Law firm seeks support in call for President Trump's ouster

NEW YORK (AP) — A large Washington, D.C.-based law firm is asking other lawyers to join in a call for President Donald Trump's cabinet to oust him after rioting supporters of the president attacked and occupied the U.S. Capitol.

The 12-member management board of Crowell & Moring LLP on Thursday contacted the nation's top 200 law firms and asked them to join in sending a letter to Vice President Mike Pence seeking Trump's ouster.

Under Section 4 of the Constitution's 25th Amendment, a president can be removed from power by his own cabinet, with the vice president taking command. Senior Trump administration officials have raised the possibility of declaring Trump unable to perform the duties of his office.

Crowell & Moring Chairman Philip Inglima said in an interview that the firm has received a “nice number” of responses from law firms, but wouldn't give a number. Many applauded the firm's stance but said they would have to confer with management committees before joining, Inglima said. In addition, more than a dozen smaller law firms have committed to the effort, he said.

The firms would sign on to a letter that Inglima plans to write to Pence urging him to take the action, Inglima said. That letter likely would be sent on Friday, he said.

At a rally before the violent siege, Trump encouraged thousands of supporters to “fight like hell” and to go to the Capitol, where lawmakers had gathered for an Electoral College certification vote of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory over Trump in the 2020 election.

Trump has proved himself unfit for office and is a threat to the Constitution, Inglima said.

“Here as lawyers we feel like such a bright line has been crossed in terms of the completely unacceptable and reckless disregard of the president's oath and...