Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) on Friday urged use of the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump, arguing he is unfit after his decision to oust Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, though the elderly Democrat got the terminology wrong in calling for it.
“It is time to call for Article [Amendment] 25 of the Constitution of the United States of America to determine his unfitness, to determine that something’s wrong with this president. And I would suggest that we move very aggressively to talk about the danger to this country and to our democracy and not play around with this, because this is absolutely one of the most destructive things that this president could do,” Waters said during an appearance on MSNBC.
Waters remarks come after Trump removed Fed Board Governor Lisa Cook on Monday over allegations of mortgage fraud.
“This stands to basically upend the entire economy. This stands to really deal with what is going to happen on Wall Street, what’s going to happen with interest rates, what’s going to happen with the president of the United States being able to make decisions that he will personally benefit from,” Waters continued.
“And so the world, and certainly the United States, should be watching this very closely. As far as I’m concerned, we have to move very aggressively. It is not about lingering and trying to think that maybe the courts will help us,” Waters added.
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Cook sued President Trump on Thursday, arguing her removal from the Federal Reserve Board did not meet the legal standard of cause and seeking a restraining order to remain in her post.
The case is expected to reach the Supreme Court, escalating tensions between the White House and the Fed. During an MSNBC panel, host Symone Sanders-Townsend asked Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) for her reaction after Waters (D-CA) called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked.
“I think it’s jarring to hear Congresswoman Waters say it’s time for the 25th Amendment. But, I mean, presidents have been impeached for much less,” Sanders said.