House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Party are planning a second impeachment trial for President Donald Trump — and outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is warning his Republican colleagues to be prepared.
Pelosi said Sunday the House will proceed with legislation to impeach Trump even as she pushes Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office. Pence has privately said he will not take action against the president.
In response to the second impeachment push, McConnell circulated a memo to Senate Republicans over the weekend outlining how a second trial would proceed.
The impeachment trial would happen after the January 20th inauguration.
NEWS —> McConnell sends memo to GOP senators outlining how an impeachment trial would work if the House goes thru. In essence, McConnell explains how an impeachment trial would consume the first days of Biden’s presidency. Memo exclusively obtained by WaPo https://t.co/q2f2Quum1Z pic.twitter.com/SAkVVsqPvb
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) January 9, 2021
In the Senate, some moderate Republicans have publically joined Democrats in their extraordinary effort to oust Trump with just nine days left until President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, joined Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska over the weekend to call for Trump to “resign and go away as soon as possible.”
On Monday, Pelosi’s leadership team will seek a vote on a resolution officially calling on Pence and Cabinet officials to oust Trump. A full House vote is expected on Tuesday.
After that, Pence and the Cabinet would have 24 hours to act before the House would move toward formal impeachment.
During an interview on “60 Minutes” aired Sunday, Pelosi invoked the Watergate era when Republicans in the Senate told President Richard Nixon, “It’s over.”
“That’s what has to happen now,” she said.
After McConnell’s memo, Democrats shifted their strategy.
Pelosi said they would condemn the president’s actions swiftly but delay an impeachment trial in the Senate for 100 days. That would allow Biden to focus on other priorities as soon as he is inaugurated on Jan. 20.
Rep. Jim Clyburn, the third-ranking House Democrat and a top Biden ally, laid out the ideas Sunday as the country came to grips with the deadly riot at the Capitol.
“Let’s give President-elect Biden the 100 days he needs to get his agenda off and running,” Clyburn said.
It’s not just Democrats leading the charge. Corporate America began to pressure Republicans by withholding campaign contributions over the weekend.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s CEO and President Kim Keck said it will not contribute to those lawmakers — all Republicans — who supported challenges to Biden’s Electoral College win. The group “will suspend contributions to those lawmakers who voted to undermine our democracy,” Kim said.
Many Republicans have said that impeachment would be divisive in a time of unity.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said that instead of coming together, Democrats want to “talk about ridiculous things like ‘Let’s impeach a president’” with just days left in office.
Yet other Republicans said they would be supportive.
Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse said he would take a look at any articles that the House sent over. Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic, said he would “vote the right way” if the matter were put in front of him.
The Democratic effort to stamp Trump’s presidential record — for the second time — with the indelible mark of impeachment had advanced rapidly since the riot. It’s a stunning move to attack Trump’s legacy when he has just days left in office.
Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I, a leader of the House effort to draft impeachment articles accusing Trump of inciting insurrection, said Sunday that his group had 200-plus co-sponsors.
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