Donald Trump has dismissed moves by the Democrats to impeach him for a second time as a “hoax” and part of the “greatest and most vicious witch-hunt” in US history.
His political rivals are also preparing a resolution in Congress which presses Vice President Mike Pence to remove him from office under the 25th Amendment – and they will push for impeachment if Mr Pence does not act.
But the president, who is due to leave office in a week, said he was not concerned – saying the 25th was “of zero risk to me”.
However he warned it would “come back to haunt Joe Biden and the Biden administration”.
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Impeachment bid ‘a terrible thing’ – Trump
Speaking in Alamo, Texas where he inspected the construction of a section of the border wall with Mexico, Mr Trump added: “As the expression goes, be careful what you wish for.
“The impeachment hoax is a continuation of the greatest and most vicious witch-hunt in the history of our country and is causing tremendous anger and division and pain far greater than most people will ever understand.”
He made the comments during his first appearance in public since the US Capitol siege, which took place last Wednesday as politicians were counting Electoral College votes to confirm President-elect Biden’s victory.
Mr Trump is set to be impeached by the Democrat-led House of Representatives later this week following the rioting at the Capitol by a mob of his supporters.
He faces a charge levelled by the Democrats of “incitement of insurrection” in an impeachment resolution set to be debated by the House on Wednesday as part of efforts to remove him in the final days of his presidency.
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Police hunt man who threw extinguisher at police
It needs a simple majority to pass and if it is voted through, it would move to the Senate for trial with senators acting as jurors.
The Senate has the ability to bar people from running for office enshrined in the constitution.
On Tuesday, the House is expected to vote on the 25th Amendment measure.
The measure says Mr Pence should “convene and mobilise” Mr Trump’s Cabinet to activate the 25th Amendment to declare the president “incapable of executing the duties of his office and to immediately exercise powers as acting President”.
Mr Pence is believed to be extremely unlikely to entertain the idea, so a vote on the impeachment could happen on Wednesday.
During a speech in Washington DC before the violence on Capitol Hill erupted, the president had encouraged his fans to march on Congress and his rivals have blamed him for stoking the violence.
But on Tuesday he took no responsibility for fomenting the chaotic scenes where supporters stormed the heart of American democracy.
Before his Texas visit, he told reporters: “If you read my speech, and many people have done it and I’ve seen it both in the papers and in the media, on television, it’s been analysed and people thought that what I said was totally appropriate.”
“Everybody to a tee thought it was totally appropriate,” Mr Trump added.
Mr Trump also warned that efforts to impeach him are causing “tremendous anger” – but insisted that he wants “no violence” in the run-up to Mr Biden’s inauguration.
Prosecutors have brought dozens of cases after the deadly attack at the Capitol, and more charges are expected in the coming days as investigators identify more members of the pro-Trump mob.
Mr Trump has been banned from posting messages on Twitter and Facebook and he claimed in Texas that “free speech was under attack”.
It comes as the FBI is warning that armed protests are planned nationwide ahead of Mr Biden’s inauguration on 20 January.
Donald J. Trump POTUS A Champion of Democracy unlike the Democrats and RINO’s.
All you Communists will regret the day you attempted to SELL OUT AMERICA!
YOU ARE NOT AMERICANS NOR WILL YOU EVER BE!
FYI: Veteran
I agree with you whole heartedly. Plus the Bitch is a Witch and I’m totally frustrated with this deranged BS! Another VET!
This is all Donald J. Trump SAID!
President Trump addresses nation for first time after 2nd impeachment
On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump released a video statement denouncing political violence, including at events reportedly being planned to take place in Washington D.C. and across the country in the coming days. Trump’s remarks came about an hour after the House of Representatives voted to impeach him on a charge of inciting an insurrection among demonstrators at the Capitol last week.
Trump said, “Mob violence goes against everything I believe in, and everything our movement stands for. No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. No true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement or our great American flag. No true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their fellow Americans. If you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement; you’re attacking it, and you’re attacking our country. We cannot tolerate it.”
Trump’s remarks come a week after demonstrators stormed the U.S. Capitol and clashed with police as Trump rallied supporters in D.C. to raise calls to challenge the results of the 2020 U.S. election.
“There is never a justification for violence. No excuses, no exceptions. America is a nation of laws,” Trump said. “Those who engaged in the attacks last week will be brought to justice.”
Trump addressed reports of planned demonstrations in D.C. and across the U.S. in the coming days.
“Every American deserves to have their voice heard in a respectful and peaceful way, that is your first amendment right,” Trump said. “But I can emphasize that there must be no violence, no lawbreaking and no vandalism of any kind. Everyone must follow our laws and obey the instructions of law enforcement.”
Trump said he had directed federal agencies to “use all necessary resources to maintain order.”
Trump’s remarks came shortly after the House of Representatives voted to impeach him for a second time in his presidency; this time on a charge of accusing him of inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last week.
“President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government,” the impeachment article reads. “He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of Government. He therefore betrayed his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.”
The resolution further states Trump “demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law. Donald John Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.”
The impeachment passed in the House on a vote of 232 to 197. All Democrats voted in favor.
Along with 10 Republicans:
(In my opinion ALL TRADERS to America and Americans)
Reps. Anthony Gonzalez (OH),
Tom Rice (SC),
Dan Newhouse (WA),
Peter Meijer (MI),
Adam Kinzinger (IL),
John Katko (NY),
Liz Cheney (WY),
Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA),
Fred Upton (MI), and
David Valadao (CA).
The impeachment now goes to the Senate for consideration. On Wedesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate would not take up an emergency session to hear the impeachment case and will instead behind the Senate side of the impeachment process on Jan. 19, one day before Trump is due to leave office.
More BS from the democrats. Nothing but scaremongering from the dims. No facts, no figures, same old sh**, different day. These people have to stop blowing smoke out their A’s. Pretty soon they’re going to start believing themselves.