Swalwell Calls For Trump's Removal: 'Democracy Is Under Assault'

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has joined in the chorus of President Donald Trump critics calling for his removal from office, just two weeks before President-elect Joe Biden is set to be sworn in.

"That may seem like it will be here before you know it, until you put into perspective that yesterday the Capitol’s security fortress was penetrated within a matter of minutes," Swalwell said in a statement.

The East Bay congressman said Trump should be removed either through impeachment and removal, or the 25th Amendment, which paves the way for the vice president to take office if the VP and most of the president's cabinet deems the president unable to serve the nation.

"Democracy is under assault," Swalwell said. "[Wednesday], the President and Republican seditionists in Congress incited a violent coup attempt on the U.S. Capitol ... But this terrorist attack has put our experiment in self-governance on life support."

Swalwell also called for the removal of any House or Senate members who "incited or aided in the coup attempt," and an extensive investigation into how the capitol was breached.

He thanked the "brave" law enforcement and military officers who fought back against the rioters.

Read Swalwell's full statement:

Democracy is under assault. Yesterday, the President
and Republican seditionists in Congress incited a violent coup attempt on the U.S. Capitol. Because of brave law enforcement and military officers, the effort to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election failed. But this terrorist attack has
put our experiment in self-governance on life support.

For the guarantee of our Republic’s survival, President Donald J. Trump must be removed from office––either by the 25th Amendment or impeachment and removal in the Congress. President Trump can no longer defend our country or her ideals. Every second he is in power is a risk to everyone’s personal security and our country’s democratic ideals.

Further, there must be an extensive investigation
of how the Capitol—a sacred symbol of freedom—was violently breached. Any Members of the House or Senate who incited or aided in the coup attempt should be expelled from their respective bodies.

A new president will be sworn into power in just
13 days. That may seem like it will be here before you know it, until you put into perspective that yesterday the Capitol’s security fortress was penetrated within a matter of minutes. It’s imperative that over the next 300 hours we show ourselves, and the world, that we can deliver a peaceful transfer of power.