Overview
- Rep. Jamie Raskin introduced a bill Tuesday to create a 17-member commission under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to evaluate whether the president is unable to carry out the job.
- The panel would conduct a medical exam and could act only with Vice President J.D. Vance’s agreement, and any contested removal would require two-thirds votes in both the House and Senate, a threshold never met to end a presidency.
- The legislation has about 50 Democratic co-sponsors after President Trump’s April 7 warning that Iran’s “whole civilization will die tonight” prompted more than 80 Democrats to call for impeachment or 25th Amendment action.
- Democrats remain split on strategy as some press for impeachment or removal while leaders such as Sen. Chuck Schumer push a war-powers vote to curb Trump’s actions on Iran, with Republican control of Congress limiting all options.
- The White House mocked the proposal as partisan theater, and outside pressure grew as ex-CIA director John Brennan urged using the 25th Amendment, while coverage on the left detailed the bill and right-leaning outlets stressed its long odds and noted Brennan’s DOJ probe.