
Articles of impeachment have been drawn up to remove President Donald Trump from office, as leading American politicians branded him a ‘danger ’ to national security.
The articles say the outgoing President should be impeached for ‘high crimes and misdemeanours ’. He has been widely blamed for inciting violence on Wednesday, when his supporters stormed Congress.
In an invitation to other politicians to back the move, the group behind the resolution write: ‘Once again, Trump has violated his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. ’
Advertisement Advertisement‘Every single hour that Donald Trump remains in office, our country, our democracy, and our national security remain in danger. Congress must take immediate action to keep the people of this country safe and set a precedent that such behaviour cannot be tolerated. ’
Democratic lawmakers circulated the articles on Thursday after his supporters attacked the Capitol building in unprecedented scenes that left four people dead and shocked the world.
Representative David Cicilline tweeted: ‘I am circulating Articles of Impeachment that @RepTedLieu, @RepRaskin and I have prepared to remove the President from office following yesterday ’s attack on the U.S. Capitol ’.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a vocal critic of Mr Trump and sponsor of the resolution, also posted the articles to Twitter amid international condemnations of the outgoing US President following the riots in Washington yesterday.
Articles of Impeachment for introduction, so proud of everyone co-leading this effort with us.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 7, 2021
We need to move quickly to remove this President from office. pic.twitter.com/vbZtA7g6fc
President-elect Joe Biden is due to be inaugurated in less than two weeks, on Wednesday, January 20 – but politicians are now moving to get Mr Trump ’s regime out of the White House early.
It comes as Vice-President Mike Pence was urged to invoke the 25th amendment and remove his boss from office by a number of high-profile figures, including the leader of the Senate.
Chuck Schumer said in a statement: ‘What happened at the US Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president.
‘This president should not hold office one day longer. ’