While the top Democrats in Congress threatened to impeach President Trump for the second time, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Thursday that he was not part of any discussions among cabinet members to sideline Trump by declaring him unfit to do his job. “Nor do I expect to have any” part in such talk, said Perdue during a trip to Georgia.
A pro-Trump mob numbering in the hundreds broke into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, shortly after Trump told a rally that he would never concede his loss to President-elect Joe Biden, and interrupted the counting of Electoral College votes that confirmed the Democrat’s victory. Police shot and killed one rioter. Members of the attempted insurrection carried Confederate flags and vandalized parts of the building.
“You know, I’ve been a supporter of the president based on his policies,” said Perdue. “I think inciting people to not have a peaceful transition of power was not the right thing to do, and I’m disappointed in that.”
Perdue also indicated he would remain at the USDA for the final two weeks of Trump’s term. “I know some people have issued their resignations, which is their prerogative,” he said. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced her resignation, effective Monday, citing the “traumatic and entirely avoidable event … supporters of the president stormed the Capitol following a rally he addressed.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called on Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet to use the 25th Amendment to strip Trump of power or they would impeach him again. “If he wants to be unique and doubly impeached, it’s kind of up to him and his cabinet,” said Pelosi. She urged reporters: “Ask each member of the cabinet. Do they stand by these actions?”
Under the 25th Amendment, Pence would become acting president if he and a majority of cabinet members declare, in a written statement to Congress, that Trump is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” There have been discussions “among some members of Donald Trump’s cabinet and his allies over invoking the 25th Amendment,” said ABC News. However, an administration official told McClatchy that Pence has not spoken to cabinet members about the idea.
“I have not,” replied Perdue when asked if he was part of discussions about sidelining Trump or had heard of discussions. “I’ve had no contact with other cabinet members in that area. Nor do I expect to have any.” Perdue spoke to reporters before announcing a $4.6 million rural broadband grant in Claxton, Georgia. The USDA provided a recording of his comments.
Farm groups condemned the invasion of the Capitol. “We emphatically reject the rhetoric of elected officials whose words encouraged and perpetuated yesterday’s assault on our democracy,” said the National Milk Producers Federation. Said the American Farm Bureau Federation, “This nation was founded on the belief that we can debate our differences without resorting to violence. Storming the U.S. Capitol — or any federal building — and threatening the lives of police officers, first responders, and elected leaders is not the answer.”