WASHINGTON:Congressional Democrats on Friday weighed impeaching President Donald Trump for a second time, two days after his false claims of election fraud helped encourage a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Democratic leaders including House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Vice President Mike Pence and Trump's cabinet refused to take steps to remove Trump from power.
"The president's dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office," they said in a statement on Thursday evening, accusing Trump of inciting an "insurrection."
As calls for his ouster mounted on Thursday, Trump released a video in which he denounced the violence that left five people dead.
The Republican president came the closest yet to conceding his loss in the Nov. 3 presidential election, promising to ensure a smooth transition to a "new administration". President-elect Joe Biden, a Democrat, is set to be sworn in on Jan. 20.
Trump's words were in stark contrast to his speech on Wednesday, when he exhorted a crowd of thousands to descend on the Capitol as Congress met to certify Biden's election victory.
Rioters stormed the building, overwhelming police and forcing authorities to transport lawmakers to secure locations for their own safety.
A Capitol police officer died from injuries sustained in the assault, the force said late on Thursday. A woman protester was fatally shot by the authorities, and three people died from medical emergencies.
The FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information on people responsible for placing pipe bombs in the headquarters of the two main U.S. political parties. The agency released a picture of a suspect wearing gloves and a hoodie, carrying an object.
RUNNING OUT OF TIME?
With less than two weeks left in Trump's term, it was not clear whether enough time remained to complete the impeachment process.
Pelosi has not announced a decision, though she made clear at a news conference that rank-and-file Democrats in her caucus wanted action following Wednesday's siege.
If impeached in the House, Trump would theoretically face trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which is scheduled to be in recess until Jan. 19. Aides to Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, have not said what he would do if the House approved articles of impeachment.
The Democratic-led House impeached Trump in December 2019 for pressuring the president of Ukraine to investigate Biden, but the Republican-held Senate acquitted him in February 2020. Only two other presidents in history have been impeached, and none has ever been impeached twice.
Democrats will control the Senate after sweeping two runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday, but the new senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, will not be sworn in until the state certifies the results. The state deadline to do so is Jan. 22, though it could come sooner.
In Thursday's video, a flat-toned Trump struck a conciliatory note seldom seen from him during his presidency, calling for "healing." As recently as Thursday morning, however, Trump was still claiming the election had been stolen, and he stopped short of acknowledging his loss.
Since November, Trump has baselessly denounced the election results as "rigged" due to widespread fraud.
The Trump campaign and its allies filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the vote counts but almost all were rejected in state and federal courts. Election officials have said there is no evidence to back Trump's claims.
Pelosi and Schumer called on Pence and Trump's Cabinet to invoke the U.S. Constitution's 25th Amendment, which allows them to strip the president of his powers if he cannot discharge the duties of his office. Pence opposes the idea, according to an adviser.
At least two Republicans, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger, said Trump must go. The Wall Street Journal editorial page, seen as a leading voice of the Republican establishment, on Thursday evening called on Trump to resign.
Several high-ranking Trump administration officials have resigned in protest over the invasion of the Capitol, including two Cabinet members: Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and McConnell's wife, and Betsy DeVos, the education secretary.
At a news conference to introduce his pick for attorney general, Biden blamed Trump for instigating the attack but did not comment on his possible removal.
Congress certified Biden's election victory early on Thursday, after authorities cleared the Capitol. More than half of House Republicans and eight Republican senators voted to challenge some states' election results, backing Trump.
The president has isolated himself among a small circle of diehard advisers and lashed out at those he perceives as disloyal, including Pence - whom Trump wanted to try to block Congress from certifying Biden's win - according to sources.
Reuters
Fri Jan 08 2021
People wearing protective masks hold a U.S. flag at the Barclays Center during the "Get him out! defend democracy" rally, a day after supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, New York, January 7, 2021. REUTERS Pic
#AWANIRingkas 19 Ogos 2024 | 9 PM
Berikut merupakan rangkuman berita setakat 9 malam, 19 Ogos 2024
1️⃣ Memperkasa agenda Bumiputera
2️⃣ Perdagangan Malaysia-India
3️⃣ Kes keropok beracun
#awaniringkas
1️⃣ Memperkasa agenda Bumiputera
2️⃣ Perdagangan Malaysia-India
3️⃣ Kes keropok beracun
#awaniringkas
Malaysia Airports raih paras tertinggi bulanan baharu pergerakan penumpang pada Julai 2024
Malaysia Airports Group mencatatkan 12.4 juta pergerakan penumpang pada Julai 2024, peningkatan 7.3 peratus berbanding bulan sebelumnya sekali gus sebagai paras tertinggi bulanan baharu pascapandemik.
