WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday pushed forward in the direction of accusations or other steps to forcibly remove President Donald Trump from office, even though Trump blamed the Democratic enemies and not himself for the deadly attack on the Capitol last week.
He directs the legislators who are campaigning for the deposition, saying that “it’s really a terrible thing they are doing. ‘
“To continue on this path, I think it poses a tremendous danger to our country and it causes tremendous anger,” he said. He accepted no blame for the attack on the Capitol and said: “I do not want any violence.”
The defeated president, in his first remarks to reporters since last week’s violence, showed no remorse for firing on the crowd before the death with comments now part of the charge of inciting insurgency.
The president spoke as he left for Texas to explore the border wall with Mexico, without asking questions about the most serious and deadly domestic invasion at the Capitol in the country’s history.
The court will only try to convince the vice president and cabinet on Tuesday to act even faster to remove Trump from office and warn that he is a threat to democracy in the remaining days of his presidency.
House lawmakers are reuniting at the Capitol for the first time since the deadly riot for Trump to approve a resolution calling on Vice President Mike Pence to call for the 25th amendment to declare the president can not serve. Pence is not expected to do such a thing. The House will then move quickly to accuse Trump.
“We must now be very tough and very strong to defend the Constitution and democracy,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., An author of both pieces of legislation, said in an interview.
Trump faces a single charge – ‘incitement to insurrection’ – in the indictment that the House will begin debating Wednesday, a week before Democrat Joe Biden will be inaugurated on January 20.
The unprecedented events, which could make Trump the first U.S. president to be charged twice, are unfolding in a nation that supports more unrest. The FBI has issued ominous warnings about possible armed protests in Washington and many states by Trump loyalists before Biden’s inauguration. In a dark foreshadowing, the Washington Monument was closed to the public and the inauguration ceremony on the west steps of the Capitol will be restricted to the public.
This all led to wonderful last-minute deals for Trump’s presidency, as Democrats and a growing number of Republicans declare him unfit for office and could do more damage after inciting a mob that violently looted the US Capitol last Wednesday. is.
A Capitol police officer died from injuries sustained during the riot, and police shot a woman during the violence. Three others died in what according to authorities were medical emergencies.
Late Monday, the entire Spanish caucus of Congress, all 34 members, unanimously agreed to support accusations and demanded that Trump be removed immediately.
“It is clear that America remains in office every moment, in danger,” a statement from the caucus, led by Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Ca. It said Trump “should be held accountable” for his actions.
Democrats are not the only ones saying Trump should go.
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., Spoke to Huisgenoot GOP colleagues late Monday about the importance of the vote and urged them to consider it a ‘conscience vote’, according to a person who granted anonymity to the private discuss call. She spoke critically about Trump’s actions, but did not say publicly how she was going to vote.
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania joined Alaska GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski over the weekend to ask Trump to “leave as soon as possible.”
Pence and Trump met late Monday for the first time since the Capitol attack and had a ‘good conversation’ to keep working for the rest of their terms, an administration official said, which was on condition of anonymity spoke to discuss the private meeting. .
Pence gave no indication that he would call for the 25th amendment to remove Trump from office. No cabinet member has publicly demanded that Trump be removed from office by the 25th Amendment.
When security tightened, Biden said Monday he was “not afraid” to take the oath of office outside the Capitol.
As for the rioters, Biden said: ‘It is critical that there is a real serious focus on those who are engaging people in riots and the threat to lives, the violation of public property, which is causing great damage. ”
Biden said he had talks with senators ahead of a possible indictment, which some say would cloud the opening days of his government.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer was exploring ways to summon the Senate immediately for trial as soon as the House takes action, though Republican leader Mitch McConnell will have to agree. The president-elect suggested that the time of the Senate be divided, perhaps ‘half a day goes by with the accusation, half a day to have my people nominated and confirmed in the Senate, as well as to go to the package’ for more COVID lighting.
When Congress resumed, unrest overtook the government. Another lawmaker, Representative Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Announced Tuesday that she tested positive for COVID-19 after hiding during the siege.
Many lawmakers may prefer to vote by proxy rather than come to Washington, a process instituted last year to limit the health risks of travel.
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has advised GOP lawmakers to use the power of attorney option. But during a conversation with them, he relaxed his strict opposition to this week’s votes, according to a Republican who granted anonymity to discuss the private call.
Among Trump’s closest allies in Congress, McCarthy said in a letter to colleagues that “accusations at this time would have the opposite effect of bringing our country together.”
He said he would review the president’s possible censorship. The Republicans of the House, however, are divided and some may vote in court.
Democrats say they have votes for accusation. The indictment bill of Representatives David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Ted Lieu of California, Raskin of Maryland and Jerrold Nadler of New York draws from Trump’s own false statements about his defeat in the election against Biden.
Judges across the country, including some nominated by Trump, have repeatedly rejected cases that dispute the election results, and former Attorney General William Barr, an ally of Trump, said there was no sign of widespread fraud. .
The indictment also details Trump’s pressure on Georgia officials to “find” more votes, as well as his rally in the White House ahead of the Capitol siege, in which he urged thousands of supporters last Wednesday to fight like hell a procession. to the building.
The mob overpowered police, broke through security lines and windows and flew through the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to disperse as they completed Biden’s victory over Trump in Electoral College.
While some have questioned the president’s accusation so close to the end of his term, Democrats and others argue that he should be prevented from holding future public office.
There is precedent for prosecuting after an official leaves office. In 1876, during the reign of Ulysses Grant, War Secretary William Belknap was indicted by the House on the day he resigned, and the Senate convened a trial months later. He was acquitted.
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Barrow reports from Wilmington, Delaware. Associated Press authors Alan Fram, Jill Colvin, Ellen Knickmeyer, Tom Beaumont and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.