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House lawmakers are set to file articles of impeachment against Donald Trump on Monday, accusing him of inciting an insurrection after the president encouraged a mob that stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday.
The impeachment articles, written by Representatives David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Ted Lieu of California and Jamie Raskin of Maryland, have garnered the signatures of more than 150 House Democrats.
Though Trump has just under two weeks left in office, lawmakers say the risk of leaving the volatile leader in office leaves no choice but to impeachment. The move would mark an unprecedented second impeachment trial during Trump’s presidential term.
“This conduct is so serious and this president presents such a clear and present danger to our democracy, I don’t think it can just be said, let’s hope,” Cicilline said in an interview.
Pelosi has repeatedly lobbied Vice President Mike Pence to remove Trump using the 25th Amendment without success. She said in a letter to House Democrats on Friday that if Trump does not voluntarily step down, he will go ahead with impeachment.
“Today, the House Democratic Caucus had a conversation for hours that was sad, moving and patriotic.” Pelosi said in a statement. “It was a conversation like no other, because it followed a day like no other.”
Pelosi said deliberations are continuing. These are the steps that must be taken to impeach Trump:
- The House, meeting again early since its recess, votes by a simple majority to pass articles of impeachment.
- The articles are then sent to the Senate, triggering an automatic trial that would begin at 1 p.m. the next day.
- After the trial, it takes a two-thirds majority in the Senate to remove Trump from office.
Currently, the Senate is split 50% between the Republican and Democratic parties, which means that several Republicans would have to break their party loyalty to vote early for Trump. One and a half Republican senators have to jump ship and vote for impeachment so far.
Some representatives said that impeachment proceedings should start more quickly. Ilhan Omar, a Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota, said “Monday is not early enough.”
“The nation is waiting for us to respond as soon as possible,” he tweeted on Friday. He previously strongly condemned Wednesday’s attack, saying “we cannot allow Trump to remain in office.”
“It is a matter of preserving our Republic and we must fulfill our oath,” he wrote.
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