United States Vice President Michael R Pence has informed US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that he will not invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office for instigating the Capitol Hill riots.
United States Vice President Michael R Pence has informed US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that he will not invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office for instigating the Capitol Hill riots.
In his letter to Speaker Pelosi, Pence said the "25th Amendment was designed to be used only in the event of presidential incapacity or disability".
He also noted that Trump administration is focusing its energy on "ensuring an orderly transition".
He said, "I do not believe that such a course of action is in the best interest of our nation or consistent with our constitution. Last week, I did not yield to pressure to exert power beyond my constitutional authority to determine the outcome of the election, and I will not now yield to efforts in the House of representatives to play political games at a time so serious in the life of our Nation."
Letter from Pence to on 25th Amendment Resolution pic.twitter.com/cZFHpZdXFs
— CSPAN (@cspan)
Pelosi has already stated that even if Pence would reject invoking of the 25th Amendment, the House will move ahead to impeach Donald Trump. At least three Republicans have so far said that they would vote for that.
A Capitol police officer succumbed to injuries suffered in the Capitol Hill riot, and police shot a woman during the violence. Three others died in what authorities termed as medical emergencies.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, is taking no responsibility for the assault on Capitol Hill. In a statement to the media, he described the remarks that he made to his supporters before they went on a rampage as 'totally appropriate'
Q: "What is your role in what happened at the Capitol? What is your personal responsibility?"
President Trump: "If you read my speech...people thought that what I said was totally appropriate." pic.twitter.com/90Pdt8xFSz