TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY (WSKG) – Following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, some members of Congress are calling on the president to be removed from office.
In this image from video, Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., speaks as the House reconvenes to debate the objection to confirm the Electoral College vote from Arizona, after protesters stormed into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (House Television via AP)
Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23) is not one of them.
Reed said he’s encouraged by a statement tweeted by a presidential aide, which reports Trump is committed to an orderly transition on January 20th.
“That was a very positive sign that we are going to go through the next 13 days the way that we should. Without anymore of this type of rhetoric, anymore of this type of incitement,” he said.
The tweet also included Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that the election was stolen. Court challenges to the election results have been defeated or dismissed.
Reed said pursuing impeachment would be the wrong thing to do.
The Republican Congressman said invoking the 25th Amendment isn’t appropriate either. That allows the Vice President to take over for the President if the President is deemed unfit for office.
Reed said it wouldn’t help unite people.
“You still have to remember that there are still millions of Americans out there that are filled with this anger, filled with this fear,” Reed said.
New York U. S. Senator and soon-to-be Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is among those in Congress calling for Trump’s impeachment or the use of the 25th Amendment.
But, Reed said he disagrees with those who say the president is unfit to continue holding office.
Reed recognized former Vice President Joe Biden as the winner of the election in November. He voted to certify the Electoral College vote.