Republican Senator Pat Toomey has called for President Trump to resign before he is set to leave office on January 20th.
According to the Pennsylvania senator, Trump is directly to blame for inciting a crowd that gathered outside of the U.S. Capitol building before breaking through security barricades and entering into the building.
The invasion of the U.S. Capitol building occurred when its members were debating whether or not to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Some of those involved were identified as conservatives and supporters of the president. Some of them were supporters of QAnon, some were carrying Confederacy flags, and some were alleged to be Antifa members in disguise. The identities of about 50 people who participated in the riots have been officially confirmed as they were arrested and are now facing various felony charges.
“The best way for our country is for the president to resign and go away as soon as possible,” Toomey said during an interview with NBC News from Zionville, PA.
Watch a clip of the interview below:
.@SenToomey says President Trump should resign.
“The best way for our country is for the president to resign and go away as soon as possible.” pic.twitter.com/5HUuANG0lE
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 10, 2021
Toomey joins Sen. Lisa Murkowski as the only Republicans who have publicly called for Trump to leave office before January 20th. Neither has stated how they would ultimately vote regarding a new effort to impeach the president.
The new effort is being spearheaded by Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who described Trump’s actions as “dangerous and seditious.”
“Nearly fifty years ago, after years of enabling their rogue President, Republicans in Congress finally told President Nixon that it was time to go,” Pelosi wrote in a letter, per Axios. “Today, following the President’s dangerous and seditious acts, Republicans in Congress need to follow that example and call on Trump to depart his office – immediately.”
The Associated Press reports House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said the House could move as quickly as this week to formally launch the impeachment effort but could delay sending the Senate the impeachment articles until a later date.
Clyburn explained: “It may be Tuesday or Wednesday before action is taken, but I think it will be taken this week.”