Sen. Toomey Calls On Trump To Resign As House Moves To Impeach

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey has called for President Donald Trump's resignation in the wake of the riots that breached the U.S. Capitol last week. Toomey has joined Lisa Murkowski of Alaska as Republicans who have advocated that Trump step down from office.

"I think at this point with just a few days left [in Trump's term], it's the best path forward, the best way to get this person in the rearview mirror for us," Toomey told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. "That could happen immediately. I'm not optimistic it will, but I do think that would be the best way forward."

"The best way for our country," Toomey said on NBC News' "Meet the Press," is "for the president to resign and go away as soon as possible. I acknowledge that may not be likely, but that would be best."

Meanwhile, the House on Monday introduced an article of impeachment against the president for inciting a mob, the New York Times reported.

Other lawmakers say they support using the Constitution's 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.

U.S. Representatives Dwight Evans and Brendan Boyle, both of Philadelphia, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Chester County all favor using the 25th Amendment. Taking that step would require Vice President Mike Pence and the president's Cabinet voting to oust Trump due to an inability to carry out his duties.

They have joined Pennsylvania Sen. Robert Casey and Democratic U.S. representatives Mike Doyle of Allegheny County, Mary Gay Scanlon of Delaware County and Madeline Dean of Montgomery and Berks counties in wanting Trump gone before his term expires on Jan. 20. Nationally, 199 Democratic representatives, 38 Democratic senators and one Republican senator want Trump removed, according to CNN.

Evans, Boyle and Houlahan have announced via Twitter their desire to oust Trump. Evans said he would be willing to sponsor articles of impeachment as well.

Following last week's rioting at the Capitol, Toomey, who will retire in 2022, told Fox News on Saturday that Trump has committed "impeachable offenses." Murkowski on Friday became the first Republican senator to call for Trump's resignation.