Republican Sen. Pat Toomey on Saturday said President Donald Trump has “committed impeachable offenses” by inciting a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol, as dozens of Democratic lawmakers demanded his removal from office.
“I do think the president committed impeachable offenses,” Toomey, who is set to retire in 2022, said in an interview on Fox News’ “The Journal Editorial Report.”
Toomey (R-Pa.), who has repeatedly spoken out against Trump’s efforts to overturn the presidential election results, said he was “horrified” at Trump’s Wednesday speech at a White House rally, given shortly before a mob of rioters stormed the Capitol.
But Toomey added that he doesn’t know whether it’s “possible or practical” to move ahead with impeachment proceedings, given that Trump only has 11 days left in office before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20.
“I’m not sure it’s desirable to attempt to force him out, what, a day or two or three prior to the day on which he’s going to be finished anyway,” Toomey said. “So I’m not clear that’s the best path forward.”
Toomey said he didn’t know whether articles of impeachment would land on the Senate floor before Inauguration Day, but he expressed concern that House Democrats might “politicize” the issue.
“I don’t know what they are going to send over and one of the things I am concerned about, frankly, is whether the House would completely politicize something,” he said.
House Democrats are quickly moving toward impeachment, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday urging Trump to resign but saying Democrats would “preserve every option” if he did not.
While Senate Republicans have been largely opposed to the push for impeachment so far, Toomey is not the first GOP lawmaker to express openness to the idea.
Sen. Ben Sasse, (R-Neb.) said Friday he would consider Trump’s removal, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) called on the president to resign, though she didn’t mention impeachment.