Hundreds of congressional staffers are calling on the Senate to convict former President Donald Trump in the upcoming impeachment trial, following the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6.
In a letter to the Senate, more than 370 House and Senate staffers signed a letter where they share their “own views and experiences, not the views of our employers.”
“On January 6, 2021, our workplace was attacked by a violent mob trying to stop the electoral college vote count,” they write. “That mob was incited by former president Donald J. Trump and his political allies, some of whom we pass every day in the hallways at work.”
They also wrote, “Our Constitution only works when we believe in it and defend it…The use of violence and lies to overturn an election is not worthy of debate. Either you stand with the republic or against it.”
The staffers continued:
“As Congressional employees, we don’t have a vote on whether to convict Donald J. Trump for his role in inciting the violent attack at the Capitol, but our Senators do. And for our sake, and the sake of the country, we ask that they vote to convict the former president and bar him from ever holding office again.”
Read the full letter below:
New: 370 Hill staffers pen open letter to the Senate asking for a conviction after their workplace was attacked by the violent mob.
— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) February 3, 2021
“For our sake, and the sake of the country, we ask that they vote to convict the former president and bar him from ever holding office again.” pic.twitter.com/qekOgTCLpk
The House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump, charging him with “incitement of insurrection” in January. The Senate is expected to begin the impeachment trial on Feb. 9.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) poured cold water on an idea to censure Trump instead of holding an impeachment trial.
He said during a press conference on Tuesday, “I think the president should be tried…anything past that is something we can discuss,” adding, “But he deserves conviction, nothing less.”
At least 17 Republicans would have to join Democrats in order to convict Trump, but some believe it is “extraordinarily unlikely that the president will be convicted.”