If the violent chaos wrought by supporters of President Donald Trump on the United States Capitol is brought under control, the House should immediately charge Trump with incitement to riot, and the Senate should act just as quickly to remove the defeated President from the Remove office.
Trump must be held accountable not only for what happened, but also for what could happen in the last two weeks of his dangerous presidency. This is no longer an option for Congress. This is a constitutional duty that several Members of the House recognized on Wednesday afternoon.
The newly elected representative Mondaire Jones got it right on when he defined“Because Donald Trump instigated violence against the legislature of the United States government and must be charged again.” Representative Ilhan Omar also welcomed this with an announcement: “I am creating articles of impeachment. Donald J. Trump should be indicted by the House of Representatives and removed from office by the United States Senate. We cannot allow him to stay in office, it is about preserving our republic and we have to keep our oath. “
Jones and Omar defend the rule of law. Your colleagues have a responsibility to join them. To think differently is to deny the reality of what Trump unleashed on the United States. With his lies about an election he lost and calling on supporters to come to Washington to question the electoral college results that Congress was supposed to certify on Wednesday, the defeated president created the crisis that led to a Capitol invasion that resulted in physical violence, looting, the destruction of public property that disrupted the nation’s government. When the night fell the Associated Press confirmed that at least one woman died in the violence.
The New York Times heading screamed: “Pro-Trump Mob Storms Capitol, Inspired by Trump Speech.”
When the House and Senate debated a move by a Republican faction to overturn the election results around 2:15 p.m., the case was halted when Security Officer toppled Vice President Mike Pence from the Senate Chamber and the Capitol was erected to include Senators and Members of the House locked in their respective chambers, ”reported the Times. “Shortly thereafter, police escorted Senators and members of the House from the building to others nearby as protesters flooded the hallways with pro-Trump paraphernalia just steps from where lawmakers met.”
At an uncertain, uncontrolled moment, Democratic members of the House urged their Republican counterparts to act. “Right now the Republicans have to be patriots and assert themselves against Donald Trump,” said representative Mark Pocan shortly after the invasion of the Capitol.
That was a necessary message when Trump appeared with his supporters at a morning rally where he cheered a challenge for the results of an election in which he was undoubtedly defeated. He attacked Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence, whom he described as insufficiently supportive of his demands, and claimed that Republicans had “an absolute right” to reject election results. He called those who did not ally with him “corrupt” and declared: “We will never admit!”
When the Capitol invasion happened, Trump was calm at first and then tweeted“I ask everyone in the US Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are law and order – respect the law and our great men and women in blue. Many Thanks!”
But Trump, who had spent much of the morning stimulating the crowd in person and on social media, didn’t immediately urge the crowd to leave the Capitol. He did so only after President-elect Joe Biden, who described the invasion of the Capitol as an “insurrection” who “borders on turmoil“Delivered a passionate address to the nation in which he” urged Trump to go on national television now to keep his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege. ”
Even when Trump finally told his supporters to “go home now”, he raved about “fraudulent elections” and said of the people who invaded the Capitol: “We love you” and “They are very special people. ”
The damage this President has done cannot be forgiven or forgotten. And the threat that it will cause additional damage cannot be neglected.
The United States Constitution is clear. It reads: “The President, Vice President and all civil servants of the United States will be removed from impeachment and conviction for treason, bribery or other serious crimes and misdemeanors.”
Incitement that borders on insurrection is treason. It is a high crime. And no honest observer can deny the truth of what former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told MSNBC that Donald Trump “set fire to the match”.
Stephen Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law who is a Supreme Court Fellow of the Constitution Project and a member of the American Constitution Society’s Board of Academic Advisors, said on Wednesday:
When Congress sits back together: 1. Republicans should withdraw their remaining objections immediately and allow Biden’s victory to be confirmed quickly. 2. The House should immediately vote on impeachment articles against President Trump.
That’s a plan. The impeachment procedures should be introduced. Now. The house should act immediately. The articles should be sent to the Senate and the process must begin.
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