Mediaite founder and ABC News Chief Legal Analyst Dan Abrams dismissed speculation that the 25th Amendment could be invoked to remove President Donald Trump as a “liberal pipe dream” on Good Morning America Monday.
Since of the release of Michael Wolff’s explosive new book on Trump World — in which the author describes a White House stocked with officials who have little faith in the president’s fitness for office — there’s been much talk about the 25th Amendment, which allows for the removal of a president on the grounds he is mentally unfit.
George Stephanopoulos pointed out on GMA that “Michael Wolff said yesterday some of these aides talk about invoking the 25th Amendment — but that’s pretty farfetched?”
Abrams certainly thinks so.
“Let’s be clear: as a legal matter, the 25th Amendment is a legal pipe dream,” Abrams said — explaining that the amendment was enacted after JFK was shot, when there were fears the president would be in a coma.
“As a procedural matter, it’s harder than impeachment,” Abrams said. “First you have to get the vice president, then you have to get the majority of the cabinet. If the president then objects to that, you have to get two-thirds of the House and Senate. With impeachment you only need the majority of the House.
“So, if the president is going to be kicked out of office based on a constitutional principle, it’s going to be impeachment. It’s not going to be the 25th Amendment.”
Watch above, via ABC News.
[image via screengrab]
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