25th Amendment

Section 4
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
January 7, 2021

Schumer, Pelosi Joint Statement On Call To Vice President Pence On Invoking 25th Amendment

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issued the following statement on their attempt to reach the Vice President by phone about invoking the 25th Amendment:

“This morning, we placed a call to Vice President Pence to urge him to invoke the 25th Amendment which would allow the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet to remove the President for his incitement of insurrection and the danger he still poses.  We have not yet heard back from the Vice President.

“The President’s dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office.  We look forward to hearing from the Vice President as soon as possible and to receiving a positive answer as to whether he and the Cabinet will honor their oath to the Constitution and the American people.”

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
JANUARY 7, 2021 PRESS RELEASE

Transcript of Pelosi Weekly Press Conference Today

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today in the Capitol Visitor Center.  Below are the Speaker’s remarks:

Speaker Pelosi.  Good afternoon.  I don't know if the word ‘good’ is the way to describe it, but – because yesterday, the President of the United States incited an armed insurrection against America, the gleeful desecration of the U.S. Capitol, which is the temple of – of our American democracy, and the violence targeting Congress are horrors that will forever stain our nation's history, instigated by the President of the United States.  That's why it's such a stain.

In calling for this seditious act, the President has committed an unspeakable assault on our nation and our people.  I joined the Senate Democratic Leader in calling on the Vice President to remove this President by immediately invoking the 25th Amendment.  If the Vice President and Cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment.  That is the overwhelming sentiment of my Caucus, and the American people, by the way.

Justice will be done to those who carried out these acts, which were acts of sedition and acts of cowardice.  To those whose purpose was to deter a responsibility, you have failed.  You did not divert the Congress from our solemn Constitutional purpose to validate the overwhelming election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President of the United States. 

Despite the desecration of our Capitol, we upheld, in front of the country and the world, the bedrock principle that the people are sovereign and that they hold the power to choose their leaders through the ballot, rejecting this attempted coup on the part of President Trump and his supporters. 

Accountability is also needed for Republicans in Congress who promoted the extreme conspiracy theories that provoked the violence, encouraged the mob and who, after desecration of the Capitol, went back to the House Floor and continued to push the falsehoods and underpinned this assault – that underpin this assault on our democracy. 

These Republicans abdicated their oath of office that was taken just three days prior to protect the American people and to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

The House worked through the evening and into the morning, till nearly 4:00 a.m., to validate the electoral count, again, proclaiming Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the duly elected President and Vice President of the United States.  I just want to say how proud I am of my Members.  For a while now, our four scholars we call them, Jamie Raskin; Zoe Lofgren, the Chair of the committee of jurisdiction; Adam Schiff; and Joe Neguse, set forth a plan that was about the Constitution.  It wasn't about Donald Trump and all the reasons he shouldn't be president.  He was not part of this.  It was about the Constitution, and how we have to – we are a country of law.  We are not a monarchy with a king, as Jamie said – has said over and over again. 

I want to also thank the Members of the Arizona Delegation, led by Raúl Grijalva, and the Pennsylvania Delegation, led by Mike Doyle, the two deans, for the presentations that they made to refute the ridiculous statements being made by our colleagues.  For what reason, I don't know, but it wasn't about reason.  So, I thank them for that.

So, all of this, this week, our swearing-in on Sunday; passing our Rule and preparing for Wednesday, as the week began; the election of two Democrats in Georgia, because of the overwhelming participation of people at the grassroots level, so many people.  I'm so proud of our House Members, Congresswoman Williams, the Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, Lucy McBath, the newly elected Carolyn Bordeaux, David Scott, Mr. Bishop, who was the Dean of that Delegation, and Hank Johnson.  Well, they had their plan already, should they have objected to Georgia, as did Nevada, as did Michigan, as did Wisconsin.  So, we were prepared.  Members worked hard about defending the Constitution, honoring our purpose to count and ascertain the Electoral College numbers for the presidency.  So, I was proud of them. 

