25th Amendment Resolution: How Rep. Donald Payne Of NJ Voted

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

Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who represents the 10th District of New Jersey, voted yes on the resolution, which passed 223-205. See the full roll call of results here.

Pence has already sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying he would reject invoking the 25th Amendment, the New York Times reported.

New Jersey's 10th Congressional District covers portions of Essex, Hudson and Union counties, including the following municipalities: Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Montclair, Newark, Orange, South Orange, West Orange, Bayonne, Jersey City, Hillside, Linden, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park and Union Township.

The resolution 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.

"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 Pence does not respond to the resolution within 24 hours, according to several reports, leaders in the House plan to begin impeachment proceedings.

If that occurs, Trump would 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.

President-elect Joe Biden is set to become America’s 46th president on Jan. 20.

This article contains reporting from the Patch national desk

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