Trump impeachment process fast-tracks as Democrats build up the momentum

Last updated on January 11th, 2021 at 04:58 am

Trump impeachment process: The shocking and horrifying unfolding of the Capitol Hill riots acted as the last straw in sack to kick-start the impeachment process of outgoing president Donald Trump. Undoubtedly, one of the most controversial president to have occupied the White House, Trump didn’t leave the last few weeks of his presidency sans controversy and mayhem. The Wednesday Capitol Hill breach by pro-Trump mob was the ticking bomb as infurious Democrats and a good number of Republicans have fast-tracked impeachment of Trump for as early as Monday. 

On Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Democrats are ready and prepared to start impeachment next week if Donald Trump doesn’t resign. Earlier in afternoon, after Democratic caucus call, Pelosi said that Democrats are prepared to explore every option and use it, including legislation establishment under the 25^th Amendment Act that can cause Trump’s removal as well as impeachment. 

Pelosi said, “It is the hope of Members that the President will immediately resign. But if he does not, I have instructed the Rules Committee to be prepared to move forward with Congressman Jamie Raskin’s 25th Amendment legislation and a motion for impeachment. Accordingly, the House will preserve every option, including the 25th Amendment, a motion to impeach or a privileged resolution for impeachment.”

Impeachment resolution is planned to be introduced by House Democrats on Monday as session commences. The impeachment resolution draft consists of “incitement of insurrection” article. The House Rules Committee will meet on Monday or Tuesday to decide on the approval of the impeachment resolution debate. 

As the timeline suggests, it is possible that impeachment vote will be held by mid next week.

However, memo released by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell states that the earliest Senate can take up passed articles for impeachment is after Trump’s presidency term ends. He said that Senate cannot consider the articles while in recess. 

During Friday caucus call, Pelosi made it clear that her priority would be either Trump resigning or Vice President Mike Pence and Cabinet invoke 25^th Amendment to remove Trump from power. But she also made it clear that in absence of any of the preferred mode of actions, impeachment was a big option. She also said that the possibility of impeaching Trump now is much greater than it was in 2019 when he was first impeached. 

GOP too is exasperated and frustrated at Trump’s actions lately that provoked and enabled his supporters to breach Capitol, the monument signifying America’s democracy. On Friday, Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican from Alaska, was the first Senate Republican to call for Trump’s resignation. “I want him to resign. I want him out. He has caused enough damage,” she said.

Some might argue that it is too late to impeach Trump and that its only about 2 weeks left for his term to end. But when the country known as world’s biggest democracy has been tempered with the very person who is supposed to safeguard it, justice served is never late.