House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jamie Raskin unveiled legislation on Friday to establish a commission that would allow Congress to intervene under the 25th Amendment, which lays out in the US Constitution a process by which a sitting president can be removed from office.
Pelosi said that the creation of the commission had nothing “at all” to do with the Nov. 3 elections and did not pertain to a specific person when asked by reporters. President Trump, responding to the proposal, called the speaker “crazy.”
The bill proposed on Friday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi does not apply to a specific president or officeholder.
Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Raskin detailed the bill on Friday, which is unlikely to be passed into full law, CNN reported.
Pelosi also declined to say whether President Trump met the threshold for the 25th Amendment, saying that it wasn’t for lawmakers to decide.
Although Congress’ role is limited, the amendment allows a president to be removed from power, provided their cabinet believes they have become incapable of running the office.
“The measure stands virtually no chance of becoming law. But it is designed to heighten the attention on Trump’s condition after his doctors have provided limited information about his recovery from coronavirus.”
CNN
The 25th Amendment formalizes that the vice president takes over the duties of the presidency in the event of a president’s death, inability to perform his duties or resignation from office. It also lays out a process by which a sitting president may be removed from office. Congress’s role in this, however, is limited, reported the Washington Post.
President Trump reacted to Pelosi wanting to discuss the 25th Amendment on Friday.
Administration officials said Trump remained on the job despite his hospitalization for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and there were no plans for Vice President Pence to assume even temporary authority as president. Trump returned to the White House on Monday evening.
This comes after Nancy Pelosi raised concerns over the side effects of Trump’s treatment for COVID-19.
