At least 5 Republicans would support impeachment 1:24
(CNN) -
The House of Representatives is poised on Wednesday to make Donald Trump the first president in US history to be impeached for the second time with a swift, bipartisan vote, to condemn his role in inciting unrest. in the United States Capitol.
House Democrats and at least a handful of Republicans, including House Republican No. 3, will vote in favor of the trial to impeach Trump just one week after a deadly mob invaded the Capitol, looted the compound and endangered the lives of Vice President Mike Pence and lawmakers.
The speed of the vote and Republican support underscores the fury lawmakers feel at Trump's role in inciting the agitators who took over Capitol Hill after months of false rhetoric about the theft of the election.
The impeachment resolution that the House of Representatives will vote on Wednesday accuses Trump of a single charge: "incitement to insurrection."
ANALYSIS |
Trump's turbulent and anarchic presidency will end with a historic second impeachment trial
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Republicans will vote for impeachment, but it's unclear how many will join
The number of Republicans who will ultimately vote for impeachment remains unclear.
So far, five Republicans have said they will vote to impeach Trump.
While House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Leader Steve Scalise oppose impeachment - arguing it is a divisive response - House Republican No. 3 Liz Cheney, a congressman from Wyoming, announced Tuesday that he would vote in favor, issuing a scathing statement in which he said that "there has never been greater the betrayal of a president of the United States and his oath to the Constitution."
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The division within the Republican Party over Wednesday's vote stands in stark contrast to the impeachment of Trump in 2019, when House Republicans rallied in opposition.
And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated that he believes impeaching Trump will make it easier to get rid of the president and GOP Trumpism, The New York Times, CNN and other outlets reported Tuesday in another. It signals that Republicans are rapidly putting distance between the party and the president who has ruled it for the past four years.
Democrats have rallied quickly around the use of the impeachment in the final days of Trump's presidency to serve as an appropriate response to the president's conduct and as a way to push for his impeachment before the end of his term, although that scenario seems unlikely.
The House of Representatives passed a resolution Tuesday night urging Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from power, but Pence sent a letter - ahead of the vote - saying he would not.
On the other hand, a source close to Trump also told CNN on Tuesday night that "there is no consideration of his resignation", referring to the president, adding: "He will not do that."
Fact Check: No, Impeachment Wouldn't Ban Trump From A Run In 2024
What we know about those suspected of attacking the Capitol 5:24
Democrats want to prosecute Trump for his "inability" to be in office
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has ignored Republican efforts to take different action, such as censorship, in response to Trump's role in the riots.
On Tuesday night, Pelosi appointed the impeachment managers, a team of nine Democrats to be led by Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, in a sign that she does not plan to hesitate to send the impeachment article to the Senate.
"The actions of the president demonstrate his absolute inability to fulfill the most basic and fundamental powers and duties of his office, therefore, the president must be removed from office immediately," Pelosi said in the plenary session of the Chamber, the Tuesday night.
Trump has shown no regrets for his role in last week's attack on Capitol Hill.
On Tuesday, he criticized the second impeachment trial in his first public statements since his supporters invaded the headquarters of the Legislative Branch.
"It's been scrutinized," Trump said of his speech to the crowd last week before the riots.
"People thought what I said was totally appropriate."
Wednesday's impeachment vote threatens to complicate the early days of President-elect Joe Biden's administration, both in his efforts to reach out to Republicans and because the Senate is likely to be tied to a fair trial when Biden takes office.
While McConnell has been quiet about his support for impeachment, he has said that he does not plan to bring the Senate back before January 19, meaning a possible Senate trial is likely to occur that is led by the leader. Most entree, Chuck Schumer.
Both Biden and Schumer have argued that the Senate will try to divide their days while conducting the trial, so that it can confirm Biden-appointed officials and consider stimulus legislation for the crisis generated by the covid-19 pandemic while also carrying out carried out the impeachment.
- CNN's Pamela Brown and Jim Acosta contributed to this report.
Impeachment of Donald Trump