US Vice President Mike Pence rejects invoking 25th amendment

Pence wrote a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejecting to oust Donald Trump.


US Vice President Mike Pence wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he was not in favour of invoking the 25th amendment to oust President Donald Trump but guaranteed an impeachment vote against him. Pence said that the 25th amendment was designed to "address presidential incapacity or disability" and was not to be used as a "means of punishment or usurpation." He mentioned that despite the internal pressure from the party to invalidate the electoral votes won by Joe Biden from the swing states, he did his constitutional duty to certify the results.

"I will not now yield to efforts in the House of Representatives to play political games at a time so serious in the life of our nation," Pence wrote in the letter. Pelosi had mentioned earlier that if Pence fails to invoke the 25th amendment, the impeachment process would be initiated as soon as possible. In order to impeach a President, two-third majority of the Senate is required to convict him. This will be the second time when Trump will be impeached. Although it is not possible to impeach Trump before his term ends on January 20, Democrats are planning to push forward the procedure as it could include a vote to prohibit Trump from again seeking the federal office. 

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