McConnell Approves of Second Impeachment Efforts Against Trump
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is reportedly supporting an impeachment proceeding against U.S. President Donald Trump. One source familiar with the matter said that McConnell is done and furious with Trump.
However, it is still unclear how McConnell would vote in an impeachment trial, if the House Democrats vote to impeach Trump, according to a Fox News report.
A source familiar with the issue said that McConnell has not made up his mind about the impeachment, and does not look at the proceedings as a partisan exercise like the previous impeachment move against Trump.
Another source claimed that McConnell told his fellow GOP members that impeaching Trump would help the party get rid of the president and his movement.
The House is scheduled to vote on Wednesday to formally sue Trump with inciting violence against the country, according to the New York Times report.
McCarthy said last Wednesday that the U.S. and the Congress have met much greater threats than the unhinged crowd that breached the Capitol on the day.
"We have never been deterred before and we will not be deterred today. They tried to disrupt our democracy," McConnell was quoted on a HuffPost report.
The Republican lawmaker added that the riot suspects have failed.
Meanwhile, McConnell's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Related story: Pelosi Calls for Trump Impeachment in Fear He'll Pardon Capitol Rioters
House Impeachment Plans
California Rep. Kevin McCarthy has asked other Republicans whether he should implore on Trump to resign following the riot that took place at the U.S. Capitol, according to three Republican officials familiar with the matter.
McCarthy is one of Trump's most loyal allies in Congress.
The California representative has said that he is opposed to impeachment. However, he and other party leaders have decided not to formally lobby Republicans to vote no.
A McCarthy aide said that the official is open to a measure censuring Trump for his actions.
McCarthy also reached out to a House Democrat official to see if the party would be willing to push through a censure vote.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ruled it out of the options.
Meanwhile, Trump commented on the impeachment proceedings being prepared against him.
The president said that it's a continuation of the greatest witch hunt in the history of politics, according to a New York Magazine report.
"This impeachment is causing tremendous anger, and you're doing it, and it's really a terrible thing that they're doing," Trump was quoted on a report.
Known Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said that Trump simply needs to get out.
Pelosi said that she had discussed the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley the available precautions of preventing "an unstable president" starting military hostilities or accessing the launch codes for a nuclear war.
Pelosi said Milley assured her longstanding safeguards are in place to prevent that from happening.
The president has the only authority to order the launch of a nuclear weapon. However, a military commander could refuse the order if it were identified as illegal, according to a Time report.
Related story: Sen. Roy Blunt Says Trump Should Finish Presidency, Doubts Impeachment Would Happen Before Trump Leaves Office