The Latest: Toomey Is 2nd GOP Senator To Urge Trump To Quit

WASHINGTON: The Latest on President Donald Trump and impeachment (all times local):

1:05 p.m.

Sen. Roy Blunt says he doesnt see a need for congressional Republicans to hold President Donald Trump accountable for his role in promoting last weeks Capitol riot but warned him to be very careful in his last 10 days in office.

The Missouri Republican called Trumps decisions and actions leading up to last Wednesdays riot clearly reckless. But he says the U.S. should be thinking more about the first day of the next presidency of President-elect Joe Biden than on removing Trump from office.

Blunt says he doesnt think Trump will act recklessly again. He told CBS Face the Nation: My personal view is that the president touched the hot stove on Wednesday and is unlikely to touch it again.

Biden will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE IMPEACHMENT PUSH IN CONGRESS:

Democrats in Congress are laying plans to impeach President Donald Trump and ensure that an unhinged commander in chief in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s words can do no further damage in his remaining days in office. They are trying to send a message to the nation, and the world, that mob violence at the Capitol this past week that was inspired by the White House will not stand.

Read more:

Squelched by Twitter, Trump seeks new online megaphone

Pope prays for dead in Capitol rioting, appeals for calm

In wake of Capitol riot, Americans struggle for answers

No surprise: Trump left many clues he wouldnt go quietly

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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON:

11:55 a.m.

Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries says President Donald Trump is out of control and should be immediately removed from office as a clear and present danger to the health and safety of the American people.

Jeffries, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, says that as a coequal branch of government, its Congress job to keep Trump in check whether by impeachment, demanding his resignation or pushing Trumps Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment declaring him unfit to serve.

The New York Democrat says while Trumps Twitter account may now be permanently suspended, the president still has access to the nations nuclear codes and other weapons of power.

Jeffries pointed to a constitutional responsibility to act. He told NBCs Meet the Press: Donald Trump is completely and totally out of control, and even his long-time enablers have now come to that conclusion.

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10:10 a.m.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn says the House could vote this week to impeach President Donald Trump but delay sending the legislation to the Senate until after many of incoming President Joe Bidens Cabinet secretaries are confirmed for their posts.

The South Carolina Democrat says it may be Tuesday or Wednesday before action is taken, but I think it will be taken this week.

Clyburn says hes concerned that a Senate trial could distract from the process of confirming Bidens nominees.

Mitch McConnell, the Senates Republican leader, has said an impeachment trial could begin as early as Jan. 20 Inauguration Day.

Clyburn says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will decide when to appoint impeachment managers and send the articles to the Senate. He says an option would be to give Biden the 100 days he needs to get his agenda off and running, and maybe well send the articles sometime after that.

Clyburn appeared on CNN’s State of the Union and Fox News Sunday.

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9:40 a.m.

A second Republican senator has called for President Donald Trump to step down in the wake of the Capitol rioting this past week.

This time its Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Hes calling on Trump to resign for what Toomey says would be the good of the country after the Capitol riot that was carried out by supporters of the president.

Toomey says resignation is the best path forward, the best way to get this person in the rear view mirror for us. But Toomey says hes not optimistic that Trump will step down before his term ends on Jan. 20.

Toomey also says that Trumps role in encouraging the riot is an impeachable offense.

Toomey is the second GOP senator to call for Trump to step down, joining Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Trump supporters who were angry over his loss to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. Five people were killed.

Toomey was interviewed Sunday on CNNs State of the Union and NBCs Meet the Press.

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12:15 a.m.

President Donald Trump is facing growing Democratic momentum to impeach him a second time.

And a top Republican, Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, says he thinks Trumps role in encouraging a deadly riot at the Capitol is an impeachable offense.

But Toomey is stopping short of saying he’d vote to remove Trump from office.

A Democratic congressman, David Cicciline of Rhode Island, says an impeachment proposal already has 185 co-sponsors. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is telling Democratic colleagues to be prepared to return to Washington this coming week.

Pelosi says Trump should be held accountable but she hasnt committed to an impeachment vote.

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