Clyburn blasts DeVos and Chao for ‘running away’ from 25th Amendment fight

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (R-S.C.) blasted Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao over their decision to step down from their posts, accusing them of “running away” from invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump.

Chao and DeVos are the latest in a wave of resignations from various administration officials in the wake of a riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of the president and are the first two Cabinet secretaries to resign.

“For two Cabinet members to resign, that says to me that they’re running away from their responsibilities,” Clyburn continued. “If they feel that strongly, they would stay there and wait on this meeting where they can cast two of the votes that are necessary to invoke the 25th Amendment. They’re running away.”

If Pence doesn’t remove Trump from office, @WhipClyburn says the House has the votes “to put forth articles of impeachment and [Trump] will be the only president to be impeached twice …
That’s one thing that’s never been done before that he can apply to his resumé.” pic.twitter.com/4ureD8CJQb

— New Day (@NewDay) January 8, 2021

Clyburn’s comment came during an interview on CNN as he was discussing the possibility of Congress impeaching Trump within the final days of his presidency. The Democrat indicated that the 25th Amendment however, would be “the quickest way” to remove Trump.

“You do not need 12 days for the 25th Amendment to be invoked. You can do that in the next 12 hours,” he said. “But if they don’t do it, then I believe that within the next six or seven days, we can impeach.”

Bipartisan calls for Vice President Pence to invoke the amendment emerged over the past couple days after a mob of Trump’s supporters rioted at the U.S. Capitol as Congress was certifying the Electoral College vote on Wednesday.

However, Pence is reportedly against invoking the 25th Amendment, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) has vowed to impeach Trump a second time if Pence didn’t do it.

Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) said in a separate interview on CNN Friday that articles could be brought to the floor “as early as mid-next week.”

When asked if Clark’s timeline was realistic, Clyburn said “oh, I think so,” noting that several representatives have drafted articles of impeachment.

“Remember now, more than one member has proposed impeachment, so impeachment won’t be new,” Clyburn said, noting that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) would have to fast track the process.

“But more than one member has put forward impeachment articles.”