The January 6th, 2021 will stay in America’s memory forever as one of the darkest days in its history. Never witnessed before, supporters of the sitting President, many of whom were carrying guns, bombs, and confederate flags, marching through the Capitol hill on his call after days of preparation into the violent protest.
The mob forcibly entered the legislative chamber with an intent to change the outcome of the Presidential election and subvert the voters’ will, while people’s business to reconfirm the result of the electoral college was going on.
The treasonous revolt, which took five lives, including a police officer, was the final exhibition of the rogue Presidency that was built on lies, and by demeaning everyone who didn’t agree with him, from his own party leaders to oppositions, and media to foreign leaders.
The Capitol Hill attempted coup was the result of a careful plan by Donald Trump. On December 20th, Trump stood in front of his supporters at the backdrop of the White House, and said, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and Congressmen and women.”
He was giving a message to his supporters, most of whom were seen leading the armed mob in the Capitol Hill on January 6th, and directing them to go to the legislative chamber to support Senators duo, Josh Hawley, MO, and Ted Cruz, TX by whatever means, who were leading the subversion effort in the chamber.
The terrifying event, forcing the parliamentary leaders of the free world ducking under the table and locking in the room to escape from the violent mob finally compelled, even his blind supporters and enablers of his criminal behavior over the four years, to rebuke him for his latest criminal stunt.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trump’s closest ally in the Senate made an angry comment from the legislative floor during his long speech, that he had tried to support the president but “enough is enough.”
Similarly, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), another Trump supporter said, “opposing Trump’s attempts to overturn the election “may well sign my political death warrant. So be it”.
Donald Trump’s last-ditch attempt to overthrow the duly elected President has not only faced harsh criticism by politicians but also from professionals and business groups, who believe, he is an unstable man, capable of causing great harm to the country from now until Biden takes the Presidency on January 20th, therefore, he must be immediately removed from the office.
The call for his immediate expulsion from his duty now being echoed everywhere, and it appears Democrats have decided to do something. The speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca) has called Vice President Mike Pence to Invoke the 25th Amendment and assume temporary Presidency until Biden Officially takes over the helm. But, so far, Pence has not given any indication if he is willing to take such action.
Under the US constitution, the President of the United States can be removed from his office two ways; either by impeaching him under Article two of section one for treason, bribery, high crime, and misdemeanor or by invoking the 25th Amendment of the constitution and removing him on the physical or mental ground.
The impeachment process is straightforward but has two-tier processes. First, the process begins in the house of Representatives. After each side and their party surrogates present evidence and make arguments about why the President should or shouldn’t be impeached, representatives vote. If the majority cast their vote for impeachment, the President is officially impeached. However, he is still in command until the Senate conducts their own legislative hearing and follow a similar process as by the congress, and vote by two-third to remove him from the office.
25th Amendment is, however, different. It requires a majority of the cabinet members’ support to sideline the President temporarily or permanently, and replace him with the next in line, usually by the Vice President.
While 25th amendment has been invoked six times since it was enacted in 1967, it has been only applied on instances when the President had to take a short absence from his daily duty for a physical reason, such as operation, and it was voluntarily invoked by President themselves. George W. Bush invoked article 25 of section 2 before his operation and gave power to Dick Cheney until his return.
However, it has not been invoked by cabinet members to remove the President in a situation before, when the President had acted insanely, like Donald Trump, or on the physically ground.
Even if Mike Pence decides to use the article with support from the cabinet members, whether it can stand the challenge by Trump, which he is allowed to do under the constitution, is unknown.
Under the circumstances, when only eleven days left before Trump Presidency, the possibility of him being impeached second time in four years by the house of representatives are there, but removing him by the Republican control Senate is very unlikely.
