Washington: Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday night declined to invoke the 25th amendment as the House voted to urge him to do so.
In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Pence said he did not believe invoking the 25th amendment to deem President Donald Trump unfit for office would be “in the best interest of our nation or consistent with our Constitution” and asked the chamber to avoid actions that would “further divide and inflame passions of the moment” following Wednesday’s riot at the Capitol building.
“Last week, I did not yield to pressure to exert power beyond my constitutional authority to determine the outcome of the election and 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,” he wrote.
Pence’s message came before the House voted 223-205 to approve the Raskin Resolution, which asks the vice president to convene the Trump administration Cabinet and declare that Trump “incapable of executing the duties of his office and to immediately exercise powers as acting president,” ahead of a floor vote Tuesday night.
Following Pence’s decision not to comply, the House will move forward with a single article of impeachment that was introduced Monday, which charges Trump with inciting the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol last week.
House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer said the impeachment vote would be expected Wednesday after Pence is given 24 hours to respond to the resolution.
The article of impeachment against Trump already has enough support in the chamber to pass, including from three Republicans.
