Politics & Government

25th Amendment Resolution: How Rep. Donald Norcross Voted

The House of Representatives voted on a resolution asking Vice President Mike Pence to begin the process to remove President Donald Trump.

NEW JERSEY — The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday on a resolution asking Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office.

Rep. Donald Norcross, a Democrat with a history of favoring the removal of Trump from office, voted yes on the resolution.

The resolution, which passed 223-205, states that Trump “widely advertised and broadly encouraged” protests that led to last week’s violence and insurrection at the Capitol building, according to a report from NPR. It urges Pence to invoke his powers to declare Trump unfit for office “immediately” and assume all powers and responsibility of the presidency.

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"What took place (the Capitol riot) is absolutely intolerable and unacceptable," Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said in support of the resolution. It is "very clear the president did not discharge the proper duties of office."

Rep. Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican, called the resolution "misguided and inappropriate."

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"The majority is asking the House to assume a power it does not have," Cole said, pointing to the power of invoking the 25th Amendment that lies with "the vice president and Cabinet alone."

If Pence does not respond to the resolution within 24 hours, according to several reports, leaders in the House plan to begin impeachment proceedings.

If that occurs, Trump would become the first president in United States history to be impeached a second time. To be removed, he will need to be convicted by the Senate.

Last year, Norcross was one of 10 members of the New Jersey delegation to vote in favor of impeaching Trump, and charge him with abusing his office and obstructing Congress.

As early as May 2019, he said Trump needs to be held accountable for stonewalling Congressional investigations into possible collusion with Russia during the 2016 elections.

Last week, after the riots, he said Trump should "resign in disgrace." Norcross represents parts of Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties.

House members were meeting in committee on the 25th Amendment resolution at 11 a.m. ET. A vote is set on the full House of Representatives floor later on Tuesday, according to a report from CNN.

Trump is seven days away from the end of his term, with President-elect Joe Biden set to become America’s 46th president on Jan. 20.

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