BOSTON (CBS) – Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton called for President Donald Trump to be immediately removed from office after protesters stormed Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
Live Coverage: Trump Supporters Storm Capitol As Police Declare Lockdown
Sessions of the House and Senate were abruptly recessed as Capitol Hill was placed under lockdown while lawmakers counted electoral votes to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the November election.
“Trump is directly responsible for this insurrection and violence. He needs to be removed from office immediately. It is the Constitutional responsibility of Vice President Pence and the cabinet to exercise the power granted them by the 25th amendment,” Moulton tweeted. “Or Congress must immediately impeach and remove the President for the safety of our nation.”
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley tweeted a similar statement Wednesday afternoon.
Donald J. Trump should immediately be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate as soon as Congress reconvenes.
This is dangerous & unacceptable.
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) January 6, 2021
Congressman Bill Keating also called for President Trump’s removal. “VP Pence, Speaker Pelosi, & Sen. Grassley are 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the line of succession and they were effectively trapped in the Capitol today at the instigation of the President,” Keating tweeted.
The 25th amendment must be invoked by the cabinet tonight to remove President Trump from office.
VP Pence, Speaker Pelosi, & Sen. Grassley are 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the line of succession and they were effectively trapped in the Capitol today at the instigation of the President.
— Congressman Bill Keating (@USRepKeating) January 7, 2021
Congresswoman Katherine Clark called President Trump a traitor on Twitter and said, “He must be removed from office and prevented from further endangering our country and our people.”
Donald Trump is a traitor to our country and our Constitution. He must be removed from office and prevented from further endangering our country and our people. 2/2
— Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) January 6, 2021
Congressman Richard Neal tweeted a similar statement, calling the protests, “an assault on the citadel of democracy.”
The President incited an insurrection in the U.S. Capitol today. The 25th amendment should be invoked, and he should be removed from office. What we witnessed in Washington today was an assault on the citadel of democracy.
— Rep. Richard Neal (@RepRichardNeal) January 7, 2021
Congresswoman Lori Trahan called on President Trump to resign or, failing that, his Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment.
“I think today what we all witnessed was an assault on the Capitol, which in my mind is an act of domestic terrorism,” said Rep. Lori Trahan. “He is directly responsible for the acts of terror that took place today. He’s unfit. He’s unfit to serve another second as the president of the United States.”
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey also called for President Trump to be removed from office, saying, “He is a direct threat to our country. He needs to be impeached, removed from office, and barred from ever holding office again.”
Donald Trump is responsible for today's coup at the Capitol and the attack on our government and democracy. He is a direct threat to our country. He needs to be impeached, removed from office, and barred from ever holding office again.
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) January 6, 2021
Earlier in the afternoon, Moulton called the violence an “attempted coup” and “anarchy.”
“Those aren’t peaceful protesters. They’re not standing up for our constitutional rights. They’re trying to dismantle them,” Moulton told CBSN Boston.
“We will see our way through this, and we will not let these domestic terrorists take our government away from us and from the American people.”
Moulton said despite the violence on Capitol Hill, he is not concerned for his safety.
“I’m perfectly safe right now. But I do fear for our democracy,” said Moulton.
