Washington (CNN) After violent pro-Trump protesters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday, a growing number of Republican leaders and Cabinet officials told CNN that they believe Donald Trump should be removed from office before January 20. 4 of them called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked & 2 others said the President should be impeached.
"He has to be impeached & removed," said one current Republican elected official.
A former senior official said the President's actions were egregious enough to remove him even with such a short time left in his tenure.
"I think this has been a huge shock to the system," said the former official. "How do you keep him in place for two weeks after this?"
By impeaching & removing Trump, even at this late stage of his term, the Senate could subsequently vote to disqualify Trump from ever holding federal office again. On the other hand, invoking the 25th Amendment would require VP Mike Pence & a majority of the Cabinet to vote to remove Trump from office due to his inability to "discharge the powers & duties of his office."
Some Cabinet members are holding preliminary discussions about invoking the 25th Amendment, a well-placed GOP source told CNN.
The forceful denunciations of Trump are also unprecedented.
Mitt Romney, the Utah senator who was the only Republican to vote to convict the President on an article of impeachment last year called the President a "selfish man" who "deliberately misinformed his supporters" about the election.
Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, a member of the House leadership, told Fox News: "There is no question that the President formed the mob. The President incited mob, the President addressed the mob. He lit the flame."
Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois dismissed Trump's Wednesday afternoon tweet asking rioters at the Capitol to "remain peaceful."
"That's cowardice," Kinzinger told Tapper. "He needs to stand up & say, I lost the election."
"They need to invoke the 25th Amendment immediately," said 1 Republican activist. #trump #donaldtrump #presidenttrump #25thamendment #impeach #impeachment #republicans #enoughisenough #gonetoofar #riot #uscapitol #mikepence #georgewbush #mittromney #trumpsupporters #thugs #anarchy #sedition #insurrection #mobrule
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