Mike Pence opposes invoking 25th Amendment to impeach Donald Trump
They warn that if the amendment is not invoked they will initiate another impeachment process against the Republican president, who is accused of inciting his followers to break into the capitol.
US Vice President Mike Pence opposes invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution to impeach President Donald Trump, despite pressure from Democrats and some Republicans, the New York Times reports Thursday.
Pence has not publicly referred to the idea of appealing to a mechanism never used in the history of the United States, although the newspaper quotes a person close to the vice president who confirmed his refusal.
Trump's impeachment calls multiplied after his followers, whom the president had inflamed shortly before, invaded and closed Congress as he prepared to certify the electoral triumph of Democrat Joe Biden.
Democrats called for the measure to be taken despite the Republican's only 13 days left in office.
"This is an emergency of the greatest magnitude," said House Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"He must be removed from office"
"By inciting sedition, as he did on Wednesday, he must be removed from office."
The Times said Pence's position is backed by several members of the cabinet, whose support he needs if he appeals the 25th amendment.
The newspaper added that those officials "see the effort as something that will add to the current chaos in Washington rather than stop it."
Meanwhile, Democrats in the House of Representatives warned that if the amendment is not invoked, they will then initiate another impeachment process against President Trump.
"We have a limited period of time to act," said House Legal Speaker Jerry Nadler, who led an impeachment trial against Trump a year ago, before the Republican-dominated Senate acquitted him.
"I support impeachment articles going directly to the full House," he said in a statement.
