Impeachment article has 200 cosponsors: US rep.

The draft, citing "incitement of insurrection," could be introduced Monday.

President Donald Trump is slated to hand over control of the White House to President-elect Joe Biden in 11 days.


0

Romney puts out lengthy statement on divided nation

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, came out with a lengthy statement Thursday morning analyzing the various divisions in the country and urging a unified path forward.

Romney writes that factors including leadership, the media, social media, the downfall of communities and others "have combined to threaten" the success of the founders' vision for the country.

"Most disappointing of all, too many political figures have stoked these divisions. Demagogues on the left scapegoat the rich; demagogues on the right scapegoat the immigrant. They each scapegoat the other," he writes.

Romney said when selecting elected officials it is important to consider their character. He's looking for someone who "calls upon our better angels"

"Today when I vote, I pay as much attention to the character of the candidate as I do to their policies. If we choose leaders who inflame resentment and division, our nation will be angry and divided. We have a choice to make: Would we rather have our “side” win to punish the “other side” or would we rather have our nation united?"

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin


Federal charges against some rioters expected Thursday

Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen has issued an updated statement in response to Wednesday's [storming of the U.S. Capitol](], saying federal prosecutors have been working overnight to identify perpetrators to draw up charges when warranted, including on some who he says will be charged Thursday.

“Yesterday, our Nation watched in disbelief as a mob breached the Capitol Building and required federal and local law enforcement to help restore order. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this attack on our Government and the rule of law face the full consequences of their actions under the law," Rosen said in a statement, noting law enforcement officials are working with the public to gather evidence.

"Some participants in yesterday’s violence will be charged today, and we will continue to methodically assess evidence, charge crimes and make arrests in the coming days and weeks to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law," he added.

A law enforcement official confirms to ABC News that thus far at least a dozen individuals involved in Wednesday's violence are already expected to face charges and that list will grow significantly as more are identified.

-ABC News' Alexander Mallin


Schumer calls for immediate removal of Trump from office

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for the immediate removal of President Trump from office.

He said in a statement Thursday morning the "quickest and most effective" way to do this would be through use of the 25th Amendment but that if Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet don't act, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president.

“What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president. This president should not hold office one day longer," Schumer said in the statement.

“The quickest and most effective way - it can be done today - to remove this president from office would be for the Vice President to immediately invoke the 25th amendment. If the Vice President and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president," he said.

There have been discussions among some members of Trump's Cabinet and his allies over invoking the 25th Amendment, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the discussions told ABC News.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin


Facebook 'indefinitely' blocks Trump's account

Facebook has taken the unprecedented step of indefinitely blocking Trump's account after removing a video and temporarily suspending his account amid eruptions of violence at the Capitol on Wednesday.

"We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a post. "Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete."

As the world watched a pro-Trump mob storm the Capitol Wednesday, Trump shared a video on his social media accounts telling the group "we love you" and "you’re very special" while he told them to go home. The video was soon removed by Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and as pressure mounted, Facebook and Twitter temporarily suspended Trump's accounts.

-ABC News' Catherine Thorebecke


Pelosi tells House Democrats to be ready to return this week

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a new letter to Democrats on Saturday, asked members to prepare to return to Washington this week -- another signal that the House could take up and pass the impeachment article to the Senate after it is formally introduced on Monday.

Pelosi thanked fellow Democratic representatives for speaking with her on a conference call Friday and said she was taking their considerations into account. She did not specifically mention voting on impeachment in the letter, though.

"Since that call, I have received scores of communications from Members expressing your views about how we go forward and regarding a strong presence of our Caucus in the Capitol," she wrote. "Over the last few days, I have discussed your views with Constitutional lawyers, both inside and outside the Congress, to consider the parliamentary and constitutional options available to us."

"From what I have heard from Members, and from the deluge that I have received from the public, it is clear that, once again, the Times Have Found Us to save our democracy," Pelosi added in the letter. "We will be proceeding with meetings with Members and Constitutional experts and others. I continue to welcome your comments. I urge you to be prepared to return to Washington this week."

While Democrats are hopeful Republicans will back their effort, none have come out and said they would back the charge as drafted.

Pelosi said at a press conference on Thursday, "If the Vice President and Cabinet do not act [on the 25th Amendment], the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment."

Some Democrats planned to connect with Republican colleagues this weekend to gauge their support and encourage them to back the effort.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel