Giuliani says he won’t be on Trump impeachment defense team
Trump was impeached by the House for a second time last week.
President Donald Trump is slated to hand over control of the White House to President-elect Joe Biden in three days.
The House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump last Wednesday on an article for "incitement of insurrection" for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol -- making him the only president to be impeached twice.
Top headlines:
House Republican leaders not whipping Trump impeachment vote
House GOP leadership will not be encouraging members to vote for or against Democrats' impeachment push Wednesday or on a resolution later Tuesday calling on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, according to House leadership aides.
House Leader Kevin McCarthy has already announced that he does not support impeachment, but sources tell ABC News that it’s possible some Republicans may vote to impeach Trump.
On a private House GOP-wide conference call that lasted roughly two hours on Monday evening, GOP Conference Chair Rep. Liz Cheney, the No. 3 Republican in the chamber, told members that they should "vote their conscience" and not as a "political vote," sources familiar confirm.
Cheney has not said if she will support the article of impeachment against Trump, but is not a Trump loyalist and has already shown she is not afraid to split with the party.
-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel and Mariam Khan
Emotional exchanges from House Dems debating resolution on 25th Amendment
The House Rules Committee is in recess for a meeting to tee up a resolution that will be voted on the House floor later Tuesday which seeks to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office.
While Pence has not indicated publicly what he intends to do, and it's not expected he will take action -- making the resolution's expected passage largely symbolic -- House Democrats will go forth in considering a single article of impeachment Wednesday.
Democrats in the committee rehashed painful, devastating memories to highlight their concerns and rage and exasperation, explaining why they want to make sure Trump is held fully accountable for inciting the riot.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md,, said he was there with his daughter and son-in-law. His family showed up to support him just one day after burying Raskin's son.
"This is not just a crisis and an emergency. It is a continuing crisis and emergency. It is not over yet," Raskin said. "Can we say that we feel safe being in the hands of this president, with the horror and the threats returning to our nation's Capitol?"
Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., described cowering in the House chamber. Hiding under her chair, struggling to put on an escape hood, she called her daughter, telling her, "I'm running for my life" before quickly hanging up.
"Trump incited this attack and there should be no question as to what Vice President Pence needs to do right now," she said. "I heard the shots being fired. I saw the smoke from the tear gas being been deployed. And I watched one officer with no equipment face a raging mob just outside the chamber. We crawled across the entire length of that balcony."
Democrats repeatedly implored Republicans to admit the election was fair and free, and Republicans scolded Democrats for, they say, seeking to divide the country further with a second impeachment.
-ABC News' Mariam Khan
Dems scold Rep. Jim Jordan for continuing to question Biden's win
In an ongoing House Rules Committee hearing about the resolution to call on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, Democrats are pushing back on GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio for continuing to suggest the 2020 election should be investigated for fraud.
When Committee Chair James McGovern, D-Mass., asked Jordan if he will concede that the election was not stolen, Jordan repeated Biden was the president-elect but wouldn't say if, in his view, Biden won fairly.
"He won the election because the way the process works is the last chance to object is Jan. 6, and the objection didn't prevail," Jordan said.
"If we want to talk about healing, we have to talk about truth," McGovern interjected in a contentious exchange. "And if we want to talk about healing, we have to deal with the issue of accountability."
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who authored the resolution, at one point asked if there's anything Trump could possibly do that would cause Jim Jordan to not defend him.
"Even after a mob of violent insurrectionists staged a gallows outside of the Congress and chanted, 'Hang Mike Pence,' even though they tried to force Mike Pence not to do his job, even after five people are dead, we continue to hear these lies and slurs about the 2020 presidential election," Raskin said.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo, also directly asked Jordan, "Joe Biden won the election, yes or no?"
"Yes, he won. But there are serious problems with this election that deserve an investigation," Jordan said, continuing to air his grievances until Perlmutter interrupted, "I asked you a yes or no question. Please! We're trying to bring this nation back together. Jim, please!"
Jordan, a Trump loyalist, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump in a closed ceremony at the White House on Monday.
Democratic leaders call meetings amid security concerns
House leadership is currently meeting with the United States Capitol Police's acting police chief and the new House Sergeant at Arms to discuss security concerns and threats related to Capitol Hill following the Jan. 6 riot, a top Democratic House aide tells ABC News.
The aide said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the meeting, which includes Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., who chairs the House Administration Committee overseeing House security, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., among others in leadership.
Later Tuesday, there will be an all-senators briefing on inauguration security. The briefing will not occur in person.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer notified senators of the briefing, which will include representatives from the Secret Service, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security, according to a Senate source.
Tuesday's meetings come after Democratic offices distributed a memo to colleagues on how lawmakers can be reimbursed for purchasing bulletproof vests and hiring security.
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin, Mariam Khan and Benjamin Siegel
Dems push 'accountability' in case for impeaching Trump
House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler in his floor remarks said the rioters who stormed the Capitol will be brought to justice. Amid accusations from some members of Congress that other members may have abetted rioters, he said accomplices on the floor will also be held accountable.
"We will bring the rioters to justice. Their accomplices in this house will be held responsible," Nadler said. "But today we must focus on the gravest threat first: President Trump."
Rep Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who was the lead impeachment manager for Trump's last impeachment proceedings said America has endured a Civil War, world wars, the Great Depression and now "a Trumpist and white nationalist insurrection," but the nation will prevail because of those Americans patriotic enough restore it.
"This is one of those moments," Schiff said. "Enough."
Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., argued that while Republicans are calling for unity and healing, it was the president who refused to recognize Biden's win, leading to a violent transition of power.
"This president's refusal to participate in the peaceful transfer of power and his role in the incitement of last week's violence poses an existential threat. This threat must be extinguished immediately," Clyburn said.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., co-sponsor of the impeachment article, warned of future threats to lawmakers if the president isn't held accountable, stressing, "Every one of us in this room right now could have died."