Representative Ken Buck (R-Colo.) introduced a significant resolution on Monday, calling upon Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the charge in utilizing the 25th Amendment to unseat President Joe Biden from the Oval Office. This maneuver signals a stark pivot for Buck who, despite his conservative stance, has previously shown skepticism towards impeachment tactics.
Representative Buck’s resolution was unequivocal in its plea to the Vice President and the Cabinet, highlighting the growing alarm within the nation at the President’s ability—or lack thereof—to fulfill his presidential duties with competence. The text of the resolution delineates the urgency and gravity of the situation faced by the country.
Buck, who has announced his impending retirement, has a track record of defying party lines, particularly with regard to impeachment proceedings. His commitment to principle was on display when he became one of only three Republican members of Congress to reject a recommendation earlier this month to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas—a resolution that found favor in the House.
His cautious approach to impeachment was articulated in a past statement to CNN where he underscored the sanctity of legislative institutions and his unwillingness to engage in vindictive politics absent substantial evidence. His litmus test for impeachment remains the presence of irrefutable proof, suggesting a methodical and measured approach to such serious legislative actions.
The 25th Amendment has historically provided the framework for vice presidents and the majority of the Cabinet to cast doubt on a president’s capability to govern, though it has never been employed in this way. Buck’s proposal underlines a pressing desire within certain factions of the conservative realm to critically assess President Biden’s competency to serve the nation as its leader.
