President Donald Trump is seen in this TV screengrab from Jan. 6, addressing supporters and urging them to take their fight to the Capitol shortly before violence broke out at the Capitol.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Former 2nd District Congressman Joe Donnelly has joined a growing chorus of people urging President Donald Trump to resign.

Joe Donnelly

Donnelly made his feelings known on Twitter Friday morning, Jan. 8, two days after Trump encouraged supporters to go to the Capitol, where riots eventually led to the deaths of five people, including a police officer.

Donnelly, a Democrat who served as Congressman from South Bend and later as one of Indiana’s two US Senators, wrote on Twitter:

“Donald Trump needs to immediately resign as President for inciting an insurrection against the U.S. government – he has betrayed us. If Trump will not resign, VP Pence needs to invoke the 25th Amendment. Failing that, President Trump needs to be impeached, convicted, and removed.”

Democrat leaders have called for Trump to step down and there are growing efforts to begin impeachment.

On Thursday, Jan. 7, Trump all but conceded and pledged to have a peaceful transition on Jan. 20 when Joe Biden will be sworn in.

Trump condemned the violence but did not mention his role in what many consider to be an attempted coup or insurrection.

On Friday morning, Trump tweeted that he would not attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Jan. 20, breaking with the tradition of outgoing presidents attending the swearing-in of their successors.

Several people within the Trump administration have resigned in protest over the violence.

Both 2nd District Rep. Jackie Walorski and 3rd District Congressman Jim Banks condemned the violence in online statements. They also referenced Biden’s looming arrival in office.

On Friday, Banks tweeted his condolences to the officer who died in the attacks.

Online reaction to both lawmakers – both of whom expressed support for objecting to the certification of Biden’s victory, saw an onslaught of criticism accusing both, in part, for enabling the rioters’ actions.

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal called for Trump’s resignation in an editorial.

“If Mr. Trump wants to avoid a second impeachment, his best path would be to take personal responsibility and resign. This would be the cleanest solution since it would immediately turn presidential duties over to Mr. Pence. And it would give Mr. Trump agency, a la Richard Nixon, over his own fate.”

The editorial ended with the following:

“It is best for everyone, himself included, if he goes away quietly.”