File photo taken on Jan. 6, 2021 shows supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gathering near the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the U.S. House of Representatives said on Sunday that Democrats are ready to start proceedings to impeach outgoing President Donald Trump for a second time in just over a year. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the U.S. House of Representatives said on Sunday that Democrats are ready to start proceedings to impeach outgoing President Donald Trump for a second time in just over a year.
In a letter to her colleagues, Pelosi said Democrats will introduce a resolution on Monday urging Vice President Mike Pence to "convene and mobilize the Cabinet to active the 25th Amendment to declare the President incapable of executing the duties of his office," after which Pence would immediately exercise powers as acting U.S. president.
"We are calling on the Vice President to respond within 24 hours," the top congressional Democrat wrote. "Next, we will proceed with bringing impeachment legislation to the Floor."
The announcement came as Trump is facing fierce bipartisan criticism for a role in massive demonstrations on Capitol Hill last week that led to at least five deaths and dozens of injuries following a chaotic and violent breach of the historic building when Congress was certifying President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 White House race.
House Democrats have announced they plan to bring forward at least one article of impeachment against Trump this week, accusing him of "incitement of insurrection" at the Capitol.
The U.S. Constitution provides that the House "shall have the sole Power of Impeachment" and that "the Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments." Through the impeachment process, the U.S. Congress charges and then tries an official of the federal government for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Conviction can only happen in the Senate and requires at least two-thirds of its members, or 67 senators, to vote in favor of at least one article of impeachment after a trial. The chamber could try the impeachment of an official after he or she leaves office, legal experts said.
