UPDATED: Rep. Adam Kinzinger Calls On Cabinet To Invoke 25th Amendment

By Susie Madrak — January 7, 2021

He said he has no backers yet, but he expects the numbers of supporters to grow. (UPDATE: He was right.) Via Mystateline.com:

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-16th Dist.) is calling for President Donald Trump to be removed from office by use of the 25th Amendment after a mob of the president’s supporters stormed and damaged the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

“Sadly, yesterday it became evident that not only has the President abdicated his duty to protect the American people and the People’s House, he invoked and enflamed passions that gave fuel to the insurrection that we saw. When pressed to denounce the violence, he barely did so, while victimizing himself and seeming to give a wink and a nod to those doing it,” Kinzinger said in a message posted to Twitter.

“All indications are that the President has become unmoored, not just from his duty or his oath, but from reality itself. It is for this reason that I call on the Vice President and members of the cabinet to ensure the next few weeks are safe for the American people, and that we have a sane captain of the ship.”

“It’s time to invoke the 25th Amendment and end this nightmare,” Kinzinger said. “Here’s the truth: the President caused this. The President is unfit and the President is unwell, and the President must now relinquish control of the Executive Branch voluntarily or involuntarily.”

JUST IN: Rep. Kinzinger becomes the first Republican congressman to call for invoking the 25th Amendment.

"I am acting alone. I wouldn't be surprised if others do join me. I think there is a feeling that something needs to be done." pic.twitter.com/ShVsmbTMpG

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 7, 2021

UPDATE: The dam has broken.

The number of members of Congress calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked or impeachment and removal is over 60 now and growing.

— Travis Akers (@travisakers) January 7, 2021

Incoming Majority Leader Chuck Schumer

This is what leadership look like https://t.co/ZdesB8nNUw

— Zac Petkanas (@Zac_Petkanas) January 7, 2021

Chuck Schumer: If Trump's cabinet members "refuse to stand up" and remove him from office by the 25th Amendment, "Congress should reconvene to impeach the president." pic.twitter.com/SsMaVTWOvS

— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) January 7, 2021

Trump is absolutely unfit and should be removed from office. If we can do it by Jan 20 by impeachment, I am all for it. The cabinet and VP can and should invoke the 25th Amendment TODAY. And there should be criminal investigations and prosecutions. Justice demands accountability.

— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) January 7, 2021

The President should not serve another day in office. I encourage members of his Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove him. We must defend our nation and preserve our democracy.

— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) January 7, 2021

For the sake of our republic, the 25th Amendment must be invoked.

— Rep. Joe Neguse (@RepJoeNeguse) January 7, 2021

Governor JB Pritzker and several members of Congress from Illinois have called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office immediately, including the possibility of using the 25th Amendmen, after a riot at the U.S. Capitol. https://t.co/Df2ovBgSFy

— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) January 7, 2021

At a presser in NY, Sen. Schumer said he and Speaker Pelosi tried to call VP Pence this morning to tell him to invoke the 25th Amendment. "They kept us on hold for 25 minutes and then said the vice president wouldn’t come on the phone," Schumer said.

— Jack Turman III (@jackturmanIII) January 7, 2021