CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker called on the U.S. Congress to impeach and remove President Donald Trump after he continued to falsely claim the presidential election was stolen after demonstrators stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday.
In a statement posted to Twitter Wednesday night, Pritzker said in part:
“There is no doubt in my mind that his efforts to encourage a coup represent high treason to this democracy, our Constitution and all Americans. He poses a danger to our nation. He must be impeached and removed from office immediately.”
Governor JB Pritzker
After Trump held a rally in Washington D.C. Wednesday, demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Capitol as Congress met inside, intending to vote and affirm Joe Biden’s presidential win.
The Capitol was put on lockdown and voting halted after demonstrators stormed the building. Law enforcement officers secured the Capitol Wednesday night.
In a statement posted to Twitter which was later removed, Trump called on demonstrators to go home but continued to falsely claim the U.S. presidential election was stolen.
In another statement Trump said “these are the things and events that happen” when a “landslide victory” is “vicously stripped away from great patriots.”
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle criticized Trump’s response and the behavior of demonstrators at the Capitol.
Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16th District) called the storming of the Capitol a “coup attempt.”
In a statement posted to Twitter, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot accused Trump of encouraging his supporters to commit acts of violence.
“President Trump and his enablers incited this violence. Shame on every elected official in Congress and elsewhere who fomented this anti-democratic insurrection by extremists. This is not democracy. This is a disgrace,” Lightfoot said.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5th District) said in a tweet she was drawing up Articles of Impeachment.
“Donald J. Trump should be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate,” Omar said.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