And I did, over and over again – we're very pleased now that we have in thirteen days, President Joe Biden, a Democratic House Majority and a Democratic Senate Majority that will work to heal, to heal and restore the soul of our nation.  I will, too, close by evoking, as I did last night, the Song of St. Francis, our patron saint in San Francisco, whose Song of St. Francis is our – our city's anthem.  ‘Lord, make me a channel of thy peace.  Where there is darkness, may we bring light.  Where there is hatred, love; despair, hope.’  The list goes on.  And so does the time for healing.  Take us down a path of unity, of unity for our country

* * *

With that, I would be pleased to take any questions. 

Yes, ma’am.

Q:  Have you encouraged Cabinet members not to resign, so that they can invoke the 25th Amendment

Speaker Pelosi.  No, but let's go over that list.  Why wouldn't they, if you were a member of the Cabinet, a secretary in the Cabinet, you're in the line of succession to the presidency – President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senate [President] Pro Temp, and then Secretary of State.  When – just for the information of some – when you have the 25th – the 25th Amendment invoked, that would be calling upon the Vice President, as we hope to do, to take the lead, and with a majority of the Cabinet to be able to unseat the President of the United States, a very dangerous person who should not continue in office.  This is urgent.  This is emergency of the highest magnitude. 

So, you're Pompeo, the Secretary of State.  Do you stand by this President dangerously staying in office?  Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin, what is it?  Is it about success in business later?  Or is it – do you believe in this – do we have the list?  I know it because I know it.  Then the way it goes is ST. DAIACLHHTEEVH.  It’s a mnemonic – Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Defense, the Acting Secretary of Defense – I don't know what authority he may have, but he certainly has to answer for where the National Guard was yesterday.  Secretary of – then-Attorney General, Attorney General Barr, do you subscribe to the presidency of Donald Trump after the act of sedition he committed yesterday?  It's next, Postmaster General.  But that's, that's it – when our Founders put it together, Interior, the list goes on.  Ask each member of the Cabinet, do they stand by these actions?  Are they ready to say in the next thirteen days, this dangerous man can do further harm to our country, an assault on our democracy on the first branch of government.

Rosen, we spoke to yesterday, why would he not?  Why would he not as the Acting AG, as the Acting AG, say this is wrong? 

There are some courageous Republicans who are speaking out.  I salute Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen and others, other Defense Secretaries who've signed a letter, even before yesterday about what is going on in the White House and how that is not a good thing for our country.  And the message that it sent to the world, a complete tool of Putin, this President is.  Putin's goal was to diminish the role of – the view of democracy in the world.  That's what he has been about. 

And, again, his enabler has been Donald Trump for a long time.  That's why I said in that photo when I'm leaving his meeting, ‘With you, Mr. President, all roads lead to Putin.’  Putin wants to undermine democracy.  That's what he's about domestically and internationally.  And the President gave him the biggest of all of his many gifts to Putin, the biggest gift, yesterday.  My friends, we are in a very difficult place in our country, as long as Donald Trump still sits in the White House.

Yes, sir.

Q:  You said you may be forced to pursue impeachment.  Under what circumstances would you do that and how long would you give this 25th Amendment process to play out before going down that route?

Speaker Pelosi.  Well, it's a simple matter in terms of the Constitution.  The Vice President, working with the Cabinet, more than 50 percent of the Cabinet can immediately, can immediately improve the security of our country. 

If that doesn't happen, Jamie Raskin has [introduced] legislation that enables another step in the 25th Amendment process.  The 25th Amendment processes is when it is determined that the President is unfit, for whatever reason, to be President of the United States, in case some people don't know what that is.  And he clearly has indicated that over and over again, and by inciting sedition, as he did yesterday, he must be removed from office.  While it's only thirteen days left, any day can be a horror show for America.  So – so, the next step would be that Congress, and this can be done quickly, can establish a commission, very fast, of maybe former presidents, cabinet people that know something about health, the health of the president and the rest, and – and that that group can make its recommendations to the Congress.  The list goes on.

