'The president is unwell': Suburban lawmakers call for Trump's removal from office
Editor's note: The story has been edited to indicate Trump was impeached by the U.S. House in late 2019.
Every member of the congressional delegation representing the Chicago suburbs have called for President Donald Trump's removal from office through impeachment or the 25th Amendment for encouraging Wednesday's violent assault on the Capitol by supporters.
"Yesterday's attempted coup incited by our 45th president, Donald J. Trump, will go down as one of the darkest moments in our nation's history," U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove said. "Donald Trump presents a grave threat to the continuity of our government, and our democracy. He must be removed from office immediately."
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon agreed.
"All indications are that the president has become unmoored - not just from his duty or even his oath, but from reality itself," Kinzinger said. "The president is unfit, and the president is unwell."
The lawmakers issued their statements on social media and in emails or interviews.
They came as media outlets reported some Trump cabinet members were discussing removing the president from office using the 25th Amendment. It allows for the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. The vice president then becomes acting president.
Trump's term ends in less than two weeks.
In addition to Casten and Kinzinger, representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, Brad Schneider of Deerfield, Lauren Underwood of Naperville, Bill Foster of Naperville, Jan Schakowsky of Evanston, Mike Quigley of Chicago and Marie Newman of La Grange called for invocation of the 25th Amendment. All but Kinzinger are Democrats.
Krishnamoorthi said Trump should resign immediately or be forcibly removed from power.
"The events that occurred yesterday around the United States Capitol were nothing short of insurrection," Krishnamoorthi said. "President Trump directly instigated these violent acts, and whether he is unwell or simply unfit, he has demonstrated he lacks the capacity to execute the duties of his office."
Schakowsky said Congress should impeach Trump if Vice President Mike Pence doesn't oust him.
Underwood believes Trump should be removed from office by either mechanism if he doesn't resign.
"Our democracy is at stake and we cannot wait until Inauguration Day to see him removed from office," she said.
Foster, Casten and Newman said the House should pursue impeachment as the cabinet and Pence take action.
"President Trump's actions since the election have only made the case for removing him from office stronger," Foster said. "I voted to impeach the president before, and I would do so again."
Trump was impeached by the U.S. House in late 2019, charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. He was acquitted of the charges by the Senate.
Trump was the third president to be impeached. No president has been impeached twice.