Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Calling on Vice President Pence to Convene and Mobilize the Cabinet to Activate Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to Declare President Donald J. Trump Incapable of Executing the Duties of His Office; and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness and anger over the events that transpired on January 6, and I rise with steadfast determination to take every possible action to ensure that those who incited and committed the unconscionable acts on that day are brought to justice.

Last week's violent insurrection on the U.S. Capitol left at least six people dead and dozens injured. It was a stain on our Nation and our democracy. They beat police officers, they murdered a police officer, they planted pipe bombs, they brandished weapons, and they left our Nation shocked and mourning.

Just as this Congress returned mere hours after this insurrection to certify the lawful results of the 2020 Presidential election, we stand here today prepared to take firm, decisive, and necessary action to restore our country.

No President who invites thousands of his most devoted supporters to Washington and urges them to fight his political enemies by committing a seditious act on our democracy should be allowed to remain in office.

If the Vice President does not act to hold the President accountable, then we leave this Nation vulnerable to future demagogues.

That brings us here today, on this somber day, to carry out our sacred oath to defend and protect the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Mr. Speaker, I will vote to impeach those responsible, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness and anger over the events that transpired on January 6th, and steadfast determination to take every possible action to ensure those who incited and committed the unconscionable acts on that day are brought to justice.

Last week's violent insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, which has left at least five people dead and dozens injured, was a stain on our nation and our democracy. The President's blatantly false claims about election fraud, which were parroted by current administration officials and members of the House and Senate, finally reached a tipping point last week when these boldface lies gave way to a violent assault on our nation's Capitol. Even after 64 failed attempts in federal court to substantiate the baseless claims about election fraud, the President, his administration, and members of Congress continued to double down and use these mistruths to incite a mob to stage a bloody insurrection against the United States Government. They beat and murdered police officers, they planted pipe bombs, brandished weapons, and left our nation shocked and in mourning.

What does it mean, then, for America that a sitting President invited thousands of his most fervent supporters to Washington and incited them to commence a violent occupation of the world's citadel of democracy-- the United States Capitol?

Without a proper check and proportional response to these events, we will be doomed to re-live the same hell over and over again. In time, we will lose our democracy, our hallowed institutions, and irreparably tear at the very fabric of our nation. As elected leaders of this nation, we have a right, but more importantly, a moral obligation to respond to those who incited this riot in the strongest possible terms.

Just as this Congress returned mere hours after this insurrection to certify the lawful results of the 2020 Presidential election, we stand here today prepared to take firm, decisive, and necessary action to restore our country from the heinous state it spiraled into on 1/6/ 2021.

Mr. Speaker I rise today to implore the Vice President of the United States and the members of the President's cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove this dangerous President from office before he can inflict more harm on our nation. It's time for the Vice President to stand up for American democracy. I will also join my colleagues in supporting articles of impeachment against the President.

The President's violent rhetoric and actions pose a significant threat to our nation with every passing minute that he's allowed to remain in office. No President who invites thousands of his most devoted supporters to Washington and urges them to ``fight'' his political enemies by committing a seditious attack on our Capitol should be allowed to remain in office. Our nation has endured and persevered through so much, and it will survive this President. But if we do not act and hold him accountable, then we will leave our nation vulnerable to a future demagogue. That brings us here on this somber day to carry out our sacred oath to defend and protect the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic.

I will vote to impeach this President, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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