Mike Pence says moving to the best interests of the country will not result in a decision that could lead to Trump’s impeachment.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday that he did not support the introduction of the 25th Amendment to oust President Donald Trump just a week before the end of his term, saying no. such a move was in the “best interests” of the country or in accordance with the constitutional decision that could lead to Trump’s impeachment.
The vice president is important to the process because under the 25th Amendment, Pence and most of Trump’s cabinet had to state that Trump was incapable of fulfilling his leadership duties and installed Pence as head of the sit in action.
“I do not believe that such activity is in the interests of our country or our Constitution,” Pence wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, adding that he would not join the Democrats. playing political games. “.
Claire Finkelstein, director of the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law at the University of Pennsylvania, told Al Jazeera before the letter was released that the debate over the 25th Amendment was largely symbolic and that Pence’s opposition to its use meant that Trump’s impeachment was “Very likely”.
Pence told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of his decision in a letter accusing Democrats of ‘playing political games’. The House is debating the change on Tuesday [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]
The House of Representatives is controlled by the Democrats.
“Their votes want to do it, they’ve done it before and now, if anything, the momentum and upheaval with Donald Trump is much higher than it was above the Ukrainian issue. , “said Finkelstein.
“The real question is what happens after the House is affected and what strategy the House should take in terms of impeachment. “
Several Republicans, including Liz Cheney, who is the third most prominent Republican in the House, have broken standards to say they would vote for Trump’s impeachment after supporters joined Congress. last week. Five people died in the violence, including a police officer and a Trump supporter who was killed.
The Senate lawsuit could take place after Trump resigns and Biden in the White House, Finkelstein added, noting that a successful impeachment could ensure that Trump never relinquishes public office. keep in the US again.
“It is vital that the process is not torn apart,” she said. “That we hear witnesses, who come to the floor of the Senate and give evidence, something we have been getting away with since last time.”