Having said that, if that – if that – the best route, the most immediate route would be the Vice President to recognize the danger of the Donald Trump presidency and take this action, A.  B, my Members are very much interested, as my phone is exploding with ‘impeach, impeach, impeach.’  The President must be held accountable.  Again, he likes –

Q:  Madam Speaker, how do you have enough time for your Members left for impeachment?

Speaker Pelosi.  We would be prepared to do that, but I don't have immediate plans, because we haven't even been to sleep since – since the folly of the Republicans deciding we should go into four o'clock in the morning for no purpose whatsoever, except to be enablers of the President's sedition, by undermining, by undermining the elections.  Imagine that, the President of the United States undermining the elections in our country.

So, in any, in any event, we would be prepared.

Q:  How long are you willing to give Pence, 24 hours, 48 hours?

Speaker Pelosi.  I don't know how quickly he might respond.  We'll see.  And that should – that could be quick.

Q:  But you said there’s great urgency.  The clock is clearly ticking.  There’s thirteen days.

Speaker Pelosi.  That’s right.

Q:  How long are you willing to give the Cabinet and Pence before you start your own procedures?

[Crosstalk]

Speaker Pelosi.  I don't think that it'll take long to get an answer from the Vice President.  It will either be yes, or it will either be no.  And we'll see.  But we want to make sure.

Q:  Today, do you expect an answer today?

Speaker Pelosi.  We would hope.  But we had, we – Mr. Schumer, the new Majority Leader of the Senate and I have made our interest in this known.  So, we'll see what they come back with.  But they have to answer for it, and in answering for whether they're prepared to do that, they are answering for the behavior of Donald Trump.

Yes, sir.

[Crosstalk]

I'm sorry.  I’m talking to you.

Q:  The security breaches here, Chuck Schumer is talking about firing the Sergeant-at-Arms over there.  Are you thinking of a similar step over here?  What are you going to do to address the security breaches on the Capitol?

Well, let me just say that that is very important question.  Let me hold for a moment, because it is not – we have to do the after-action review.  I have – I am calling for the resignation of the Capitol, the Chief of Capitol Police, Mr. Sund.  And I have received notice from Mr. Irving that he is, will be submitting his resignation.

Having said that, we will have the after-action review, but it goes beyond the Capitol Police.  It goes to the FBI.  What was – what was the shortcoming in their intelligence that they provided?  It goes to the Department of Defense.  How long did it take for them to respond or anticipate the need for the National Guard?  It goes to many other elements of the Executive branch.  And I think we have to have a full review.

But from the standpoint of – let me just say this, many of our Capitol Police just acted so bravely and so – with such concern for the staff, for the Members, for the Capitol, for the Capitol of the United States.  Many of them, and they deserve our gratitude.  But there was a failure of leadership at the top of the Capitol Police.  And I think Mr. Sund – he hasn't even called us since this happened.  So, I have made him aware that I would be saying that we're calling for his resignation.

Now, on that score, getting back to what was underestimated.  That the President of the United States would not be as insightful, perhaps somebody thought for a moment that he would be patriotic before he leaves office for just this once.  So, again, the fact that these people were incited – and you know what? 

Last night, I don't know if you heard on the Floor, but some of the Republicans and their enabling of the President's bad behavior, have said, ‘Those were not Trumpites, they were Antifa invading the Capitol, disguised as Trumpites.’  Right.

So, we have a problem here with the enabling that is going on with the Republicans in the Congress, as well.  Undermining the election, again, enabling the President.  And if they don't recognize what yesterday was – a threshold was crossed of such magnitude, that there is no way that this President should be allowed to make any decision to rouse any troops and, of his Trumpites, to --  what's next?  What happens today?  Who knows?  But what we do know, that he must be contained.

Any other question?  Yes, ma'am.

[Crosstalk]

Yes, ma'am.

Q:  I wanted to ask, for the inauguration, what are your plans?  How are those changing and how do you plan to keep Members and people in the Capitol secure at that time?

Speaker Pelosi.  Well, I'll go back to my original point.  We have thirteen days more of Donald Trump to deal with, who was a danger to our country.  So, when we talk about the inauguration, that is a national security event, and that rises to a different level of security protection.