Imigresen jalankan siasatan telus dakwaan petugas di kaunter biadab
JIM menjalankan siasatan secara telus dan menyeluruh berhubung dakwaan petugas di bahagian kaunter jabatan itu bersikap biadab terhadap dua wanita.
Inovasi mampan jadi tumpuan utama ACAAF 2024, julung kali di Malaysia
Malaysia sekali lagi melakar detik bersejarah selepas menjadi tuan rumah kepada penganjuran Asia Convention Alliance Association Forum (ACAAF) 2024.
Beijing kutuk tindakan keras Manila
Kementerian Luar China mengkritik tindakan pengawal pantai Filipina dan kekal menyalahkan mereka atas perlanggaran dengan kapal pengawal pantai China di kawasan yang dipertikaikan di Laut China Selatan.
Danish hilang selepas keluar rumah menaiki motosikal
Seorang pemuda dilaporkan hilang selepas keluar dari rumah ibunya di Bukit Jambul, George Town sejak Sabtu lalu.
Suami isteri proses dadah dalam rumah inap
Suami isteri antara tujuh ahli sindiket pengedaran dadah ditahan dalam tiga serbuan berasingan di rumah inap di Bandar Seri Alam dan Johor Bahru, minggu lalu.
Belanjawan 2025: Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan, perkasa reformasi pendidikan tumpuan KPM
Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan 2013-2025 yang bakal berakhir serta pelaksanaan agenda reformasi pendidikan dalam negara antara fokus Kementerian Pendidikan (KPM) dalam Belanjawan 2025.
Muhyiddin yakin tidak hina institusi raja
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin menegaskan ucapannya ketika kempen PRK DUN Nenggiri tidak berniat menghina institusi raja.
Thaksin Shinawatra tidak risau tentang pertuduhan kes jenayah terhadapnya
Thaksin dan penyokongnya berpegang teguh kepada pendapat mereka bahawa kesemua pertuduhan terhadapnya adalah bermotifkan politik.
Temu bual Trump bersama Musk di X terganggu akibat serangan DDoS
Menurut Elon Musk, serangan Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) besar-besaran mengganggu wawancara secara langsungnya dengan calon Presiden AS, Donald Trump.
Pengurusan Celine Dion kecam Trump guna lagunya semasa berkempen
Pasukan pengurusan Dion mengeluarkan kenyataan bagi pihak artis Kanada itu dan syarikat rakamannya, mengatakan penggunaan lagu berkenaan "sama sekali tidak dibenarkan".
Trump setuju sertai tiga debat pada September, tunggu jawapan Kamala Harris
Trump umum hasratnya untuk tambah dua lagi sesi debat dengan pesaingnya, Harris di stesen televisyen Fox dan NBC.
Trump setuju debat dengan Kamala Harris pada 4 Sept
Trump berkata beliau mencapai persetujuan dengan Fox News untuk mengadakan debat dengan Harris pada 4 Sept di Pennsylvania.
Trump sifatkan pembukaan Olimpik Paris sebagai 'memalukan'
Calon presiden Amerika Syarikat, Donald Trump menyifatkan upacara pembukaan Sukan Olimpik Paris minggu lepas sebagai memalukan.
Biden umum pelan pembaharuan Mahkamah Agung pada Isnin - Laporan
Presiden Amerika Syarikat Joe Biden berhasrat mengemukakan cadangan penting yang bertujuan untuk mereformasi Mahkamah Agung pada Isnin.
FBI sahkan telinga Trump memang terkena peluru semasa cubaan bunuh
Bekas Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Donald Trump terkena peluru semasa percubaan pembunuhannya awal bulan ini, menurut kenyataan FBI.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Dewan Perwakilan AS sebulat suara undi tubuhkan pasukan petugas, siasat cubaan bunuh Trump
Dewan Perwakilan Amerika Syarikat (AS) pada Rabu sebulat suara mengundi untuk menubuhkan pasukan petugas dwipartisan yang bertanggungjawab menyiasat cubaan bunuh bekas Presiden Donald Trump.
Ringgit ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar US menjelang pengumuman data IHP AS
Ringgit ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar Amerika Syarikat (dolar US) hari ini berikutan minat belian baharu menjelang data Indeks Harga Pengguna (IHP) Malaysia, kata seorang penganalisis.