25th Amendment Resolution: How Your VA Congressional Rep Voted

Arlington VA

13 January, 2021

12:04 AM

Description

VIRGINIA — 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. U.S. Rep. Robert Wittman (R-1st): NoU.S. Rep. Elaine Luria (D-2nd): YesU.S. Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott (D-3rd): YesU.S. Rep. Donald McEachin (D-4th): YesU.S. Rep. Robert Good (R-5th): NoU.S. Rep. Ben Cline (R-6th): NoU.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-7th): YesU.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th): YesU.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-9th): NoU.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10th): YesU.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-11th): Yes 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." Before the vote on the resolution was made Tuesday night, Pence had already sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying he would not invoke the 25th Amendment, according to news reports. CBS News quoted Pence's letter, which said he did not "believe that such a course of action is in the best interest of our Nation or consistent with our Constitution." Leaders in the House plan to begin impeachment proceedings on Wednesday, according to several reports. 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.