After Senate Acquits Trump, Norton Calls on Congress to Pass Her Censure Resolution

Press Release

After the Senate today acquitted former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) called on Congress to pass her concurrent resolution to censure him.

"I strongly supported impeachment, conviction and disqualification of former President Trump, who incited an insurrection at the Capitol on January 6," Norton said. "However, since the Senate has acquitted him, I again call on Congress to pass my censure resolution. It is the only method available now to send a bipartisan, bicameral message to the country and the world that the United States is a nation of laws, and it's the only avenue left to prevent Trump from holding public office again."

The text of Norton's censure resolution is below.

Concurrent Resolution

Censuring President Donald J. Trump for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election through unlawful means and for inciting insurrection.

Whereas on January 2, 2021, President Donald J. Trump called the Secretary of State of Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, demanding that Secretary Raffensperger, inter alia, overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia by "find[ing] me 11,780 votes," which would change the outcome in that State's election and nullify the votes of millions of Americans who voted for President-Elect Joseph R. Biden, including African Americans and other people of color, notwithstanding that the State had already certified the winner after thrice counting the votes in favor of President-elect Biden;

Whereas, President Trump has consistently raised unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud, while producing no evidence in court or to the public, unnecessarily raising questions about the security and accuracy of the 2020 presidential election, despite his Administration saying that this was the most secure election in U.S. history;

Whereas, President Trump has incited his followers to challenge the election with his baseless claims against the 2020 presidential election;

Whereas, on January 6, 2021, the House of Representatives and Senate met at the United States Capitol for a Joint Session to count the votes of the Electoral College;

Whereas, on January 6, 2021, immediately prior to the Joint Session, President Trump spoke to a large crowd in the District of Columbia, where he again raised questions about the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election;

Whereas, in his speech on January 6, 2021, President Trump used phrases like "fight like hell", "[y]ou have to show strength and you have to be strong", "you'll never take back our country with weakness", and "everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol"; said that President-elect Biden and his supporters are "not gonna take this White House"; and again stated that he won the election "by a lot" and that "we won this election, and we won it by a landslide";

Whereas, on January 6, 2021, a mob breached and attacked the United States Capitol following President Trump's speech;

Whereas, as a result of that attack on the Capitol, at least five individuals lost their lives, and numerous others were left injured;

Whereas, during the attack, President Trump told the insurrectionists, "we love you", and told them to remember that day forever;

Whereas, President Trump has violated his constitutional duties to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" and to "faithfully execute" his office: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring)--

censures President Donald J. Trump for the actions he took as outlined in this resolution, including attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential, election and inciting insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.

calls upon President Trump to acknowledge that President-elect Joseph R. Biden was the victor of the 20201 presidential election and that at President-election Biden will be the rightful President on January 20, 2021; to call on his supporters not to engage in violence; to disavow the actions of the insurrectionists who attacked the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021; and to denounce any further acts of violence, including surrounding the 58th Presidential Inauguration.

finds that, in engaging in the above cited actions, President Donald J. Trump "as an officer of the United States … engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the [United States], or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof," making him ineligible for future office, unless Congress, in the future, "by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability," under Amendment XIV, Section 3 of the United States Constitution.

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