We want every day at the Capitol to be deemed a national security event.  So that there's no, ‘Well, I didn't know,’ and – that highest level of concern, intelligence seeking, redundancy, if necessary, to protect.  We've been working a long time on the inauguration and, just in terms of coronavirus – another shortcoming of the President.  People have died because of his denial, distortion and the rest, calling it a hoax.  This man is deadly, to our democracy and to our people. 

But to get to your point, so because of coronavirus in our meetings on the intelligence – excuse me, on the inauguration, as far as we have jurisdiction in the Congress.  But then, it becomes the purview of the Presidential – now, designee, Joe Biden.  But to the point that we have, that decision was encouraged to just have a very small inauguration.  I don't want to make – I don't know what is in the public domain on it but I don't – I'm not going to put that out there, except that it would be very small, and hopefully have a celebration at some later time when we're not coronavirus centric.

Now, on top of that, to see what happened yesterday.  If there's any – I don't want to use the word benefit, because there's – nothing could justify.  But if there's anything learned about it, it is that we have to be very, very careful because these people and their leader, Donald Trump, do not care about the security of people.  They don't care about our democracy.  They don't care about the peaceful transfer of power.  Something is very, very wrong here.

Now, let me just say one more thing about what he did yesterday, and relating to other national security events.  People saw throughout the world, something that looked like it was out of a banana republic or some other kind of a third world – where the President of the country turned on the people.  Turned on the people.

And what was sad about it is, of course, as Members of Congress, we sign up, we sign up for the exposure that we have.  But to see in the eyes of so many of the staff people, especially the younger ones, the trauma, the fright, that it was for them to be locked into rooms with terrorists banging on the doors, hiding under desks, under tables and the rest of that.  They didn't sign up for that.  We didn't sign them up for that.  A blessing to be interested in public service, to learn from it here.  Perhaps, to go on into public service, but to carry that important value into whatever they do in life.  But to see, to meet with them and to see how frightened they were, how traumatized they were.  Because these thugs, these Trump thugs, decided that they would desecrate the Capitol with no thought of what harm they might do physically, psychologically, or in any other way.  And they will be prosecuted, and they will be prosecuted, justice will be done.

So, in terms of the inauguration, I don't know if it could be made any smaller.  But I don't trust whatever the President might have in mind, because I do not trust – because I think he's a very dangerous man.

So, again, we'll review what our options are in terms of the 25th Amendment.  Review what our options are if he wants to be unique and be doubly impeached.  That's kind of up to him and his Cabinet as to whether he should stay in office, defeated – impeached, defeated, impeached, gone.

And it's really a sad tragedy for our country.  I say I pray for the President every day and I do.  Last night was the hardest day for me.  Night, at like five o'clock in the morning when I finally got home, as I was praying at night – just, ‘you gotta keep praying for him, you gotta keep praying for him.’  Maybe, maybe there's some hope.  But we can't take that chance because people's lives are at stake, as well as our democracy. 

That’s it for now.  Thank you.

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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer
January 7, 2021

TRANSCRIPT FROM NYC PRESS CONFERENCE: LEADER SCHUMER CALLS ON VICE PRESIDENT PENCE TO INVOKE THE 25TH AMENDMENT TO IMMEDIATELY REMOVE PRESIDENT TRUMP

New York, NY — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today at a press conference called on the vice president to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove President Trump from office. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States incited by President Trump. The president promoted conspiracy theories that motivated these thugs. He exhorted them to come to our nation’s capital. He told them to “march down Pennsylvania Avenue” and he said “you will never take back our country with weakness.” President Trump’s lies fed the crowd. He directed their anger at Capitol Hill, and his demagoguery whipped them into a frenzy.

Let me be clear: these were rioters, insurrectionists, goons, thugs, domestic terrorists. They, of course, bear responsibility for the mayhem yesterday. They should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and if this administration won’t, I’m confident the next administration will. No leniency. No leniency for these people. They have the cameras all over; they have their pictures. No matter what part of the country they came from, we ought to go after them right now.

