House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said President Trump is dangerous and unhinged, told fellow Democrats on Friday that she asked Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove him from office immediately.
Pelosi said she has also sought an assurance from the U.S. military that Trump cannot order a nuclear strike during his final 12 days in office.
“This morning, I spoke to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike,” Pelosi told Democrats in a memo Friday.
Democrats want Pence to initiate the removal of Trump and on Thursday asked him to do so.
“Yesterday, Leader Schumer and I placed a call with Vice President Pence, and we still hope to hear from him as soon as possible with a positive answer as to whether he and the Cabinet will honor their oath to the Constitution and the American people,” Pelosi said.
House Democrats are clamoring for an impeachment vote, which would easily pass with their majority.
The House is not in session but could be called back in to consider articles of impeachment. The matter would then move to the Senate, where a supermajority of senators would be required to convict and remove Trump from office.
Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in on Jan. 20. Trump on Thursday issued a video statement pledging a “seamless transition.”
Pelosi said she is waiting to hear from Pence and that if he does not agree to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump, the House will move to impeach him.
“If the President does not leave office imminently and willingly, the Congress will proceed with our action,” Pelosi said in the memo.
