After Son's Death, Rep. Raskin Leads Effort To Impeach Trump

SILVER SPRING, MD — A week ago, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland was burying his 25-year-old son. The next day, he and his family were hiding from angry Donald Trump loyalists who stormed the U.S. Capitol. Now, he is leading the effort to impeach the President of the United States.

The violence that erupted on Jan. 6 began after Trump urged his supporters to "fight like hell" against the outcome of the 2020 election. It resulted in at least five deaths and drew condemnation from U.S. lawmakers, as well as foreign leaders like British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Raskin — whose district encompasses parts of Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties — spent last week drafting an article of impeachment against Trump, charging him with "incitement of insurrection" for his role in the Capitol attack.

The impeachment article states that Trump has "demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law."

The measure was introduced in the House on Monday. The following day, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named Raskin and eight other representatives as the lead impeachment managers of Trump's impeachment trial.

"(W)hat took place is absolutely intolerable and unacceptable," Raskin, a constitutional law expert, said. "It is critical for us now to make clear that this was an absolute dereliction of presidential duty. It is very clear that the President did not discharge the proper duties of office."

House Democrats voted 232-197 in favor to impeach Trump on Wednesday, making Trump the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice.

Here's how Maryland's House delegation voted and what comes next.

Trump is a week away from the end of his term, with Joe Biden set to become America's 46th president on Jan. 20.

But some Republican leaders are urging Trump to leave the White House early.

A day after the insurrection, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said it would be best if the president resigned and Vice President Mike Pence took over.

"There's no question that America would be better off if the president would resign or be removed from office and if Mike Pence (R), vice president of the United States, would conduct a peaceful transition of power ... until President Biden is sworn in," he said.

Another Republican who publicly called for Trump to step down was Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

"I think the best way for our country is for the president to resign and go away as soon as possible," Toomey said in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

The Republican lawmaker, who supported Trump until recently, is not seeking reelection in 2022.

SEE ALSO:

• 'A Radiant Light:' Grieving Raskin Family Remembers Late Son
• Rep. Raskin's Family At Capitol When It Was Overrun By Rioters
• County Officials Support House Dems' Resolution To Impeach Trump