Thread by @didikins4life

Former President Trump incited a violent insurrection against our democracy. He charged up a violent mob to attack the Capitol to stop the Congress from fulfilling our Constitutional duty to count the electoral ballots that have duly elected the next President & Vice President 1/

The mob violently attacked law enforcement and smashed its way into the Capitol, calling for the hanging of the Vice President and hunting the Speaker and Members of Congress. 2/
#Capitol #ImpeachAndConvict

Five Americans have died following this violent attack and more than 50 police officers were seriously injured, including 15 officers who were hospitalized – and without law enforcement’s heroism, the attack could have been even worse. 3/
#Capitol #ImpeachAndConvict

President Trump caused this attack and refused to stop it – using social media to urge his supporters to come to Washington to disrupt the counting of the electoral ballots, 4/
#Capitol #ImpeachAndConvict

Trump encouraged the rioters to ‘march on the Capitol’ and ‘fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.’ The President then ignored or rejected entreaties to call off the mob when it became violent. 5/ #ImpeachAndConvict

There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution. He must be tried and convicted by the Senate. 6/ #ImpeachedTwice #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

The idea that a President could commit any crime, including inciting an insurrection against the United States in an attempt to hold onto power, and escape responsibility if they committed these acts near the end of his or her term, 7/ #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

... or resign just before impeachment, would create an unacceptable risk to the security of our country and our democracy:
A President must be fully accountable from their 1st day in office to their last day in office. 8/ #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

It has always been the case that former officials can be impeached and tried — in fact that has been the standard practice in the United States Senate since the very earliest Congresses— and it would be a dangerous precedent if we were to depart from that practice. 9/ #Convict

The text of the Constitution makes clear that removal is not the only reason to impeach but separately allows for disqualification from holding federal office so that our democracy may be protected from particularly dangerous former officials who reject free & fair elections.10/

A President does not get a constitutional freebie so long as the wrongdoing, no matter how grave, is committed near the end of the term – especially when efforts to hold onto power & remain in office against the will of the people are most likely to happen at the end of a term.11

Republicans inside and outside the Congress have joined in supporting impeachment after President Trump’s attack on the Capitol, doubling the number of Members of Congress to ever support the impeachment of a President of their own party, including: 12/ #ConvictTrump

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY): “Much more will become clear in coming days and weeks, but what we know now is enough.” 13/ #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

“The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the President.” ~ Sen. Liz Cheney R-WY 14/ #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

“The President could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not. There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.” ~ Sen. Liz Cheney R-WY 15/ #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

Rep. Herrera Beutler (R-WA): ‘The President of the United States incited a riot aiming to halt the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next. That riot led to five deaths.” 16/ #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

“People everywhere watched in disbelief as the center of American democracy was assaulted. The violent mob bludgeoned to death a Capitol police officer as they defaced symbols of our freedom.” ~ Rep Jamie Herrera Beutler R-WA #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

“These terrorists roamed the Capitol, hunting the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. […] I believe President Trump acted against his oath of office, so I will vote to impeach him.’ ~ Rep. Jamie Herrara Beutler R-WA #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

Rep. John Katko (R-NY): ‘We take oaths to defend the Constitution because at times, it needs to be defended. Without the peaceful transfer of power and the acknowledgment of election results, we can't sustain our political system.’ 19/
#ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

“Congress is tasked with holding the Executive accountable. To allow the US President to incite this attack without consequence is a direct threat to the future of our democracy. For that reason, I cannot sit by without taking action. I will vote to impeach this President.’ 20/

Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC): ‘It has been a week since so many were injured, the United States Capitol was ransacked, and six people were killed, including two police officers.” 21/ #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

“Yet, the President has not addressed the nation to ask for calm. He has not visited the injured and grieving. He has not offered condolences. “ ~ Rep Tom Rice R-SC 22/ #ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump

“Yesterday in a press briefing at the border, he said his comments were 'perfectly appropriate.' […] I have backed this President through thick & thin for four years. I campaigned for him and voted for him twice. But, this utter failure is inexcusable.’ ~ Rep. Tom Rice R-SC 23/

25 Former GOP Lawmakers: ‘As former Republican Members of Congress, we strongly encourage you to fulfill your constitutional duty to uphold the integrity of the legislative branch and protect American democracy by impeaching President Donald J. Trump.’ 24/ #ConvictTrump

The House of Representatives, on a bipartisan basis, upheld its duty to support and defend the Constitution and voted to impeach President Trump. 25/
#ConvictAndDisqualifyTrump #SenateTrial