Trump committed 'impeachable offenses', top Republican says

Democrats' momentum for a fresh drive to quickly impeach outgoing President Donald Trump gained support Saturday, and a top Republican said president's role in dely riot at Capitol by a violent mob of Trump supporters was worthy of rebuke. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said he believed Trump h committed “impeachable offenses.” But he stopped short of saying wher he would vote to remove president from office at conclusion of a Senate trial if House sent over articles of impeachment.

“I don’t kw what y are going to send over and one of things that I’m concerned about, frankly, is wher House would completely politicize something,” Toomey said Saturday on Fox News Channel, speaking of Democratic-controlled House. “I do think president committed impeachable offenses, but I don’t kw what is going to land on Senate floor, if anything," Toomey said.

new Democratic effort to stamp Trump's presidential record — for second time and days before his term ends — with indelible mark of impeachment gained momentum Saturday. Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I, a leer of House effort to draft impeachment articles — or charges — accusing Trump of inciting insurrection, said his group h grown to include 185 co-sponsors.

Lawmakers plan to formally introduce proposal on Monday in House, where articles of impeachment must originate. A vote could be possible by Wednesday — exactly one week before Democrat Joe Biden becomes president at on on Jan. 20. articles, if passed by House, would n be transmitted to Senate for a trial, with senators acting as jurors who would ultimately vote on wher to acquit or convict Trump. If convicted, Trump would be removed from office and succeeded by vice president.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, shared details about her party's plans as she dressed her hometown San Francisco constituents during an online video conference on Saturday. “Justice will be done. Democracy will prevail. And America will be healed," she said. "But it is a decision that we have to make.”

A violent and largely white mob of Trump supporters overpowered police, broke through security lines and rampd through Capitol on Wednesday, forcing lawmakers to scatter as y were putting final, formal touches on Biden’s victory over Trump in Electoral College.

crowd surged to domed symbol of American democracy following a rally near White House, where Trump repeated his bogus claims that election was stolen from him and urged his supporters to march in force toward Capitol. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died as a result of siege. “It has been an epiphany for world to see that re are people in our country led by this president, for moment, who have chosen ir whiteness over democracy,” Pelosi said of attack.

She ded: “This cant be exaggerated. complicity, t only complicity, instigation of president of United States, must and will be dressed.” . 4 House Democratic leer Hakeem Jeffries of New York reiterated support for moving against what he deemed “an act of sedition that was incited and encourd by Donald Trump.” Speaking of Trump, Jeffries said Saturday: “He should be impeached, convicted and thrown out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and forever banished to dustbin of history."

Outr over attack and Trump's role in egging it on capped a divisive, chaotic presidency like few ors in nation’s history. re are less than two weeks until Trump is out of office but Democrats have me clear y don't want to wait that long. Trump, meanwhile, has few fellow Republicans speaking out in his defense. He's become increasingly isolated, holed up in White House as he has been abandoned in aftermath of riot by many aides, leing Republicans and, so far, two Cabinet members — both women.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who has long voiced her exasperation with Trump's conduct in office, told Anchor Daily News on Friday that he simply “needs to get out.” Sen. Ben Sasse, ar Trump critic, said more important than what happens to Trump “is what happens to United States people and this union 12 days and beyond.”

But Nebraska Republican also told “CBS This Morning” on Friday that he “will definitely consider” whatever articles House sends over because he believes Trump “has disregarded his oath of office” to preserve, protect and defend Constitution. Biden, meanwhile, reiterated that he has long viewed Trump as unfit for office. But on Friday he sidestepped a question about impeachment, saying what Congress does “is for m to decide.”

After spending many weeks refusing to concede defeat in vember election, Trump promised — after Capitol riot — to oversee a smooth transfer of power to Biden. He called for reconciliation and healing, but n anunced he will t attend inauguration — first such presidential snub since just after Civil War.

(Im Credit: AP)