Republican lawmaker urges 25th Amendment to oust Trump

WASHINGTON

Congressman Adam Kinzinger became the first Republican lawmaker to call for President Donald Trump to be removed via the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution.

"Sadly, yesterday it became evident that not only has the president abdicated his duty to protect the American people and the people's House, he invoked and inflamed passions that only gave fuel to the insurrection that we saw here," Kinzinger said in a video posted to Twitter, one day after protestors stormed the US Capitol building. "It's time to invoke the 25th Amendment and to end this nightmare."

His demand came after 17 Democrats in the House of Representatives sent a letter to US Vice President Mike Pence asking for Trump to be removed from office.

Led by David Cicilline from the state of Rhode Island and Ted Lieu of California, the group said Trump has shown he is unwilling to protect democracy and carry out the duties of the presidential office.

The amendment says in case of the removal of the president from office or of his death or resignation, the vice president shall become the president.

The president can be removed if the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet determine he is "unable to discharge the powers and duties" of the office.

Kinzinger described the events Wednesday as a "disaster," saying, "The president caused this. The president is unfit. The president is unwell."

Trump supporters protesting Congress' certification of Biden's presidential win clashed with police Wednesday, eventually breaching the Capitol building and making their way to the Senate floor.

Trump and his political allies have for months alleged that the election was rigged and nothing but "fraud."