Pence releases statement that he won't invoke 25th Amendment

Vice President Mike Pence insisted in a formal statement that it would be a bad idea to invoke the 25th Amendment to forcibly remove President Donald Trump from office.

Various key Democrats in Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), have been calling on Pence to use his vice-presidential powers to initiate a process using the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office in the last days of the administration.

Pence with this letter, has made it clear that he is not willing to do any such thing, saying that he feels such action would be as unconstitutional as using his power to influence the certification of the elections would have been on Jan. 6.

The letter reads, in part, "Every American was shocked and saddened by the attack on our nation's Capitol this week, and I am grateful for the leadership that you and others provided in reconvening Congress to complete the people's business on the very same day. It was a moment that demonstrated to the American people that unity is still possible in Congress when it is needed most."

"But now, with just eight days left to the President's term, you and the Democratic Caucus are demanding that the Cabinet and I invoke the 25th Amendment. I do not believe that such a course of action is in the best interests of our nation or consistent with the Constitution."

"Last week, I did not yield to pressure to exert my power beyond my Constitutional authority to determine the outcome of the election, and I will not now yield to efforts by the House of Representatives at a time so serious in the life of our Nation."