U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who supports the immediate removal of President Donald Trump from office in the wake of the Capitol riots, said every minute he stays in office amounts to "clear and present danger" not only to Congress but the whole country. If Vice President Mike Pence refuses to invoke the 25th amendment, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House is likely to press for the president's impeachment this week.
Making an appearance on This Week with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday, Ocasio-Cortez pushed for the impeachment of the president. She went on to say that their main priority is to make sure Trump is removed from office, adding that he poses a danger to Congress and the United States.
According to the letter obtained by CNN, Pelosi confirmed that the impeachment process could start as early as this week. She noted that this would be done if Pence does not reply to calls to use the 25th Amendment, which would enable the vice president and Trump's cabinet to overthrow the president.
Aside from taking him out of office, Ocasio-Cortez said the House could also move forward with complete barring of the outgoing president from office ever again. Moreover, the House is also considering to stop him from pardoning himself for the charges he has been impeached for.
Some GOP lawmakers asked President-elect Joe Biden in a letter, urging him to request House and Pelosi to stop their attempts to impeach for the second time. Responding to this request, the New York congresswoman pointed out that the healing process doesn't require dropping a potential impeachment but accountability.
In her interview, Ocasio-Cortez noted that what they witness on Wednesday was a rebellion against America. She went on to accuse Trump and people in the Capitol of engaging in such activities, adding that the process of healing is different and requires responsibility, Business Insider reported.
Ocasio-Cortez said if insurrection against the country is allowed without any consequences, then they are inviting it to happen again. Noting that her colleagues weren't present for the events on Wednesday, she noted that nearly half of the House came close to dying when the angry protestors broke into the Capitol.
She said if another head of the state had triggered such an attack on Congress, lawmakers wouldn't let them get away, so Wednesday's riots deserve to be treated that way. She described the attack as an act of insurrection and hostility.