US President Donald Trump soon faces the prospect of becoming the first president to be impeached twice: House Democrats on Monday went ahead with their plan to move for his impeachment on grounds of “incitement of insurrection” after a motion to have Vice President Mike Pence remove Trump from his office via the 25th Amendment was blocked by Republicans
Democrats, in response, introduced their article of impeachment in the House of Representatives, stating that Trump “gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government.”
"He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of Government. He thereby betrayed his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States," the resolution states.
The resolution cites the Constitution's 14th Amendment, which prohibits any person who has "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against' the United States" from holding office.
On January 6, pro-Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, following weeks of egging-on by Trump, who rejected the election results proclaiming Joe Biden the winner and had urged his supporters to demonstrate in front of the Capitol as it certified the results for good.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had announced plans to move for impeachment in case Pence refused to move the 25th, released a statement after Republicans blocked the Democrats’ request.
“On Wednesday, the President incited a deadly insurrection against America that targeted the very heart of our Democracy. The President represents an imminent threat to our Constitution, our Country and the American people, and he must be removed from office immediately," she said.
“Today, in pro forma session, Leader Hoyer introduced a Unanimous Consent request to take up legislation by Congressman Jamie Raskin calling on the Vice President to mobilize the Cabinet to activate the 25th Amendment to remove the President.”
“The House Republicans rejected this legislation to protect America, enabling the President’s unhinged, unstable and deranged acts of sedition to continue. Their complicity endangers America, erodes our Democracy, and it must end.”
“The House will next take up the Raskin legislation in regular order to call upon the Vice President to activate the 25th Amendment to remove the President. We are further calling on the Vice President to respond within 24 hours after passage.”
“As our next step, we will move forward with bringing impeachment legislation to the Floor. The President’s threat to America is urgent, and so too will be our action," she said.
The Resolution, drafted by Representative David N. Cicilline, Ted Lieu and Jamie Raskin, moves to impeach Trump for “high crimes and misdemeanours” for his role in “willfully inciting violence against the Government of the United States”.
While many Republicans opposed Trump’s actions in the aftermath of the storming of the US Capitol, it remains unlikely that the Senate in its present form will vote to impeach him. However, the Democrat-controlled House will likely impeach Trump for a second time this week—itself a historic first. The House could even choose to send the article of impeachment to Senate for an impeachment trial after January 21, when Democrats are expected to take control of the Senate following their success in the Georgia run-offs.
However, some Democrats are keen that Trump be impeached as soon as possible, given their unwillingness to have him serve the remainder of his term following his actions.
Cicilline, one of the co-sponsors of the resolution, told CNN on Monday that the Democrats "have the numbers" already to impeach Trump, and predicted some Republicans would vote for it as well. "I expect that we'll have Republican support," Cicilline said. "I think it's urgent that the president be removed immediately."
If impeached by both Houses, Trump could be barred from ever running for, or holding, public office again. This would bar him from making a second run for President in 2024.