Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that the House will first vote to push Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, and after 24 hours will proceed with legislation to impeach President Donald Trump.
Pelosi made the announcement late Sunday in a letter to colleagues, calling Mr. Trump a threat to democracy.
The articles of impeachment accuse the president of inciting a chaotic scene at the U.S. Capitol that led to the deaths of at least five people, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer.
According to CBS News, the bill has almost 160 cosponsors, "a sign of the broad support among House Democrats to take action in the wake of the violence at the U.S. Capitol earlier this week."
The articles were written by Congressman Ted Lieu of California and Congressman David Cicilline of Rhode Island. Jamie Raskin of Maryland also contributed.
They started drafting the bill while sheltering in place Wednesday in the Capitol complex.
"When the fear for our safety passed, it morphed into anger as we watched what was happening on TV, and we just decided this cannot happen again and we have to hold Donald Trump accountable," said Lieu, a guest on KCBS Radio's "The State of California." "So, we started drafting the articles of impeachment while sheltering in David Cicilline's office."
Democrats are reportedly for the measure in overwhelming numbers, with just one - Oregon’s Kurt Schrader - dissenting.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi challenged Vice President Mike Pence and the president’s Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment on Thursday, and prefers to have Trump removed from office that way.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also expressed his support for the 25th Amendment, as have many other lawmakers.
When asked about possibly removing Trump from office, President-elect Joe Biden said "what the Congress decides to do if for them to decide."
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