Rep. Mikie Sherrill Calls For President Donald Trump's Removal

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Two days after the Capitol was ransacked by a pro-Trump mob, Democrats are now discussing whether to move forward with the quick impeachment of President Donald Trump if his Cabinet doesn’t try to remove him first.

Among Democratic lawmakers calling for Trump's removal from office is Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who represents New Jersey's 11th district. In a statement, she along with fellow Democrats blame Trump for inciting Wednesday's riot following a Pro-Trump rally protesting the results of the Nov. 3 general election. The rally was held the same day Congress was scheduled to certify the election results and confirm Joe Biden as the next U.S. president.

"Citizens have a constitutional right to protest but what we saw at the Capitol was rioting, trespassing, and violence," Rep. Sherrill said in a statement. "Those who participated should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The massive security failure at the Capitol complex must be investigated."

Though Trump has less than two weeks in office, lawmakers and even some in his administration began discussing options for his removal Wednesday afternoon as Trump first encouraged the crowd to march on the Capitol, then refused to forcefully condemn the violent assault and appeared to excuse it.

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For that reason, Sherrill along with fellow Democrats argue that Trump is not fit to finish out the remainder of his presidency.

"The president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. We cannot tolerate a president who fomented an armed insurrection and actively thwarts the peaceful transfer of power in the United States of America," Rep. Sherrill said. "Cabinet officials must take responsibility and invoke the 25th Amendment. And if they cannot fulfill their duty to this country, Congress will be forced to once again stand up for our values and use the whole host of our powers so this cannot happen again, up to and including impeachment."

Most Democrats, and many Republicans, blame Trump for the riots after hundreds of protesters bearing Trump flags and clothing broke into the Capitol on Wednesday and caused destruction and mass evacuations. Five people also died during the riots, including a Capitol police officer. The president had urged his supporters to protest as Congress was counting the electoral votes that confirmed Joe Biden’s win.

"I stood in the House Chamber as these extremists breached the building in an attempt to stop the election certification and undermine our constitutional duties because they believed the 2020 election was stolen: a belief directly encouraged by the president. It was not," Rep. Sherrill continued in her statement. "Our intelligence agencies declared this election ‘the most secure in American history.’ Election officials, Republican and Democrat alike, have certified the election results in every state in the nation and courts have thrown out over 60 cases."

Rep. Sherill along with other members of Congress eventually returned to the chamber later that night where they were greeted by bullet holes and broken windows but continued moving forward with certifying the election results to ensure that Biden takes office Jan. 20.

"Wednesday marked one of the darkest days in our history. But we will not back away in our defense of this country," Rep. Sherill stressed. "I will fulfill my responsibilities as an American and as an elected Representative to the United States Congress to protect our democracy."

The House did impeach Trump in 2019, but the Republican-led Senate acquitted him in early 2020.

AP News contributed to this article.

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