House Democrats are planning to impeach President Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection,” according a draft article of impeachment first obtained by CNN.
“President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government,” the draft said. “He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coordinated branch of government. He thereby betrayed his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.”
“Wherefore President Trump, by such conduct, 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 draft continued. “President Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.”
A White House spokesperson denounced the impeachment push, saying in a statement, “As President Trump said yesterday, this is a time for healing and unity as one Nation. A politically motivated impeachment against a President with 12 days remaining in his term will only serve to further divide our great country.”
Friday’s development comes after Trump incited a violent mob of his supporters to storm the US Capitol on Wednesday and lay siege to the building as Congress was counting up the electoral votes in the 2020 election and preparing to finalize President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
At a rally in Washington, DC, shortly before Congress convened, the president called on thousands of his supporters to march to the Capitol to overturn the election results.
“You’ll never take back our country with weakness,” he said. “You have to show strength, and you have to be strong.”
“We’re going to have to fight much harder,” the president added, before unleashing the mob.
Pro-Trump insurrectionists converged on the US Capitol as lawmakers debated election challenges in the House and Senate chambers. The frenzied crowd clashed with law enforcement and eventually breached barriers set up around the Capitol as overwhelmed police officers rushed to clear the building.
Capitol Police interrupted Congress’ proceedings and frantically evacuated Vice President Mike Pence and senior lawmakers as Trump supporters swarmed in, ransacked offices, and stole property.
Insurrectionists were seen roaming the halls of Congress with Confederate flags and banging on doors as frightened lawmakers, Hill staffers, and reporters hid under desks and behind makeshift barricades. An armed standoff took place at the entrance to the House chamber and a woman was shot and killed as Trump supporters broke through and made it onto the House floor. The Senate chamber was similarly breached.
Some of the rioters were whipped into such a frenzy that they beat a police officer to death with a fire extinguisher, while others shoved officers, called them “traitors,” and promised a second civil war.
The whole time, Trump watched the hours-long siege play out on television from his perch at the White House. He issued a tepid call on Twitter for his followers to “stay peaceful” and “go home” before praising them for being “very special” and repeating the same election-related lies that incited the mob in the first place.
The events that unfolded made the US an object of ridicule to its adversaries, and longtime allies watched in horror and dismay as the president sat back while his supporters carried out his wishes and desecrated one of the oldest symbols of American democracy.
In the wake of the riots, Trump saw a string of high profile resignations from his administration, including two cabinet secretaries, the former White House press secretary, former White House chief of staff, deputy press secretary, deputy national security advisor, and other officials in the Commerce Department and National Security Council.
Senior Republicans have also sharply criticized his incitement of the rioters and failure to forcefully condemn them as they put lawmakers’ lives in danger.
Several GOP members who initially backed the president’s efforts to challenge the election results in Congress withdrew their support following the “abhorrent” insurrection, and GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger called for Trump to be removed via the 25th Amendment.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly told confidants that he never wants to speak to Trump again, and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s closest allies, said “enough is enough” and “count me out” after the riots..
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski called on the president to resign and said that if the GOP can’t separate itself from Trump, she may leave the party. Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse also said he would seriously consider any articles of impeachment against the president in the wake of the riots.