Democrats push for second Trump impeachment after mayhem at US Capitol

Democratic leaders called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Pence refused to take steps to remove the president from power

With less than two weeks left in Trump’s term, it was not clear whether enough time remained to complete the process

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Supporters of US President Donald Trump gather in front of the US Capitol in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:24pm, 8 Jan 2021Updated: 10:00pm, 8 Jan 2021

Congressional Democrats on Friday weighed impeaching President Donald Trump for a second time, two days after his false claims of election fraud helped encourage a group of protesters that stormed the US Capitol.

Democratic leaders including House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Vice-President Mike Pence and Trump’s cabinet refused to take steps to remove the president from power.

“The president’s dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office,” they said in a statement on Thursday evening, accusing Trump of inciting an “insurrection.”

As calls for his ouster mounted on Thursday, Trump released a video in which he denounced the violence that left five people dead.

The Republican president came the closest yet to conceding his loss in the November 3 presidential election, promising to ensure a smooth transition to a “new administration”. President-elect Joe Biden, a Democrat, is set to be sworn in on January 20.