Alabama’s Sewell: Trump must immediately be removed from office

Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07) the past two days has called for the removal of President Donald J. Trump from office.

Sewell previously voted to impeach Trump on two separate charges last year. Now, she is again calling for him to be stripped of the presidency — this time more urgently following the violence and criminal behavior that occurred during rioting at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

The congresswoman, who represents Selma and parts of Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery, first made her thoughts clear in a Thursday tweet.

“President Trump is a threat to our democracy and is incapable of carrying out his oath of office,” she said. “There must be consequences for inciting violence and his abject failure to defend the Capitol yesterday.”

“He must be removed from office — either by the 25th Amendment or impeachment,” Sewell added.

On Friday, following the news that a Capitol police officer has died from injuries sustained from being attacked during the riot, Sewell tweeted, “The President’s words matter. Trump incited the violence that led to the death of several Americans, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer.”

“He must be held accountable,” she reiterated.

Sewell is now the sole Democrat in Alabama’s congressional delegation after the start of the 117th Congress on Sunday.

She was sworn into her sixth term after running unopposed in November’s general election. Sewell has held several leadership positions during her tenure, including freshman class president in the 112th Congress.

She has served as a chief deputy whip since the 113th Congress. Sewell sits on the Steering and Policy Committee, which sets the policy direction of the Democratic Caucus. She also serves as vice chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, sitting on three subcommittees: the Subcommittee on Health; the Subcommittee on Trade; and the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.

Additionally, Sewell serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is currently the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Defense Intelligence and Warfighter Support.

Top Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), have called for Trump’s immediate removal from office via the 25th Amendment or impeachment. Two Trump cabinet members resigned on Thursday in opposition to Wednesday’s events, making it more unlikely the 25th Amendment will be invoked.

Trump on Thursday evening posted a video promising a peaceful transition of power and acknowledging that President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office on January 20. On Friday, Trump announced he will not attend the inauguration.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn