25th Amendment Resolution: How Rep. Albio Sires Voted

HOBOKEN — The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday night on a resolution asking Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office.

Rep. Albio Sires, a Democrat representing parts of Union, Hudson, and Essex counties, voted yes on the resolution.

Sires released this statement on Wednesday morning: “Last night, I voted in favor of a resolution calling on the vice president to convene the cabinet and activate the 25th Amendment of the Constitution to declare the president incapable of executing his duties of office."

He added, “Today, the House will be considering an article of impeachment against the President for his role in inciting violence against the government of the United States. The words and actions of the president that led to a violent mob storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 are despicable and must be addressed.”

The resolution, which passed 223-205 Tuesday night, states that Trump “widely advertised and broadly encouraged” protests that led to last week’s violence and insurrection at the Capitol building, according to a report from NPR. It urges Pence to invoke his powers to declare Trump unfit for office “immediately” and assume all powers and responsibility of the presidency.

However, Pence declined Tuesday to invoke those powers. Thus, the House will vote to impeach.

"What took place (the Capitol riot) is absolutely intolerable and unacceptable," Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said, in support of the resolution. It is "very clear the president did not discharge the proper duties of office."

Rep. Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican, called the resolution "misguided and inappropriate."

"The majority is asking the House to assume a power it does not have," Cole said, pointing to the power of invoking the 25th Amendment that lies with "the vice president and Cabinet alone."

If leaders in the House undertake impeachment proceedings Wednesday, Trump will become the first president in United States history to be impeached a second time. To be removed, he will need to be convicted by the Senate.

Sires said, "Last night’s resolution, introduced by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and passed by the House, expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Vice President Michael Pence should use his authority under section 4 of the 25th Amendment to mobilize members of the President’s Cabinet to declare that the President is unfit for office and unable to comply with his duties as President. If this step were to be taken, the Vice President would be elevated to the role of the President until January 20th, 2021, when President-Elect Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States."

Rep. Sires is a cosponsor of this legislation.

Trump is eight days away from the end of his term, with President-elect Joe Biden set to become America’s 46th president on Jan. 20. Biden has said he will stick to the traditional outdoor ceremony, despite last week's violence.

Sires' 8th Congressional District includes Hoboken, Elizabeth, Fairview, Belleville, Bayonne, East Newark, Guttenberg, Harrison, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken, and Harrison, and parts of Newark, Jersey City, and Kearny.

Read more: Rep. Sires Signs Resolution To Impeach

Read more: Cop Who Died After Capitol Hill Riots Was From NJ: Gov. Murphy

Here are more reactions from state Republicans and Democrats to the attacks in Washington: 'Attack On Democracy:' NJ Congress Reps Shelter, Decry DC Riots

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