Donald Trump must ‘go away as soon as possible’: Republican senator

A second Republican senator in the United States has called on Donald Trump to step down after some of the president’s supporters overran the Capitol building in Washington, DC this week in a deadly riot.

In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press news programme on Sunday, Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey said Trump should resign for the good of the country.

“I think the best way for our country is for the president to resign and go away as soon as possible,” he said.

Toomey said president’s resignation is the “best path forward, the best way to get this person in the rear-view mirror for us”, but added that he did not believe Trump would step down before his term ends on January 20.

He also said the president’s role encouraging the riot was an “impeachable offence”.

Lieu said Sunday that 195 lawmakers backed the impeachment article.

A day earlier, the California Democrat said he had requested that the New York State Bar Association investigate Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, “for his involvement in the violent insurrection on Capitol Hill”.

“Giulianli [sic] must be disbarred and held accountable,” Lieu tweeted.

We’re requesting @NYSBA investigate @POTUS attorney @RudyGiulianli for his involvement in the violent insurrection on Capitol Hill in which five people died, including a @uscapitol police officer. Giulianli must be disbarred and held accountable. Our letter with @RepJones ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/bH1N9U0769

— Rep. Ted Lieu (@RepTedLieu) January 9, 2021

Also on Sunday, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said the congressional chamber could vote this week to impeach Trump, but delay sending the legislation to the US Senate until after many of President-elect Joe Biden’s nominated cabinet secretaries are confirmed for their posts.