Sen. Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey says Trump should resign and face ‘criminal responsibility’

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“I think at this point, with just a few days left, the best way forward is the best way to get this person in the rearview mirror for us that could happen immediately, The Pennsylvania Republican told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.” “I’m not optimistic he will. But I think that’s the best way forward.”

Toomey joins a growing number of Republicans who want the President out of office before President Joe Biden is inaugurated as the next president in January 20. He is now the second U.S. Republican senator to call for Trump’s resignation. On Friday, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski told the Anchorage Daily News, “I want it out. It has done a lot of damage.”
On Saturday, Toomey said he believes Trump has “committed accessible crimes,” but is unsure of removing the President days before he leaves office. He doubled down on that point Sunday but also said it’s possible Trump could influence the incitement of unrest.

“I think there is also the potential for criminal liability here. I am not a lawyer. I am not a prosecutor,” he told Tapper. “So … you know, the rate for conviction in a criminal charge is very high.”

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who also called for Trump to resign, said Sunday that the President is responsible for the siege of the Capitol, adding that he is “ashamed and ashamed” of some GOP members of Congress who still support Trump posthumously. disorder.

“There’s no question in my mind that it was – he was responsible for instigating this, this riot movement. This was a revolution,” Hogan told Tapper on the same Sunday program. “You know, they stormed the Capitol, and they threatened to kill the vice president and endanger people’s lives. And he had a big part, a big part to play in there.”

House Democrats are expected to pass their impeachment resolution against Trump Monday. A version of the resolution, which includes an impeachment article for inciting revolution, has already attracted more than 190 supporters. By impeaching and removing Trump, even at this late stage of his term, the Senate could later vote to disqualify him from holding a federal office again, taking extraordinary action against a former president.

Sen. Joe Manchin told Tapper on Sunday “There is no doubt” that Trump should be introduced, but he is not sure the move would be practical.

“There’s no doubt about it that it should be used, basically. But if we can’t do it – you have to be practical about what we’re doing now, Jake,” he said. Democrat West Virginia. “You’ve got two ways to go. We’re close to forming a new government. If I were Joe Biden, I would want to be able to form my government, start putting confidence back in it. the American people that we can govern ourselves and be the beacon of light for the whole country and the whole world. That is what we must do. “

This story was updated with additional details on Sunday.

CNN’s Rebecca Grandahl and Devan Cole contributed to this report.

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