He says the President should be held accountable for his actions.
Washington DC (KM) Preparations are underway for an impeachment trial in the US Senate. Last week, the US House of Representatives adopted one article of impeachment against President Donald Trump, accusing him of incitement of insurrection. “Clearly, President Trump incited and directed the rioters to go the Capitol,” he says. “His comments clearly led to that and provoked it.”.
On January 6th, President Trump spoke to supporters in Washington DC, falsely claiming he lost the 2020 election due to fraud. He urged them to go the the Capitol where members of Congress were set to certify the results from the Electoral College which declared Joe Biden the winner. A number of demonstrators broke into the building which led the Capitol Police to get legislators to safe places. Other federal law enforcement personnel and the National Guard from other states, including Maryland, were dispatched to DC to help restore order. Five people died during that time, including two Capitol Police Officers.
There have been arguments against impeaching Trump because he only has days to go before he leaves office. But Trone says the President should be held accountable for his actions. “The impeachment will result in the inability for him to run for President again, to hold federal office. And I think that’s very important. So it will have a serious affect on his future and we need to do it,” Trone says.
Some Republicans have expressed opposition to impeaching Trump, saying it’s divisive, and the nation needs to heal. Trone says the country does need to come together. “But at the same time, we have to have justice. Clearly, the President allowed a huge amount of damage and insurrection in the House and in the Senate,” says Trone.
No date has been scheduled for the Senate impeachment trial.
Trone says he was in the House gallery when the Capitol was stormed. He heard people pounding on the doors. He and other legislators were told to get to safe place and were given gas masks.
“This mob was not an American mob. It was number of very, very evil folks. They were talking about hanging Vice President Pence. He’s a good and honorable man,” Trone says.
Joe Biden is scheduled to be sworn in as President on January 20th outside of the Capitol. Kamala Harris will take the oath of office as Vice President.
By Kevin McManus