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

Floor Speech

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Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, on January 7 at 4 a.m., I was right outside those doors where, 14 hours earlier, a rioter was shot as she violently tried to enter this Chamber.

It was in that early morning and at that location that I had a brief conversation with Vice President Mike Pence right after we finished certifying the electoral college.

I was proud that we did our job that morning despite the violence we experienced earlier that day, but I knew that was not enough because of the seditious actions by President Trump before that riot and his inaction during that riot. So I said to the Vice President, ``It's up to you to keep us safe.''

Tonight, with the President still in office, I am beyond asking; I am legislating to compel the Vice President to convene the Cabinet, to conclude that the President is not just unable but, clearly, he is unwilling and unworthy to discharge his duties.

So, through this legislation, I ask my colleagues to call on the Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment, yes, to keep us safe and keep this Nation secure.

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