Calls to impeach Donald Trump are coming from all sides
The horde of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the United States Capitol may have been the overflow too many. Because the outgoing president is now facing calls for his removal. The use of the 25th amendment to the Constitution to remove its powers is even mentioned. And the resignations in his entourage multiply.
In the aftermath of the events which upset Washington and its political class, a dozen members of the government or the White House had already announced their departure. Most senior: Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is also the wife of Republican Senate leader and influential party member Mitch McConnell. “Our country has lived through a traumatic and entirely preventable event,” she denounced, announcing her resignation from her ministry. “It has so deeply troubled me that I cannot ignore it. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has also resigned.
But beyond these departures, some in Donald Trump’s entourage would even discuss, according to CNN, using the 25th Amendment to remove the outgoing president from the last two weeks of his presidency.
Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois took the liberty of calling it loud and clear, video accusing Donald Trump of having "stirred up and stirred up passions that fueled the insurgency." “Here's the truth: the president caused it all. The president is unfit. And the president is not well. And the president must give up executive power, voluntarily or involuntarily, ”chanted the representative, who is a fervent critic of Donald Trump.
Various Republicans and former members of the administration endorsed the idea in the media on Thursday.
And the call was shared by more than 100 Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Party Leader Chuck Schumer.
They call on Vice President Mike Pence to join a majority of cabinet members to remove the powers of the outgoing president, as permitted by the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. "If Vice President Pence and the cabinet do not do so, Congress may be willing to initiate the impeachment process," Pelosi warned.
Trump in his entrenchments
It's hard to predict if Mike Pence would actually move forward. The 25th Amendment provides that Donald Trump can oppose it. If the majority of his cabinet insisted again, the issue would end up in Congress, which would have 21 days to decide. All of this uncertainty could lead to more chaos, President John Bolton's former national security adviser noted on CNN. And these debates could stretch beyond the 12 days remaining in the presidency.
Joe Biden - whose victory was certified by Congress early Thursday morning - did not go so far as to call for his predecessor to be stripped of his post. But he once again accused him of having sowed, over the past four years, the hatred that led to this insurgency of “internal terrorists”. “He unleashed an all-out attack on the institutions of our democracy. Yesterday was just the culmination of this relentless attack. "
More than 24 hours after the riot and following threats at the end of his presidency, Donald Trump finally condemned "the violence, disorder and chaos" he refused to denounce the day before. He further acknowledged for the first time that a "new government - without naming its successor - would be sworn in on January 20. “We have just experienced an intense election and emotions are on the surface. But spirits must now calm down and calm be restored ", argued the outgoing president, pledging to devote his attention from now on" to ensuring a harmonious, orderly and smooth transition ".
However, he did not give the impression that he would turn the page completely. “To my wonderful supporters, I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible adventure has only just begun,” he told them in a video posted to his newly unblocked Twitter account. His Facebook account was suspended for at least two weeks.
A federal prosecutor has not ruled out possible charges against the president for his role in the riot.
The Trumpists without remorse
Supporters of Donald Trump lamented the violence and vandalism on Capitol Hill. But they blamed "Antifa or Black Lives Matter insurgents" who infiltrated them to make them look bad.
Woodrow Bridges climbed the Capitol, but did not enter. “I do not condone violence or destruction of property. But we needed to send a clear message. Everyone knows that [the election] was stolen, ”he continued to plead.
The disavowal of Donald Trump by several Republicans does not move him. "The traitors have shown their colors," said his friend Charlie Pixley, who came from Florida with him, angrily.
Many were leaving the capital on Thursday. But others continued to roam the streets or to sound the horns of their vehicles, pro-Trump flags blowing in the wind.
The police failed
Authorities have confirmed the deaths of four people - a 35-year-old woman who was shot dead from Capitol Hill police and three others due to unspecified "medical emergencies". All were from outside the city.
A Capitol policeman was also reportedly killed and 13 others were injured in the clashes.
Authorities arrested only about 80 people as of Thursday afternoon. The police have promised to find the rest of the rioters. Their photo was displayed in businesses and hotels and at the Washington airport.
Mayor Bowser, however, lamented a "failure" of the police forces who failed to protect the Capitol. And she wondered that the "response has been much stronger this summer during the [Black Lives Matter] protests than yesterday during an attack on Congress."
A review echoed by Joe Biden. “No one can tell me that if it had been a bunch of Black Lives Matter protesters yesterday, they wouldn't have been treated radically differently than the horde that stormed Congress. "
The police chief in charge of the Capitol has announced that he will step down in a week.
