Wisconsin members of Congress split over whether President Trump should be removed

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A growing number of Wisconsin's top Democrats are calling for President Donald Trump to be removed from office. But some Republicans said he's not to blame for the violence.

"I believe that every day that the president remains in office is a danger to the public, and he needs to be removed," Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul told CBS 58 in an interview.

Kaul's words were echoed by another top Democrat, Congressman Mark Pocan. He said he thought the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, was a "wake-up moment" for many Republicans.

"A lot of people really opened their eyes to what the president's been up to and how low he will go and how he'll go down in history as such an awful president," Pocan said.

"There's discussion about invoking the 25th Amendment. Is that something you would like to see?" CBS 58's Rose Schmidt asked Pocan.

"Yeah. I mean, this should have been done a long time ago. When you elect a reality show star whose best friends on the planet are Vladimir Putin and the leader of North Korea -- you've got a problem, right," Pocan said.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin said in a statement Thursday evening that she also supports invoking the 25th Amendment to immediately remove the president from office.

"President Trump incited a violent insurrection against Congress as we were working to faithfully carry out our constitutional duties to accept the vote of the American people. This attack on our democracy makes it clear he has broken his oath to support and defend the constitution, and that he is unfit to serve," Baldwin's statement said in part.

Pocan said he's glad Congress was able to resume finalizing President-elect Joe Biden's win.

Two Republicans from Wisconsin objected to certifying the votes, U.S. Reps. Scott Fitzgerald and Tom Tiffany.

In an interview on CBS This Morning, GOP Congressman Mike Gallagher questioned their actions.

"I just don't understand how after witnessing what we witnessed and knowing, knowing that this was not ... going to change anything -- it was a cynical gambit that they persisted with the objection," Gallagher said.

Gallagher called Wednesday a "dark day."

Congressman Glenn Grothman told CBS 58 he considered objecting but ultimately chose not to. He also condemned the violence at the Capitol.

"It was kind of an embarrassing day. Certainly embarrassing for the United States insofar as people looked at it on TV, and it's something you would more likely to expect from a third world country," Grothman said.

As for who is to blame for the violence, Grothman pointed fingers at those committing the crimes, Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump, Jr. Grothman said he does not think the president is to blame.

"I can be critical of his son, but I don't think personally (President Trump) is responsible," Grothman said.

Grothman also said he knows people from Wisconsin who were among the crowds in Washington D.C. But he was surprised at the levels of violence that he saw.

"I've certainly been around for many Trump rallies in Wisconsin. He came through many times, and they were so well behaved and such good people," Grothman said.

Kaul said he wants to see federal prosecutors investigating those who committed crimes.

"If there were Wisconsinites involved in illegal activity -- I hope there weren't but if there were -- I do think that charges should be considered," Kaul said.