But make no mistake about it: the reprehensible acts yesterday were incited by the President of the United States. Yesterday’s events would not have happened without him. If there were no President Trump, this would not have happened, plain and simple. The fish stinks from the head. Plain and simple.

I believe the president is dangerous and should not hold office one day longer.

He may only have 13 days left as president. But yesterday demonstrated that each and every one of those days is a threat to democracy so long as he is in power.

The quickest and most effective way to remove this president from office would be for the Vice President to immediately invoke the 25th amendment. The Vice President can invoke the 25th amendment today, and, if the Cabinet votes, he is gone. They should do it now.

If the Vice President and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president, plain and simple.

We don’t need a lengthy debate. The president’s abuse of power, his incitement of a mob against duly elected representative body of the United States is a manifestly impeachable offense – if there ever was an impeachable offense, what the president did was it.

And if you think he won’t spend his days out-of-office promoting conspiracies, stoking his own grievances and doing more of the same, you’re kidding yourselves.

If you think he won’t promote the idea of him running again four years from now to motivate his supporters, you’re kidding yourselves.

And in impeachment there is a charge that allows the Congress to say he can never run for office again: that should be invoked as well.

So if the Vice President and the Cabinet won’t invoke the 25th, Congress should come back in session immediately and impeach the president: get him out of office.

Speaker Pelosi and I tried to call the Vice President this morning to tell him to do this. They kept us on hold for 25 minutes and then said the Vice President wouldn’t come on the phone. So we are making this call public because he should do it and do it right away.

Now, before I open it up to questions, I want to convey to people how seriously we have to treat this subject.

I was talking to a friend on the phone this morning, and this friend told me that his parents, when they were talking about what happened, just shrugged their shoulders.

We cannot shrug our shoulders at something as serious as this. We cannot say this was a one-time incident and it will go away.

My fellow Americans: we cannot treat our democracy like this is something out of our control.

If we just shrug our shoulders about the violence and mayhem; if we shrug our shoulders about dangerous conspiracies and misinformation, the president –  another president or even this president if he tried again – could do the same.

Our democracy is at risk.

If we shrug our shoulders when actions like this occur, mark my words, the days of democracy are numbered. We have to fight this with all we can.

And I’d like to make one other point on a related subject.

It was appalling how ill-prepared the Congress was for these attacks, which were known about in advance.

I will dismiss the Sergeant At Arms the day I become Majority Leader, January 21st, if McConnell who appointed him doesn’t get rid of him sooner. He must go. He did a terrible, terrible job.

The men and women of the Capitol Police, they’re fine people, but they had no leadership; no preparation. Everyone knew this would happen. The Sergeant At Arms has been derelict at his duty – he doesn’t deserve to be in office.

Again – he was appointed by Mitch McConnell because McConnell was Majority Leader. If McConnell doesn’t get rid of him, I will the first day that I become Majority Leader, January 21st.

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Americans for Limited Government
January 7, 2021

Removing Trump right now would light a fuse and endanger the Union

Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement cautioning against removing President Donald Trump from office in his final days, either by Congress or the Cabinet, as doing irreparable damage to the Union:

“Those who are seeking to politicize and exploit the tragic storming of the Capitol yesterday are playing a dangerous game. What happened yesterday was a national tragedy and must never happen again. Political violence can never be justified. Rather than further dividing the country more than it already is, it is time to help the country to heal and move forward so that the orderly transition of power can occur as it should. If Congress or the Cabinet were to even try, let alone succeed in removing President Trump from office in the final days of his term, millions of Americans will be disenfranchised, further dividing the nation and undermining the Union and lighting the fuse of a dangerous powder keg that may be impossible to snuff out. It is an abyss that must be avoided at all costs.

“Everyone is familiar with the Democrat axiom to never let a good crisis go to waste, let me be clear to everyone considering playing politics as usual, this is not a “good crisis” it is an existential threat. As DC politicians consider any rash, precipitous move, I would urge them to review the words that the President actually spoke at the rally on January 6, “We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated, lawfully slated. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” [emphasis added]

Prior to the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, at his national mall speech, President Trump explicitly called for protesters to be peaceful:
To View Video

While people were still inside the Capitol at 3:13pm on Jan. 6, President Trump immediately denounced the violence and urged everyone to remain peaceful: “I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!”

