Members of Congress call for Trump’s ouster from office
Members of Congress move to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office saying he is responsible for inciting the violence that consumed the Congress in violence on Wednesday Jan. 6, 2021.
By Ray Hanania
The outcry against President Donald Trump continues to increase and many members of Congress have expressed outrage against the protestors, some of whom engaged in violence and destruction on Wednesday Jn. 6, 2021.
Many members of congress are calling for President Trump to be removed from office, blaming his rhetoric for fueling the violence that was the focus of media coverage on Wednesday night.
Here are some of the statements from leading members of the U.S Congress:
Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum:
“Yesterday was a sad and dangerous day for our nation. The President of the United States incited domestic terrorists to attack the U.S. Capitol, putting Members of Congress, Capitol staff, the U.S. Capitol Police, members of the press, and citizens in harm’s way. It was a clear attempt to disrupt Congress’s constitutional duty to affirm the 2020 presidential election results and to overthrow America’s democracy.
“For me, the U.S. Capitol, where I have served for 20 years, is a very special place; it represents American democracy. Those who desecrated our nation’s Capitol did so with the encouragement and full consent of the president. The President of the United States betrayed his oath of office to protect and defend our nation’s democracy from enemies foreign and domestic. He put the American people in danger.
“For four years, President Trump has distorted, lied, and disgraced the office of the presidency. He has already been impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice – and the immediate peril facing our democracy and national security means we cannot wait for another impeachment trial. The next 13 days until inauguration are truly treacherous days for our nation. It is clear that Mr. Trump’s mental state presents a clear and present threat to our nation. He does not have the capacity to execute his duties. In such a dire and urgent situation, the U.S. Constitution provides a remedy.
“For the sake of the principles on which our country was founded, I am calling upon Vice President Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and use their constitutional authority to remove Donald Trump from office now to allow for a peaceful transfer of power.
“Yesterday, I was forced to be locked down in our nation’s capitol. I had time to reflect on where we are as a nation and our country’s future. The last time we as a nation experienced such an extraordinary crisis was on September 11, 2001. In Washington, I could see the smoke rising from the Pentagon. Together we witnessed planes, hijacked by terrorists, that crashed into the Twin Towers and one that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania – but it was aiming for the U.S. Capitol. That was a foreign attack. Yesterday was an act of domestic terrorism. It was terrifying, disgraceful, and worst of all, it was inspired and condoned by the President of the United States. That makes him unfit to serve. He must be removed immediately.
“Just before 4 a.m. today, January 7, I walked from my office over to the House chamber to participate in my constitutional duty to confirm the Electoral College results. The facts are clear: President Trump lost the election. The next President of the United States will be Joe Biden and the next Vice President will be Kamala Harris. No terroristic mob can stop us from doing our constitutional duty.
“I am so proud to work for the families of Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional District, and will continue to do so with your support and to the best of my ability.
“Be safe, and as always, thank you for being an informed and engaged constituent.
This is a statement from Congresswoman Marie Newman of Illinois:
Today, U.S. Representative Marie Newman (IL-03) released the following statement in response to yesterday’s attack on the United States Capitol.
“Even a day later, I remain in disbelief from the events that took place yesterday. The United States Capitol was broken into, vandalized, desecrated and forced into lockdown due to violent, vicious domestic terrorists who did not want this nation to uphold the will of the voters. I appreciate all who reached out to me and my team throughout the day to ensure that we were safe. As dark as yesterday was, I know that our nation will prevail. At the late hours of last night, the House and Senate reconvened to certify the election of Joe Biden as the next President of the United States.
“Let me be crystal clear – yesterday’s attack was the direct result of the dangerous, inciteful rhetoric that Donald Trump and Republican members of the House and Senate have been spewing for months. Those members need to be held accountable, which is why I signed on to Congresswoman Cori Bush’s (MO-01) latest resolution to ensure they will be.
“As for President Trump, this nation does not have the luxury of waiting two more weeks for him to leave office. The 25th Amendment needs to be invoked immediately. He needs to be impeached immediately. He needs to resign immediately. The safety of this country depends on it.
