U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) blows a kiss to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he and Senator Mitch McConnell arrive for a joint session to certify the 2020 election results, inside the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
The top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer called for President Donald Trump‘s removal Thursday a day after a mob spurred by the president overran the Capitol as lawmakers tallied President-elect Joe Biden‘s presidential win.
“What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president. This president should not hold office one day longer,” the New York Democrat said in a statement.
“The quickest and most effective way – it can be done today – to remove this president from office would be for the Vice President to immediately invoke the 25th amendment,” he continued. “If the Vice President and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president.”
Biden will become president on Jan. 20 after Trump for months spouted conspiracy theories that widespread election fraud cost him a second term in office. More lawmakers have warned another two weeks of Trump’s presidency could further erode American democracy or lead to more loss of life after four people died during the Capitol attack Wednesday.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Schumer’s statement.
— CNBC’s Dan Mangan contributed to this report
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
