25th Amendment Resolution: How NJ 3rd District's Kim Voted

Toms River NJ

13 January, 2021

8:00 AM

Description

NEW JERSEY — The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday on a resolution asking Vice President Mike Pence invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office. Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat who represents New Jersey's 3rd District, which includes parts of Ocean and Burlington counties, voted yes on the resolution. The resolution, which passed 223-205, states that Trump "widely advertised and broadly encouraged" protests that led to last week's violence and insurrection at the Capitol building, according to a report from NPR. It urges Pence to invoke his powers to declare Trump unfit for office "immediately" and assume all powers and responsibility of the presidency. "What took place (the Capitol riot) is absolutely intolerable and unacceptable," Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said in support of the resolution. It is "very clear the president did not discharge the proper duties of office." Rep. Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican, called the resolution "misguided and inappropriate." "The majority is asking the House to assume a power it does not have," Cole said, pointing to the power of invoking the 25th Amendment that lies with "the vice president and Cabinet alone." If Pence does not respond to the resolution within 24 hours, according to several reports, leaders in the House plan to begin impeachment proceedings. Pence sent House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a letter Tuesday afternoon saying he would not invoke the 25th Amendment, CNN reported. If that occurs, Trump would become the first president in United States history to be impeached a second time. To be removed, he will need to be convicted by the Senate. Trump is eight days away from the end of his term, with President-elect Joe Biden set to become America's 46th president on Jan. 20.