Scott Calls for Removal of President Trump from Office
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement:
"Americans and our allies around the world have been alarmed at the events of the past week. However, President Trump has been a risk to democracy and national security for many weeks now, and arguably since he first took office. It has become clear that the risk of him staying in office exceeds the risk involved in removing him from office.
"President Trump's actions in the last few weeks have demonstrated that risk. He has continued to ignore and mismanage the pandemic. His dereliction of duty has cost over 125,000 lives since Election Day. The rollout of vaccines has been nothing short of disastrous. He has also abandoned workers, overseeing 42 consecutive weeks of initial unemployment compensation claims exceeding the record number of claims in any previous presidential administration. The president has threatened the rule of law by abusing the pardon power and pardoning his supporters and associates, several of whom were convicted of helping cover-up his own wrongdoing. He has even managed to disgrace the Presidential Medal of Freedom by giving it to Members of Congress under ethics investigations, as well as to a disgraced talk-shock radio host known more for spreading conspiracy theories and division than acts of compassion and humanity. Futhermore, he has been in ongoing violation of the Emouluments Clause as his businesses have been accepting money from foreign governments throughout his term.
"All of the president's actions have obviously led to the events of this unprecedented and tragic week. It started last weekend with a leaked phone call of the president attempting to perpetrate election fraud by threatening and coercing election officials in Georgia to overturn the results of a free and fair election he clearly and fairly lost. And yesterday President Trump spoke to a dangerous mob and essentially incited a riot at the Capitol as Congress fulfilled its constitutional duty to count the electoral votes of the States. While there are only thirteen days until President-elect Joe Biden is sworn into office, it is clear there are significant risks to our nation if President Trump remains in office. Vice President Pence and a majority of the Cabinet must immediately invoke the 25th Amendment. If they fail to exercise their authority under the 25th amendment, the House of Representatives must reconvene and begin impeachment proceedings."
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