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Inciting A Coup Makes Trump Unfit for Office

January 7, 2021
e-Newsletter

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

Yesterday was a sad and dangerous day for our nation. The President of the United States incited domestic terrorists to attack the U.S. Capitol, putting Members of Congress, Capitol staff, the U.S. Capitol Police, members of the press, and citizens in harm's way. It was a clear attempt to disrupt Congress's constitutional duty to affirm the 2020 presidential election results and to overthrow America's democracy.

For me, the U.S. Capitol, where I have served for 20 years, is a very special place; it represents American democracy. Those who desecrated our nation's Capitol did so with the encouragement and full consent of the president. The President of the United States betrayed his oath of office to protect and defend our nation's democracy from enemies foreign and domestic. He put the American people in danger.

For four years, President Trump has distorted, lied, and disgraced the office of the presidency. He has already been impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice – and the immediate peril facing our democracy and national security means we cannot wait for another impeachment trial. The next 13 days until inauguration are truly treacherous days for our nation. It is clear that Mr. Trump's mental state presents a clear and present threat to our nation. He does not have the capacity to execute his duties. In such a dire and urgent situation, the U.S. Constitution provides a remedy.

For the sake of the principles on which our country was founded, I am calling upon Vice President Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and use their constitutional authority to remove Donald Trump from office now to allow for a peaceful transfer of power.

Yesterday, I was forced to be locked down in our nation's capitol. I had time to reflect on where we are as a nation and our country's future. The last time we as a nation experienced such an extraordinary national crisis was on September 11, 2001. In Washington, I could see the smoke rising from the Pentagon. Together we witnessed planes, hijacked by terrorists, that crashed into the Twin Towers and one that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania – but it was aiming for the U.S. Capitol. That was a foreign attack. Yesterday was an act of domestic terrorism. It was terrifying, disgraceful, and worst of all, it was inspired and condoned by the President of the United States. That makes him unfit to serve. He must be removed immediately.

Just before 4 a.m. today, January 7, I walked from my office over to the House chamber to participate in my constitutional duty to confirm the Electoral College results. The facts are clear: President Trump lost the election. The next President of the United States will be Joe Biden and the next Vice President will be Kamala Harris. No terroristic mob can stop us from doing our constitutional duty.

I am so proud to work for the families of Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District, and will continue to do so with your support and to the best of my ability.

Be safe, and as always, thank you for being an informed and engaged constituent.

Sincerely,
Rep Betty McCollum's signature

Betty McCollum
Member of Congress

Issues:Defense & National Security