As top Republican backs Trump impeachment, Pence rejects invoking 25th Amendment

WASHINGTON – United States Vice-President Mike Pence yesterday told House leaders that he does not support invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Donald Trump, all but guaranteeing an imminent impeachment vote against the president.

“With just eight days left in the president’s term, you and the Democratic caucus are demanding that the cabinet and I invoke the 25th Amendment,” he wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, referring to the process that would declare Trump unable to fulfil his duties and install Pence as acting president for the remainder of the term.

“I do not believe that such a course of action is in the best interest of our nation, or consistent with our constitution,” he said, hours before the House is to vote on a measure calling on him to initiate the 25th Amendment process or risk an impeachment vote against Trump.

Earlier yesterday, congressman Liz Cheney announced that she plans to vote to impeach the president after the ransacking of the Capitol by his supporters, the biggest defection yet in his Republican Party.

“There has never been a greater betrayal by a president of the US of his office and his oath to the constitution,” said Cheney, confirming that she will vote to impeach her fellow Republican.

“This insurrection caused injury, death and destruction in the most sacred space in our republic,” said Cheney, the third-most-senior Republican in the House, in a statement.

Her announcement marks the first time since Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974 that a leader of the president’s own party has backed impeachment.

It comes after fellow House Republican John Katko of New York became the first House Republican to commit to voting to impeach. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois and vocal Trump critic, followed soon after.

No Republican House member voted for Trump’s first impeachment in December 2019, and only one of the party’s senators, Mitt Romney, voted to convict him over his holding up of aid to press Ukraine to dig up dirt on now president-elect Joe Biden.

Cheney’s statement comes amid reports that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell – a crucial ally of Trump over four years who defended him the last time – is not opposed to impeachment.

The New York Times, quoting unnamed sources said to be close to McConnell, said the outgoing Senate majority leader is pleased that the Democrats are taking up impeachment, but will wait to see the specific language from the House.

NYT and CNN said McConnell believes impeachment could rid the party of the influence of Trump, whom he blamed for two Senate run-off losses a week ago in Georgia that cost the Republicans their majority.

McConnell, seen as a partisan Republican, but also a defender of Senate tradition, spoke forcefully last week against Trump’s pressure on Congress to overturn the will of voters when certifying Biden’s victory.

Trump yesterday was unrepentant, denying responsibility for the violence by his supporters that led to five deaths. – AFP, January 13, 2021