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The White House
January 7, 2021 7:13 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2873091632910361   [video 2m41s]


I would like to begin by addressing the heinous attack on the United States Capitol. Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem. I immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders. America is and must always be a nation of law and order. The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country, and to those who broke the law, you will pay.

We have just been through an intense election and emotions are high. But now tempers must be cooled and calm restored. We must get on with the business of America.

My campaign vigorously pursued every legal avenue to contest the election results. My only goal was to ensure the integrity of the vote. In so doing, I was fighting to defend American democracy. I continue to strongly believe that we must reform our election laws to verify the identity and eligibility of all voters and to ensure faith and confidence in all future elections.

Now congress has certified the results. A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20th. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power.

This moment calls for healing and reconciliation. 2020 has been a challenging time for our people. A menacing pandemic has upended the lives of our citizens, isolated millions in their homes, damaged our economy and claimed countless lives. Defeating this pandemic and rebuilding the greatest economy on Earth will require all of us, working together. It will require a renewed emphasis on the civic values of patriotism, faith, charity, community and family. We must revitalize the sacred bonds of love and loyalty that bind us together as one national family.

To the citizens of our country, serving as your president has been the honor of my lifetime, and to all of my wonderful supporters, I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only just beginning.

Thank you, God bless you and God bless America.

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi
January 8, 2020

Dear Colleague on Events of the Past Week

Dear Democratic Colleague,
It is a spirit of pride and with great solemnity that I write to you about the events of this past week.

•     Thank You to Members Defending Democracy: On Wednesday evening, following an horrific assault on our Democracy, our Democratic Caucus showed to the country and to the world that we would not be diverted from our duty to validate the election of President-elect Joe Biden.  Despite the desecration of the temple of our democracy, the House upheld its responsibility to the Constitution and to the American people.  My deepest gratitude goes to our scholars – Reps. Raskin, Lofgren, Schiff, and Neguse – and to the delegations of Arizona and Pennsylvania facing objections who made the case for respecting the will of the American people.

•     Capitol Police: It is with great sadness that I also write to share the news that a twelve-year veteran of the U.S. Capitol Police, Officer Brian Sicknick, died after defending the Capitol complex and protecting all who serve and work here.  The perpetrators of Officer Sicknick’s death must be brought to justice.  Five people have now died because of the act of insurrection.  This is a stain on our nation’s history.

While we are appreciative of the bravery of the Capitol Police, we are disappointed in the lack of leadership.  For that reason I called upon the Chief of the Capitol Police to resign, and he has.  I have also accepted the resignation of the House Sergeant-at-Arms.  Chair Lofgren will discuss on our noon Caucus call how we will move forward with responding to the failures that allowed this tragedy to happen.

•     Removing the President From Office: As you know, there is growing momentum around the invocation of the 25th Amendment, which would allow the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet to remove the President for his incitement of insurrection and the danger he still poses.  Yesterday, Leader Schumer and I placed a call with Vice President Pence, and we still hope to hear from him as soon as possible with a positive answer as to whether he and the Cabinet will honor their oath to the Constitution and the American people.

Nearly fifty years ago, after years of enabling their rogue President, Republicans in Congress finally told President Nixon that it was time to go.  Today, following the President’s dangerous and seditious acts, Republicans in Congress need to follow that example and call on Trump to depart his office – immediately.  If the President does not leave office imminently and willingly, the Congress will proceed with our action.

•     Preventing an Unhinged President From Using the Nuclear Codes: This morning, I spoke to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike.  The situation of this unhinged President could not be more dangerous, and we must do everything that we can to protect the American people from his unbalanced assault on our country and our democracy.

•     Resources for Responding to Trauma: The attack on Wednesday had a great traumatic effect on Members and congressional employees.  I have asked the Attending Physician to provide Members with information about access to counseling.  You should shortly be receiving a Dear Colleague from the Office of the Attending Physician and the Office of Employee Assistance.

