Supporters of President Donald Trump occupy the U.S. Capitol's rotunda on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty ImagesAfter a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building in defiance of the election of Joe Biden, California Rep. Ted Lieu called for the immediate removal of the president.
Both chambers of Congress abruptly went into recess once Trump supporters forced their way inside the building, and members of Congress were evacuated. Lieu tweeted that he was evacuated from the building, and called the events a coup attempt.
"This assault on our nation’s Capitol is a coup attempt and all those involved should be prosecuted as such," he wrote. "Also, for those Dems saying we shouldn’t impeach @realDonaldTrump again? You are wrong."
Once Vice President Mike Pence was whisked away from the Senate floor, Lieu tweeted, "Now is the time for @VP @Mike_Pence to start the 25th Amendment process."
Under the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution, the vice president and a majority of Cabinet secretaries can declare Trump "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office" in writing and remove him from office.
Trump could also be impeached again, which requires a simple majority of the House and two-thirds of the Senate for removal.
Capitol police called for support from other law enforcement agencies in an attempt to clear the building.
Click here for the latest on the breach and here for a livestream of the events.
