Late Tuesday evening Vice President Mike Pence announced he does not intend to use the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office in the final days of his presidency. Just hours ahead of a House vote on a measure introduced urging Pence to invoke the 25th, Pence released a letter expressing his position.
The letter was given to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, and it stated:
“With just eight days left in the President’s term, you and the Democratic caucus are demanding that the Cabinet and I invoke the 25th Amendment. 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.”
The resolution to remove President Trump was brought forward by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). Raskin called upon Pence “to immediately use his powers under section 4 of the 25th Amendment to convene and mobilize the principal officers of the executive departments in the Cabinet to declare what is obvious to a horrified nation: That the President is unable to successfully discharge his duties of his office.” After Pence’s letter that he will not agree to invoke the Amendment, rumors are that the House debate and vote are merely symbolic.
House Speaker Pelosi accused Republicans of “enabling the President’s unhinged, unstable and deranged acts of sedition to continue.” She added, “their complicity endangers America, erodes our Democracy, and it must end.” Pelosi complained to CBS Sunday night that when she and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called Vice President Pence the day after the Capitol riots to discuss the 25th Amendment, he never took the call and kept them on hold for 25 minutes.