I am very grateful to Members for your communications regarding what you think should happen.  I take your suggestions very seriously as we build consensus in our Caucus as we go forward.
Thank you for your patriotism, your courage and your leadership.

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House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy
January 8, 2020

A Statement from House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) released the following statement:

“Let me be very clear: the violence, destruction, and chaos that unfolded at the Capitol on Wednesday was unacceptable, undemocratic, and un-American. When I spoke to President Trump on Wednesday, I told him he had a great responsibility to intervene to quell the mob and start the healing process for our country. Over the coming weeks we will work with law enforcement to bring anyone responsible for the violence to justice. Lawlessness and extremism have no place in our way of life. 

“Our country is not just divided. We are deeply hurt. The task ahead for the next Congress and incoming Biden Administration couldn’t be more momentous. But to deliver a better America for all, partisans of all stripes first must unite as Americans and show our country that a peaceful transition of power has occurred. Impeaching the President with just 12 days left in his term will only divide our country more. I have reached out to President-elect Biden today and plan to speak to him about how we must work together to lower the temperature and unite the country to solve America’s challenges. The coronavirus is still coursing through our communities, businesses and workers are facing unprecedented stress, and children are falling behind. Threats from adversaries such as Russia, China, and Iran are increasing. As leaders, we must call on our better angels and refocus our efforts on working directly for the American people. United we can deliver the peace, strength, and prosperity our country needs. Divided, we will fail.

“Each passing day will offer us an opportunity to heal and grow stronger—a responsibility from which we cannot shrink. The United States remains exceptional and extraordinary, and in the coming weeks and months, we must work to recharge the light of our shining city on a hill.”

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
January 8, 2020

McConnell Statement on United States Capitol Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today regarding yesterday's events at the United States Capitol:

“I salute and applaud those front-line U.S. Capitol Police officers who stood bravely in harm’s way during yesterday’s failed insurrection. We are praying today for those who sustained injuries, some serious, in the line of duty. Congress is also deeply grateful to the local officers from D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, the federal law enforcement personnel, the National Guard, and all the other professionals who deployed to help subdue the criminals and retake the Capitol.

“With that said, yesterday represented a massive failure of institutions, protocols, and planning that are supposed to protect the first branch of our federal government. A painstaking investigation and thorough review must now take place and significant changes must follow. Initial bipartisan discussions have already begun among committees of oversight and Congressional Leadership.

“The ultimate blame for yesterday lies with the unhinged criminals who broke down doors, trampled our nation’s flag, fought with law enforcement, and tried to disrupt our democracy, and with those who incited them. But this fact does not and will not preclude our addressing the shocking failures in the Capitol’s security posture and protocols.”

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https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2020/suspension.html

By Twitter Inc.
Friday, 8 January 2021   

Permanent suspension of @realDonaldTrump

After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them — specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter — we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.

In the context of horrific events this week, we made it clear on Wednesday that additional violations of the Twitter Rules would potentially result in this very course of action. Our public interest framework exists to enable the public to hear from elected officials and world leaders directly. It is built on a principle that the people have a right to hold power to account in the open.

However, we made it clear going back years that these accounts are not above our rules entirely and cannot use Twitter to incite violence, among other things. We will continue to be transparent around our policies and their enforcement.

The below is a comprehensive analysis of our policy enforcement approach in this case.

Overview

On January 8, 2021, President Donald J. Trump tweeted:

“The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!”

Shortly thereafter, the President tweeted:

“To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th.”

Due to the ongoing tensions in the United States, and an uptick in the global conversation in regards to the people who violently stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, these two Tweets must be read in the context of broader events in the country and the ways in which the President’s statements can be mobilized by different audiences, including to incite violence, as well as in the context of the pattern of behavior from this account in recent weeks. After assessing the language in these Tweets against our Glorification of Violence policy, we have determined that these Tweets are in violation of the Glorification of Violence Policy and the user @realDonaldTrump should be immediately permanently suspended from the service.

