AOC: Trump should be impeached and barred from ever running for office again

Some 195 Democrats have already co-sponsored an article of impeachment against the president for inciting an insurrection

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez believes Donald Trump should be impeached, removed from office, and barred from ever running for president again.

“I absolutely believe that impeachment should be scheduled for several reasons. One, of course, our main priority is to ensure the removal of Donald Trump as president of the United States,” the second-term New York Democratic congresswoman said in an interview on ABC’s “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos.

“Every minute and every hour that he is in office represents a clear and present danger, not just to the United States Congress but frankly to the country,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said.

Her words echo the prevailing sentiment among Democrats in Washington, 195 of whom have already co-sponsored an article of impeachment against the president for inciting an insurrection.

That draft impeachment article has been drawn up by members on the House Judiciary Committee and could reach the floor for a vote early this week.

Mr Trump leaves office in just ten days.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez noted that impeaching the president would allow the Senate not only to remove him from office in the final days of his administration, but also ban him from public office for good.

“In addition to removal, we're also talking about complete barring of the president — or rather of Donald Trump — from running for office ever again. And in addition to that the potential ability to prevent pardoning himself from those charges that he was impeached for,” she said.

Mr Stephanopoulos asked about Republican objections to impeachment proceedings, on the grounds that they would only serve to further divide the country. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez suggested Democrats had a duty not to back down. 

“We have to understand that what happened on Wednesday was insurrection against the United States,” the congresswoman said.

Four rioters plus a US Capitol Police officer were killed after pro-Trump rioters breached security at the Capitol building on Wednesday and occupied the building for several hours.

Before the mob stormed the Capitol, Mr Trump urged his followers to “fight” for their president and to “stop the steal,” referring to Congress’ imminent certification of Joe Biden’s presidential victory.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and the Democrats have said Mr Trump’s rhetoric, not just on Wednesday but for the preceding months, is directly responsible for the mob’s lethal behaviour.

"If we allow insurrection against the United States with impunity, with no accountability, we are inviting it to happen again,” the congresswoman said.