House Democrats unveiled their article of impeachment against President Donald Trump over his role in fueling the deadly Capitol riot last week, NBC News reports.
The article of impeachment charges Trump with “incitement of insurrection,” arguing that Trump engaged in high crimes and misdemeanors by “inciting violence against the government.”
The Democrats say Trump “repeatedly issued false statements” leading up to the riot and in a speech preceding the siege “willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged -- and foreseeably resulted in -- lawless action at the Capitol.”
He also took efforts to “subvert and obstruct the certification” of the election results, including a phone call urging Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to overturn his loss in the state.
Trump “has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,” the article of impeachment says, adding that his actions warrant removal from office and “disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.”
Pelosi gives Pence deadline:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave Vice President Mike Pence a 24-hour deadline to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office before Democrats move ahead with impeachment.
"We are calling on the Vice President to respond within 24 hours," Pelosi said in a letter to House Democrats.
Pelosi said that Democrats will try to pass the measure by unanimous consent but will hold a formal floor vote on Tuesday if anyone objects.
More than 200 Democratic co-sponsors back the article of impeachment.
Dems plan other actions:
Freshman Rep. Cori Bush said she also plans to introduce a motion to “expel members to voted to overturn the election and incited a white supremacist coup that has left people dead. They have violated the 14th Amendment.”
Rep. Elanor Holmes Norton said she also plans to introduce a resolution censuring Trump.
The Senate would not take up impeachment until at least January 19, though Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said it will go nowhere in the Senate, which needs 67 votes to remove Trump from office.
