President-elect Joe Biden said Friday he would leave it up to members of Congress to decide whether they should introduce articles of impeachment against President Trump for encouraging his supporters to storm the Capitol.
"What the Congress decides to do is, is for them to decide," Mr. Biden said during a press conference in Wilmington, Del.
“I think it’s important we get on with the business of getting him out of office. The quickest way that that will happen is us being sworn in on the 20th," he said. "What action happens before or after that is a judgment for the Congress to make."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that Democrats would move forward with impeachment proceedings if Mr. Trump didn’t quickly leave office. Hundreds of rioters, pushing past security barriers and Capitol Police officers, breached the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon as both the House and Senate were meeting inside to vote on whether to certify Mr. Biden's election win. The riot followed a rally where the president urged supporters to head to the Capitol and “fight.”
President-elect Joe Biden spoke next to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in Wilmington, Del., on Friday.KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS
Mr. Biden said he will remain focused on dealing with the economy and getting the coronavirus under control ahead of his inauguration in less than two weeks. He also said Mr. Trump was unfit to serve as president and he is looking forward to him leaving office.
Mr. Trump said on Twitter hours before Mr. Biden’s appearance that he would not attend the Jan. 20 inauguration, breaking precedent with past outgoing presidents. Mr. Biden said Friday he thought that was a "good thing."