Democratic lawmakers including Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, other political commentators and business groups including the National Association of Manufacturers have called for the removal of President Trump from office, citing the 25th Amendment.
It states in part that the vice president and a majority of the cabinet can decide that the president is “unable to discharge the powers and duties” of the office. It comes after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday.
National Guard soldiers from Washington, DC, and several US states will remain activated throughout President-elect Joe Biden’s January 20 inauguration, according to NBC News and CBS News. Local authorities announced that four people died after a mob of Trump supporters entered the Capitol building and engaged with riot police on Wednesday afternoon as Congress held a joint session to count the 2020 Electoral College votes. Lawmakers later reconvened to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election.
One person was fatally shot and three others died from “separate medical emergencies.” President Trump recorded a message calling for peace and said protesters were “very special.” Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser extended a public emergency to 15 days.
Several White House officials have handed in their resignations after a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced her resignation, becoming the first to leave President Trump’s Cabinet since the attack. Trump’s former chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and top European and Russian official on the National Security Council Ryan Tully were also among those who resigned on Thursday. Others, including First lady Melania Trump’s chief of staff Stephanie Grisham, quit on Wednesday.
President-elect Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell referred to the incident as an insurrection or “bordering on sedition”. Sedition, insurrection and treason are all crimes under the 18 United States Code Chapter 115 and can lead to prison terms or hefty fines. Expressly, they forbid Americans from conspiring to overthrow, destroy or levy war against the US Government; or engage in a rebellion, attempt to kill the sovereign or seize US property without authority.
“Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States”
Cornell Law School
US Senators Mitt Romney and Ed Markey also described objections by Republicans to the certification of state electors as insurrection and sedition.
Sedition: 18 US Code § 2384 – Seditious conspiracy
If two or more persons in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the US, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the US, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the US, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the US contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both
