo his loss against Biden in that state.