Pelosi gives Pence a deadline on seeking to remove Trump from office
By John Wagner, Mike DeBonis and Colby Itkowitz
Pelosi said Monday that the House will move forward with impeaching Trump for a second time if Pence does not seek to remove him under the 25th Amendment by Wednesday.
“The President’s threat to America is urgent, and so too will be our action,” the speaker said in a statement.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced on a call with Democratic members that they should plan to return to Washington on Tuesday to consider a resolution regarding the 25th amendment sometime after 7:30 p.m. Then, on Wednesday, the House will consider articles of impeachment against Trump.
A House aide confirmed that impeachment has 218 co-sponsors, enough to ensure passage in the Democratic-led chamber.
Pelosi issued her statement shortly after House Republicans, using a procedural move, on Monday blocked consideration of a separate resolution calling on Pence to initiative removal proceedings under the 25th Amendment.
If the non-binding resolution passes as expected, Pence would have 24 hours to ask Trump’s Cabinet to join him in removing Trump, Pelosi said.
In her statement, Pelosi chastised Republicans for delaying consideration of the resolution regarding the 25th Amendment.
“The House Republicans rejected this legislation to protect America, enabling the President’s unhinged, unstable and deranged acts of sedition to continue,” she said. “Their complicity endangers America, erodes our Democracy, and it must end.”