“Our nation needs to heal. It won’t be done in two weeks, two months or likely even two years but I’m confident we will move on from this painful moment in our history. It will take each and every one of us – working together to build a more kind, more just and more equitable nation for all Americans.”
US Senator Tammy Duckworth issued this statement:
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after Congress certified that Joe Biden won the 2020 election, ensuring he will be sworn in as 46th President of the United States on January 20th:
“What happened in the Capitol yesterday was a painful reminder that democracy is fragile and it’s up to every one of us—elected officials and citizens alike—to work to keep it. It’s time we get back to the work of creating a more perfect Union, spend less time fighting each other and more time fighting this deadly pandemic. Thankfully, in just 13 days, Joe Biden will be sworn in as President of the United States and Donald Trump will leave the White House in shame.”
Congressman Adam Kinzinger joins in call to remove Trump from office:
Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) released the following statement after the House voted to certify the 2020 Presidential Election:
“It’s with a heavy heart I am calling for the sake of our Democracy that the 25th Amendment be invoked.”
“As a lifelong conservative, I voted for President Trump because I want to continue to build on the successes borne by the policy achievements of congressional Republicans working with his Administration. I know Democrat control of our government will undercut those achievements as they push radical policies and peddle identity politics to the detriment of the nation—and I know this because we’ve been there just a few short years ago.
“While millions of others also voted for President Trump, the will of the people was made clear—Joseph R. Biden will be the 46th President of the United States. While I am not happy with the outcome, I take comfort in the fact that more than two centuries of precedent, as outlined by our Constitution, was upheld.
“As a Congressman and member of the military, I swore an oath to faithfully protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Others around the world often wonder why Americans talk about this document the way that we do. They are perplexed that we would hold this piece of parchment in such high regard, especially in the face of political uncertainty or turmoil. But the very turmoil, partisanship, and gamesmanship on display is what makes the Constitution so very important. It is our guiding light when darkness surrounds us.
“In this case, the constitutional role of Congress with respect to presidential elections is as clear as day. We are to confirm receipt and acknowledge the certificates from the electors of the States. Congress does not have the power to overturn the will of the people, and any attempt to do so would create a constitutional crisis the likes of which we have not seen in our lifetimes. It would not only disenfranchise tens of millions of voters, it would set a dangerous precedent through which the Democrats would seek to destroy the Electoral College and use this same ploy to deny a future Republican president-elect from taking office. Instead of Congress being a representative body politic, it would alter the institution into a ruling class that chooses America’s presidents—thereby permanently removing the ability of the people to elect their own leader.
“As difficult as it may be to accept political defeat, I would never act to subvert our system of self-governance, or the people who have spoken.
“The truth can be ugly, and many people don’t always want to hear it. They would rather have their beliefs and wishes validated, because it’s easier and simpler. But the truth must always prevail if we are to uphold our system of self-governance, and the truth is this—there is no proof of widespread voter fraud. Further, any remedy for election disputes does not lie with Congress, but in the Courts; and we have seen scores of lawsuits filed and lost because those who bring them either lack standing or credible evidence of these frauds. If there was such evidence, it would have been presented by now. But the lawsuits have been dispensed, and no State has offered a competing slate of Electors. Therefore, there was nothing of merit for Congress to really debate today.
“Our nation asks millions of young Americans to risk their lives for their country in defense of freedom, democracy, and the national interest. I know this from my own service in the military. So how can we honor those brave women and men if members of Congress are not willing to risk their political futures for the same? The job of an elected official is one of service above all else, and I view the lies and false promises made to the masses as an utter disservice to the People, and to the Republic itself.
“As a military officer, I did not risk life and limb for only the Republicans in this country—I did it for the entire country, and all our citizens. And the same applies to my office in Congress. I was elected because of my conservative Republican views, but I represent all of the people of my district, regardless of whether they voted for me.
“It is my sincere hope that we can move past this election together. We do not have to relinquish our core policy or ideological beliefs, but we must put aside our differences and remember that the nation itself will only survive if the people continue to have faith in its institutions. I will continue to work tirelessly to enact conservative policies, but more importantly, I will work to do the right thing and to give people faith in their government once more.”
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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