U.S. Rep Deutch Calls on Pence to Activate 25th Amendment

On Wednesday, Congress will begin proceedings for President Donald Trump’s impeachment after the incitement of the January 6 mob attack on the US Capitol.

After a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to call on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke Section 4 of the 25th Amendment and remove Donald Trump as President of the United States, U.S. Representative Ted Deutch (FL-22), who represents Coral Springs, called the insurrection “a tragic stain on American democracy” that will go down as one of the darkest days in our history.

“This domestic terror attack was instigated by the sitting president who has for four years used violent rhetoric to delude and enrage his followers and direct their ire against his perceived enemies from both political parties, immigrants, peaceful protestors, the press, and the institutions that form the fabric of our democracy,” he said.

Rep. Deutch stated that the violent mob was encouraged by Republican senators and representatives who amplified dangerous lies and called on Trump’s supporters to ‘fight’ to overturn the 2020 election. The mob listened, rejecting the democratic tradition of peaceful protest and embracing violent insurrection. They marched on the Capitol armed with deadly weapons with the clear goal of harming elected officials and police officers and preventing Congress from carrying out its work under the Constitution and laws of the United States.

“Six Americans lost their lives as a direct result of the attack on the Capitol, including two U.S. Capitol Police officers. Dozens more law enforcement officers were seriously injured. And hundreds more suffered acute trauma,” said Rep. Deutch.

“There is no doubt: President Trump presents a clear and imminent danger to our country he said. The more we learn about the events of that day and the continued threats against our country, the more we understand the immense responsibility that lies at the feet of President Trump. He must either resign or be removed from office.

“If Vice President Pence refuses to act to protect America from Donald Trump using the 25th Amendment, the House of Representatives will immediately exercise its sole power of impeachment and call on the U.S. Senate to hold the president accountable, remove him from office, and bar him from ever holding federal office again.

“Accountability is not an obstacle to unity and healing; it is a necessary step toward it.”