Proposed panel would assess president’s capacity under constitutional provision but faces long odds in Congress.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled legislation to establish a congressional body that could evaluate whether President Donald Trump is fit to carry out the duties of office under the 25th Amendment.
The legislative proposal is being led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. While the measure has garnered support from dozens of Democrats, it is not expected to advance in the Republican-controlled Congress and would likely face a veto if passed.
The initiative follows a recent effort by more than 85 Democratic lawmakers who called for Trump’s impeachment or removal, as reported in a Newsmax account, after the president warned in a social media post that a “whole civilization will die tonight” in reference to Iran.
Raskin’s 10-page bill would create a 17-member commission under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, which allows either the vice president and Cabinet or a congressionally authorized body to determine whether a president is unable to perform the responsibilities of the office.
Under the proposed framework, the panel would be authorized to conduct a medical evaluation to determine whether the president is “mentally or physically unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office.” Members of the commission would be appointed by congressional leadership from both parties and would include former senior executive branch officials such as vice presidents, cabinet secretaries, attorneys general, and surgeons general. Those members would then select a chair, who could be either another former official or a physician.
Any determination by the commission would require approval from Vice President JD Vance before taking effect, meaning the process would depend on his participation. For permanent removal, Congress would need to approve the action within 21 days by two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate.
“The Constitution explicitly vests Congress with the authority to create a body that will guarantee the successful continuity of government by responding to presidential incapacity to discharge the powers and duties of office,” Raskin said. “We have a solemn duty to play our defined role under the 25th Amendment by setting up this body to act alongside the Vice President and the Cabinet.”
“Public trust in Donald Trump’s ability to meet the duties of his office has dropped to unprecedented lows as he threatens to destroy entire civilizations,” he added.
The White House criticized the proposal in comments to Axios coverage.
“Lightweight Jamie Raskin is a stupid person’s idea of a smart person,” spokesperson Davis Ingle said. “President Trump’s sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the past four years when Democrats like Raskin intentionally covered up Joe Biden’s serious mental and physical decline from the American people.”
Despite the introduction of the measure and its 50 Democratic co-sponsors, the constitutional process for removing a president under the 25th Amendment remains complex and would require multiple layers of approval, including action by the vice president and supermajorities in Congress.
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