Assessment

We assessed the two Tweets referenced above under our Glorification of Violence policy, which aims to prevent the glorification of violence that could inspire others to replicate violent acts and determined that they were highly likely to encourage and inspire people to replicate the criminal acts that took place at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

This determination is based on a number of factors, including:

• President Trump’s statement that he will not be attending the Inauguration is being received by a number of his supporters as further confirmation that the election was not legitimate and is seen as him disavowing his previous claim made via two Tweets (1, 2) by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Dan Scavino, that there would be an “orderly transition” on January 20th.

• The second Tweet may also serve as encouragement to those potentially considering violent acts that the Inauguration would be a “safe” target, as he will not be attending.

• The use of the words “American Patriots” to describe some of his supporters is also being interpreted as support for those committing violent acts at the US Capitol.

• The mention of his supporters having a “GIANT VOICE long into the future” and that “They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!” is being interpreted as further indication that President Trump does not plan to facilitate an “orderly transition” and instead that he plans to continue to support, empower, and shield those who believe he won the election.

• Plans for future armed protests have already begun proliferating on and off-Twitter, including a proposed secondary attack on the US Capitol and state capitol buildings on January 17, 2021.

As such, our determination is that the two Tweets above are likely to inspire others to replicate the violent acts that took place on January 6, 2021, and that there are multiple indicators that they are being received and understood as encouragement to do so.

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RefuseFascism.org
8 January 2021 For Immediate Release
Contact: Larry Everest

Now is the Time to Act

TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW!

In the Name of Humanity, We Refuse to Accept a Fascist America

MASS DEMONSTRATIONS THIS SATURDAY!

PROTEST TIMES & PLACES:

On Wednesday, January 6th, we saw President Trump call forth and unleash fascist mobs to storm the U.S. Capitol.

This was an attempt at a coup. It did not succeed this time, but the danger from even a failed coup is to be taken seriously, setting the stage for them to come back sooner or later to re-seize power – with or without Trump. It leaves a bloc of elected officials who view and act as if the Biden administration is illegitimate and an armed street-fighting force “on call” to dominate the public square. They will continue to fight for their white supremacist, xenophobic, and patriarchal program. And, they will continue to undermine the very concept of truth – leaving tens of millions to be susceptible to the calls of demagogues and the vilest conspiracy theories.

Trump is still in power. There are 13 days in which he and/or his followers present a real and present danger to humanity.

The question is: will the “decent people” make clear our determination and act to stop this fascist danger? A united, public show of revulsion against Trump and a repudiation of his regime’s fascist program – through non-violent, sustained protest and resistance – has been overdue for years.

Biden won. But the streets and the discourse has been dominated by Trump and his followers. To cede the public square has consequences. We saw this on January 6. That’s why on Thursday January 7 at 5pm in cities across the country, Refuse Fascism is calling for safe social distance non-violent protests. It is time for people to stand up and say No more! No to the fascist coup! Trump/Pence Out Now!

They lost. They need to pack their things and go.

TPON-Placard-18x24-Eng Span-225x300
JANUARY 9 NATIONWIDE PROTESTS
(Check back for more Times & Places)

LOS ANGELES 12:00 pm Pershing Square Hill and 5th
NEW YORK CITY 2:00 pm Times Square 46th & Broadway
CHICAGO 2:00 pm Trump Tower
CLEVELAND 2:00 pm Market Square West 25th & Lorain
PHILADELPHIA 3:00 pm City Hall
SAN FRANCISCO 12:00 pm SF City Hall for caravan
HOUSTON 4:00 pm Westheimer & Montrose
SEATTLE 1:00 pm Westlake Park 4th & Pine

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MORE
www.fbi.gov/wanted/capitol-violence

Jan. 14, 2021 press release from Conservative Action Project "Cruz, Hawley, Brooks, and Colleagues follow the Constitution"

Jan. 21, 2021 letter [PDF] from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to Senate Committee on Ethics re: investigation request for Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley

Jan. 22, 2021 complaint from the Campaign for Accountability to the Office of Congressional Ethics re: request for investigation of Representatives Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs and Madison Cawthorn