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Tag: US Capitol violence

  • Mike Pompeo cancels final journey overseas as issues of violence at presidential inauguration develop

    Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has cancelled what would have been his ultimate official journey overseas as issues develop over potential violence at subsequent week’s presidential inauguration, the State Department stated Tuesday.
    Less than 18 hours after saying that Pompeo can be travelling to Brussels this week to shut out his tenure as America’s high diplomat, the division stated it had pulled down all senior-level abroad journey, together with the secretary’s.
    Pompeo was to have met with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Belgium’s international minister whereas in Brussels. Initial plans for a cease in Luxembourg had been already been scrapped as a result of coronavirus pandemic, officers stated.
    Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus stated the choice had been made to help within the transition to the incoming Biden administration, which can assume workplace on Jan. 20. Since final week’s lethal assault on the US Capitol by rioters inspired by President Donald Trump, issues have been raised in regards to the safety of Biden’s inauguration. Officials stated the cancellation of Pompeo’s journey was meant to help the transition and was not associated to fears of violence.

    “The Department of State is well along in its transition efforts with President-elect Biden’s team,” Ortagus stated in a press release.
    “We are fully committed to the completion of a smooth and orderly transition process to be finalized over the next 8 days. Both the department and the President-elect’s team have been fully engaged for several weeks toward this end, and we are pleased with the level of cooperation and professionalism that has been displayed.”
    Pompeo, who was criticized for not instantly recognizing Biden’s victory over Trump in November’s election, met final week together with his designated successor, Antony Blinken, in what a State Department official described as a cordial assembly.

    “We are expecting shortly a plan from the incoming administration identifying the career officials who will remain in positions of responsibility on an acting basis until the Senate confirmation process is complete for incoming officials,” Ortagus stated within the assertion.
    “As a result, we are cancelling all planned travel this week, including the secretary’s trip to Europe.”
    In addition to Pompeo’s journey, the division cancelled a deliberate go to to Taiwan by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft, in addition to a number of different journeys deliberate by senior officers this week.

    The division’s most senior profession diplomat, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale, who’s No. 3 within the hierarchy, is anticipated to function appearing secretary of state from midday on Jan. 20 till Blinken is confirmed by the Senate.
    The division had introduced late Monday that Pompeo can be visiting Brussels on his ultimate journey overseas.

  • FBI arrests New York man in reference to Capitol riots

    A spokesman for the FBI confirmed on Tuesday that brokers in New York City had arrested Aaron Mostofsky in reference to the siege on the US Capitol by President Donald Trump’s supporters final week, including to a rising checklist of suspects who’re dealing with fees.
    Mostofsky’s presence on the US Capitol was cited in a current article by the New York Post, which reported that he’s the son of New York Supreme Court Judge Shlomo Mostofsky. The article additionally featured a video of Mostofsky wearing a fancy dress on the Capitol.
    In an interview, the New York Post quoted him as saying: “We were cheated. I don’t think 75 million people voted for Trump — I think it was close to 85 million. I think certain states that have been red for a long time turned blue and were stolen, like New York.”
    Reuters couldn’t instantly study what fees Mostofsky will face.

  • US Capitol Siege: Republicans face rising company backlash after Capitol assault

    Republicans within the US Congress confronted rising blowback on Monday from companies that mentioned they might lower off marketing campaign contributions to those that voted final week to problem President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
    The bulletins by Amazon.com Inc, General Electric Co, Dow Inc, AT&T Inc, Comcast Corp, Verizon Communications Inc, American Express Co, Airbnb Inc, Cisco Systems Inc, Best Buy Co Inc and Mastercard Inc, amongst others, threaten to throttle fundraising assets for Republicans who will quickly be out of energy within the White House and each chambers of Congress. AT&T and Comcast, for instance, are among the many greatest company donors in Washington.
    Greeting-card big Hallmark Company Ltd mentioned it had requested senators Josh Hawley and Roger Marshall to return its contributions. Representatives for the 2 Republicans, who each objected to Biden’s certification, didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

    The bulletins are an indication that some company donors, which generally unfold their cash broadly round Capitol Hill, are re-assessing their technique after supporters of President Donald Trump attacked the Capitol final week in an effort to stop Congress from formalizing Biden’s victory.
    It is unclear whether or not their selections can have a long-lasting influence. Fundraising exercise is at present at a post-election lull in Washington, giving companies and commerce teams a while to determine their method.
    Few corporations have gone so far as Dow Inc, which mentioned it could withhold donations for the Republican lawmakers’ whole phrases in workplace – as much as six years for these within the Senate. Others mentioned they might withhold donations quickly, or droop giving to Republicans and Democrats alike.

