Several House Republicans join Democrats’ bid to impeach Trump

Several House Republicans are joining Democrats in voting to impeach President Donald Trump as Vice-President Mike Pence is refusing to invoke the 25th Amendment to oust him.

According to Press TV, on Tuesday night, the US House of Representatives approved a resolution urging Pence to do so, but the vice-president, in a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said he will not help remove Trump from power.

Citing Trump’s role in inciting “a massive violent invasion of the United States Capitol” last Wednesday, the resolution passed by a vote of 223-205.

It called on Pence “to immediately use his powers under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to convene and mobilize the principal officers of the executive departments in the Cabinet to declare what is obvious to a horrified Nation: That the President is unable to successfully discharge the duties and powers of his office.”

Pence, however, said in his letter, "I do not believe that such a course of action is in the best interest of our Nation or consistent with our Constitution," accusing House Democrats of playing "political games."

With eight days remaining in the Republican president’s term in office, the House is poised on Wednesday to pass an article of impeachment amid continuing fallout from last week's deadly Capitol violence.

After two months of refusal to accept his defeat in the November 3 election, Trump urged supporters to march on the Capitol and “fight like hell.” Armed protesters broke into the US Capitol on Jan. 6, forcing the chamber to halt the ongoing vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s election win.

Meanwhile, at least four Republicans, including a member of the House leadership, said they would join the effort to vote for Trump’s impeachment.

“There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution,” said Liz Cheney, the No. 3 House Republican.

ME