House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she has spoken to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about preventing President Donald Trump from initiating military actions or a nuclear strike.
Pelosi said in a statement to colleagues that she spoke with Gen. Mark Milley “to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike.”
She said, the situation of “this unhinged President could not be more dangerous.”
Pelosi is meeting with the House Democratic caucus Friday to consider impeachment proceedings against the president.
She and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer have called on Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to to force Trump from office. It’s a process for removing the president and installing the vice president to take over.
Trump is set to leave Jan. 20 when Democrat Joe Biden is to be inaugurated.
Democrats are discussing whether to act quickly to impeach Trump as soon as next week if his Cabinet doesn’t first try to remove him after he encouraged loyalists who ransacked the Capitol in a siege that has left five people dead.
The articles are expected to be introduced on Monday, with a vote as soon as Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the planning and granted anonymity to discuss it.
If Trump, whose term ends Jan. 20, were to be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate, he could be prevented from running again in 2024 or ever holding the presidency again. Trump would be only the president to be twice impeached.
House Democrats planned a caucus meeting at noon Friday, the first since Wednesday’s harrowing events at the Capitol, and could take up articles of impeachment against Trump as early as the week ahead. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., discussed the prospect of impeachment with her leadership team Thursday night, hours after announcing the House was willing to act if Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials did not invoke Section 4 of the 25th Amendment — the forceful removal of Trump from power by his own Cabinet.
The final days of Trump’s presidency are spinning toward a chaotic end as he holes up at the White House, abandoned by aides, leading Republicans and Cabinet members. He is set to leave office when Democrat Joe Biden is sworn in, but top officials are gravely warning of the damage that he still could cause on his way out.
Though Trump has less than two weeks in his term, lawmakers and even some in his administration began discussing options for his removal Wednesday afternoon as Trump first encouraged rally-goers near the White House to march on the Capitol, then refused to forcefully condemn the assault and appeared to excuse it.
Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark, a member of House Democratic leadership, said procedural steps could allow lawmakers to move far more quickly than they did on Trump’s impeachment last year.
Rep. James Clyburn, the No. 3 House Democrat, said he could confirm that “we have had discussions about it and I would hope that the speaker would move forward if the vice president refuses to do what he is required to do under the Constitution.” Clyburn, D-S.C., told CNN: “Everyone knows that this president is deranged.”
One leading Republican critic of Trump, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, said he will “definitely consider” impeachment.
“The president has disregarded his oath of office,” Sasse told CBS’ “This Morning.” He said what Trump did was “wicked” in inciting the mob. If the House impeaches, “I will definitely consider whatever articles they might move,” Sasse said.
Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer have called for Trump’s Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to the Constitution to force Trump from office before Biden is inaugurated. Schumer said he and Pelosi tried to call Pence early Thursday to discuss that option but were unable to connect with him.
Pelosi, during a new conference Thursday, challenged several Cabinet members by name, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.
“Do they stand by these actions?” Pelosi asked. “Are they ready to say that for the next 13 days this dangerous man can do further harm to our country?”
Most Democrats, and many Republicans, put the blame squarely on Trump after hundreds of protesters bearing Trump flags and clothing broke into the Capitol and caused destruction and mass evacuations. The president had urged his supporters to protest as Congress was counting the electoral votes that confirmed Biden’s win.
(AP)
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15 Responses
Another absurd article published here. last time I checked, the president is commander in chief as well as decider of all foreign policy. Pelosi talking to the CJCS to unconstitutionally limit Trump’s powers is, in fact, real treason — unlike the nonsense talked about in the Democratic media. So, act like a publisher and read your stuff before you attach it to your site.
Absolute waste of time that will accomplish nothing other than allow some political hacks to make a 30 second speech on the House Floor. Focus on critical legislative issues and stop with these “messaging” votes. If you insist on “doing something”, schedule a 2 hour debate Monday AM on a motion of censorship (which if worded rationally and narrowly) would likely get votes from half the Republican caucus and then move on.
No department should follow any order this seditious criminal tries to initiate.
5 people are dead (one of them a police officer) not to mention 4000 people died of Covid in America just yesterday, a world record. Mazal tov to President Trump. He is number one in some ways. His constant lying (easily verifiable) about the election and covid have contributed to thousands of dead Americans this year. “Nanci” as your headline shouts, is not your sister or mother. She is the most powerful woman in the United States and deserves to be mentioned with a bit of respect. She is not responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans this year.
Gee:- I am so worried & petrified about the damage pelosi & schumer can & do inflict upon We American people. But am so relaxed and comfortable with President Donald Trump at the helm.
They are concerned that some State Legislatures will decertify their Biden electors.
If this happens before January 20th, President Trump will remain in office for another four years please G-d.
See Hal Turner Arizona and Wisconsin Legislatures to RECAST Electors for Trump.
This witch never had a good word to say about Trump.
She is right to be concerned. There is sadly a precedent for an outgoing President to commit a horrible international crime days before leaving office: The Taft Administration conspired to overthrow and murder the Democratically elected President of Mexico. Woodrow Wilson was not informed and when he took office, he had the US switch sides and give support to the opponents of the bloody coup. Trump has already attempted a bloody coup in the US; who knows might things he might do elsewhere.
Such lies and fake news. He never encouraged loyalists to ransack the capital.
“in a siege that has left five people dead.”
The facts are that ONE demonstrator was shot dead by the police and ONE police officer died of his wounds from the rioting.
THREE people died of medical ailments, such as heart attack. Why are these 3 included in the number of dead, implying that the rioting caused 5 deaths rather than 2 ?
Excuse me markjw:- when pelosi was busy with her fictitious hoaxes against President Trump this past January, President Donald Trump was busy shutting American skies to Chinese travelers, so contrary to your assertion, President Donald Thump following his amazing instincts and ignoring all the politically correct=evil advice [including from this witch pelosi], saved countless more American lives that would have been lost, if had listened to pelosi.
Is there any evidence yet that another 3 people died? Is there any evidence yet that the policeman truly died because of riot wounds? Do we have a name? Why is everything a secret?
Any one wants to chip in to buy pacifier and diapers for pelosi?
Are you sure RRRRRRRTTTTT that we can wait untill monday? How can we possibly be stupid enough to let 3 days pass untill monday to impeach!!!! Hhhe mmmight ppppush ttthe bbbbbuton. So the stupid dems addmit that their weekend vacation is more important than empeachment??? Oh my my my! At the cost of millions of lives! Please mr R T please go out there an DO SOMETHING FOR A CHANGE! WE CANT WAIT TILL MONDAY! HELP US ! MR RT ! HELP USSSSSS! MILLIONS ARE IN DANGER EVERY MINUTE! DONT WAIT ANOTHER SECOND! PPPLLLLEEEAAAASSSSEEEE!!!
DONT LET THAT MAN PRESS THE BUTTON! YIKES!!
@Michael23: lolllll