Lisa Murkowski in January 6 Capitol Riot

On Government Reform: Trump encouraged Jan. 6 rioters; he should resign

"If there is such chaos, if right now the president can't focus on anything except his own anger," she said, "then how do we assure America that we're safe?"

Republicans who did not repudiate Trump earlier, who did not think it would get this bad, bear some responsibility, she said. She includes herself in that group. "I allowed myself to refrain from speaking my truth," Murkowski said. "And I can't just be quiet right now."

With 12 days left in his term, she said she doesn't think it's practical to attempt to remove the president through impeachment or the 25th Amendment. "The Congress would be consumed with impeachment if we start that now," she said.