RICHMOND, Va. -- Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner expressed support Thursday for removing President Donald Trump from office via the 25th amendment.
"We can't have him even for 10 days, I don't think as our president, Commander-in-Chief. And so this is something that the vice president, cabinet can do, and they can do it right now," said Kaine.
The senators join more than a dozen Democrats and at least one Republican representative in calling on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment.
"I absolutely believe it should be on the table. And I've been in contact with members of the Trump cabinet that I have relationships with and urging them to decide how they want to be recorded in history," said Warner.
Warner later tweeted, the President was "unfit to remain in office for the next 2 weeks."
"Every minute he’s in power, he continues to be a threat to our security. It’s time for the 25th Amendment," he continued.
This president is unfit to remain in office for the next 2 weeks. Every minute he’s in power, he continues to be a threat to our security. It’s time for the 25th Amendment.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) January 7, 2021
A mob of Pro-Trump protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol Thursday, prompting the Capitol to lock down and lawmakers to evacuate and some to hide under tables.
Kaine called the Capitol riot domestic terrorism, an insurrection, and an attempt to overthrow the U.S. Government -- that was all inspired by President Trump and his enablers by spreading lies about the results of the November 3 election.
Warner called those who stormed the Capitol "thugs" and "insurrectionists."
They also shared criticism for the lawmakers who continued to object to the election results even after police secured the Capitol -- with Kaine going after the four Virginia congressmen -- calling them "spineless" for objecting to another state's results where those voters can't hold them accountable.
CBS 6 reached out to Reps. Ben Cline, Morgan Griffith, Rob Wittman and Bob Good regarding Kaine's remarks.
We've not heard back, but Good and Wittman released statements Thursday about their vote:
"I was proud yesterday to join other Republican conservatives in the House in formally objecting to the electoral votes for six states in question (AZ, GA, MI, NV, PA & WI). While we were unable to prevail in a Democrat-majority House, I also then voted to reject the electoral votes after debate concluded for the two states for which we had concurring senate objections (PA & WI). I will continue to do my best going forward to fight in Congress for the people of Virginia's 5th District and for the principles that have and will continue to make America the greatest nation in our history," Good tweeted.
“I took an oath to defend the Constitution and that is what I will continue to do as the Representative of the First Congressional District of Virginia. That oath led me to vote against certifying the electors from Pennsylvania because of unconstitutional changes to the administration of the 2020 general election, which bypassed the constitutionally vested power of the state legislature and fundamentally changed the state’s election procedures. Simply put, the evidence is clear that Pennsylvania failed to follow the laws and constitutional tenets that govern its elections. Furthermore, the legal challenge to Pennsylvania’s election is still underway and is currently on the docket of the United States Supreme Court," Whittman wrote in part.
