Among those calling for Trump's removal are Crowell & Moring and more than 6,500 lawyers
President Donald Trump. Photo from Shutterstock.com.
At least two law firms and more than 6,500 lawyers are calling for removal of President Donald Trump following an assault on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters on Wednesday.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that Trump should resign, the New York Times reports. If he doesn’t leave, the House will move to impeach, she said in a letter to House members.
Crowell & Moring was the first major U.S. law firm to call for Trump’s removal, with a statement Thursday, according to Law360.
Law.com, the Associated Press and Bloomberg Law also have stories.
The law firm’s statement, approved unanimously by the firm’s 12-member management board, said the mob raid and occupation of the Capitol “was the direct and predictable result of a rally summoned by the president, at which he reinforced false claims of a rigged election.”
“The president has proven himself unfit for office, and a reckless and wanton threat to the Constitution,” the statement said.
Crowell & Moring called for removal of Trump through Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, which applies when a president is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” Removal would be have to be set in motion by Vice President Mike Pence, who would have to declare that Trump is incapacitated along with a majority of Cabinet secretaries or a group appointed by Congress.
Crowell & Moring called on other law firms and lawyers in government to join the call for Trump’s removal. Phillips Nizer’s leadership joined the call, the law firm told the ABA Journal in an email.
Philip Inglima, chairman at Crowell & Moring, told the Associated Press that the firm had received a “nice number” of responses from law firms. More than a dozen smaller law firms committed to the effort, while others said they would have to confer with management committees, he said.
Crowell & Moring spokesperson Rebecca Carr told Bloomberg Law that some may choose not to sign the statement, “and we respect that choice. This is not meant to be a statement for every one of our partners and lawyers.”
Several law firm leaders condemned the rioting Wednesday without specifically calling for Trump’s removal, according to Law.com. They include leaders of Perkins Coie; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Dentons; and Jenner & Block.
Also calling for Trump’s removal is Lawyers for Good Government. The group said more than said 6,500 lawyers representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia had signed its open letter calling for use of the 25th Amendment and impeachment.
