Washington: US Vice President Mike Pence has rejected invoking the 25th amendment to remove President Donald Trump as president, saying he will not “yield to pressure”. In a letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Pence said: “I do not believe that such a course of action is in the best interest of our Nation or consistent with our Constitution. Last week, I did not yield to pressure to exert power beyond my constitutional authority to determine the outcome of the election, and I will not now yield to efforts in the House of Representatives to play political games at a time so serious in the life of our Nation.”

He also reiterated his commitment to “work in good faith with the incoming administration to ensure an orderly transition of power”. Pence said that the 25th Amendment “is not a means of punishment or usurpation”.

“Under our Constitution, the 25th Amendment is not a means of punishment or usurpation. Invoking the 25th Amendment in such a manner would set a terrible precedent.”

“I urge you and every member of Congress to avoid actions that would further divide and inflame the passions of the moment. Work with us to lower the temperature and unite our country as we prepare to inaugurate President-elect Joe Biden as the next President of the United States,” he added.

This came after a house resolution on Monday called on Mike Pence to invoke the constitutional authority of the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office.

Democrats in the House are pushing Pence and the Cabinet to oust Trump. They say he is unfit for office after encouraging a protest march that turned into a mob that ransacked the US Capitol in a deadly siege.

With just days left in Trump’s presidency, the House also is preparing to impeach Trump this week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying first to put pressure on Republicans to tell Trump it’s time to go.