Pence not ruling out option to invoke the 25th Amendment [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Despite last Wednesday’s insurrection, Vice President Mike Pence was not considering to invoke the 25th Amendment against President Donald Trump.
• Trump was angered by Pence’s action to proceed with certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
• The two highest US officials have not yet spoken with each other since Wednesday’s chaos.

According to a source close to Vice President Mike Pence, the second Commander-in-Chief has closed out any move to invoke the 25th Amendment but would opt to do so if President Donald Trump ‘becomes unstable.’

There’s a growing concern in the White House as the vice president team believed that invoking the 25th Amendment or leading an impeachment process could make Trump do more damage to the country, the source suggested.

Per another source, Trump and Pence have not yet spoken to each other since the Capitol riot on Wednesday, which ended in chaos and five fatalities. 

The president did not also react to online death threats against Pence.

Trump is reportedly angry at Pence while the vice president was saddened and dismayed because of the president’s latest behavior, according to two sources who knew the issue.

One source even said that the vice president has finally “gotten a glimpse of POTUS’ vindictiveness.”

In his early Wednesday rally, Trump urged his supporters to march at the Capitol and pointed to Mike Pence, saying: “I hope you’re gonna stand up for the good of our Constitution and for the good of our country, and if you’re not, I’m going to be very disappointed in you, I will tell you right now. I’m not hearing good stories.”

In a previous report by CNN, Pence’s aides were appalled at Trump for not monitoring the vice president and ensuring his safety as rioters forced their way inside the Capitol.

Wednesday’s session that resulted in chaos was the first time that Pence has publicly rebuked Trump’s action. Usually, the vice president was one of Trump’s staunch allies, working quietly in the background as he lobbied for the president’s agendas throughout his campaign and in the Senate.

On Thursday, sources in touch with Pence noted that it was “highly unlikely” that he would invoke the 25th Amendment since he did not discuss the matter with any Cabinet official, according to a White House aide who spoke with CNN. 

The source emphasized, though, that it would still be necessary to consider the 25th Amendment given Trump’s latest conduct.

Pence was put in jeopardy when Trump asked him to use his position to flip over the election results during the Congress joint session on Wednesday.

The vice president, who was seating as Senate President, opened the session, issuing a statement to Congress that he would adhere to what the Constitution directs him to do.

Source: CNN.com