    GE’s suspension will final by means of the tip of 2022 after which the worker board that oversees its political motion committee will contemplate requests for assist for these lawmakers who opposed certification “on a case-by-case basis”.
    At least 5 folks died in final week’s assault, which additionally pressured lawmakers into hiding for a number of hours. When they reconvened, 147 Republicans within the House of Representatives and the Senate voted to problem Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania or Arizona, though each states already formally licensed the outcomes and election officers say there have been no vital issues with the vote.
    Those voting sure included the highest two House Republicans, Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise, and Senator Rick Scott, who as incoming head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee will head efforts to win again the Senate within the 2022 elections.
    All of their jobs require intensive fundraising. McCarthy and Scalise’s workplaces didn’t reply to a request for remark. Representatives for Scott declined to remark.
    Amazon mentioned it could talk about considerations “directly with those members we have previously supported” earlier than deciding whether or not to renew contributions.
    CUT OFF FOR HOW LONG?
    The sheer extent of the Republican opposition will make it tough for companies to easily lower off those that voted in opposition to certifying Biden’s victory, mentioned a senior Republican enterprise strategist, talking on situation of anonymity.
    Roughly two-thirds of all House Republicans, together with seasoned legislators and vocal Trump partisans, supported the problem.
    Business teams can be watching carefully over the approaching weeks to see whether or not these Republicans make gestures to re-establish a way of normalcy, akin to attending Biden’s inauguration, the strategist mentioned.

    “Each of those people is going to be scrutinized,” the strategist mentioned. “Are they all going into the bucket of ‘no contributions’? I would be shocked if they all get put in.”
    A rising listing of corporations, together with copper big Freeport-McMoRan Inc, Ford Motor Co, Microsoft Corp, American Airlines, Alphabet Inc’s Google, Facebook Inc, Goldman Sachs, BP Plc, Smithfield Foods Inc and Union Pacific Corp mentioned they might quickly droop donations to Democrats and Republicans alike.

    Late Monday, Northrop Grumman grew to become the primary main protection contractor to quickly halt all donations.
    “We are pausing political action committee giving and evaluating the way forward,” a spokesman mentioned. Trade associations, among the many greatest donors in Washington, are shifting extra slowly.
    The National Association of Beer Wholesalers, the National Association of Auto Dealers, and the American Bankers Association mentioned they might re-assess their contribution technique.
    Other high donors, together with the National Association of Homebuilders and the National Association of Realtors, mentioned they’ve but to decide.

    Several analysts mentioned the boycott is probably not everlasting, as the necessity for entry on Capitol Hill may finally outweigh the danger of being seen as an underwriter of those that weaken U.S. democracy.
    “It’s very easy to suspend campaign contributions two months after an election. The question is whether these policies will remain in effect,” mentioned Stanford University regulation professor Nathaniel Persily.

  • US House to vote on Trump impeachment on Wednesday

    Image Source : AP US House to vote on Trump impeachment on Wednesday
    The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives would vote on the impeachment of outgoing President Donald Trump on Wednesday on costs of inciting his supporters to hold out a violent assault on the Capitol Hill final week. Co-authored by Congressmen Jamie Raskin, David Cicilline and Ted Lieu, the article of impeachment — co-sponsored by 211 House members — was tabled on Monday.
    During a convention name together with his celebration colleagues on Monday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer mentioned the impeachment vote might be held on Wednesday.
    The article of impeachment costs Trump with a rely of “incitement of insurrection” for his actions on January 6, when he delivered a speech inciting his supporters to put siege to the Capitol, an motion that briefly halted the counting of Electoral College votes and resulted within the deaths of 5 people, together with an officer of the US Capitol Police.
    The Democrats have sufficient votes to question the president within the House, which requires a easy majority. But the Senate, the place the Republicans have a razor-thin 51-50 majority — requires votes of two-third of the members to take away the president out of the workplace.
    Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has mentioned the vote on impeachment within the higher chambers of the US Congress can’t occur earlier than the Inauguration Day on January 20.

    Later on Monday, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar additionally launched two articles of impeachment towards Trump. The first article cites Trump’s abuse of energy for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election leads to Georgia. The second article addresses the incitement of violence for orchestrating an tried coup towards our nation.
    “I just introduced my impeachment resolution. The full House will now vote on a measure calling on Vice President (Mike) Pence and the cabinet to remove President Donald Trump under the 25th amendment. If Pence does not act, the House will move to impeach this week,” Omar mentioned.
    Republican Senator Steve Daines rejected requires impeachment. “Now is the time to stand united, move forward together and have a peaceful transition of power. Pushing partisan driven articles of impeachment through Congress days before the inauguration will further divide our country,” he mentioned.
    Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz mentioned impeachment is pointless, divisive, and it’s solely being executed as a result of Democrats wish to maintain the deal with Trump to allow them to maintain collectively their fragile coalition.
    “This week, the House will vote to impeach Donald Trump for inciting an insurrection against the seat of our democracy,” mentioned Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.
    “Liberty and the rule of law, though always fragile, are bedrock tenets of our democratic republic. No President – nay, no American – ought to be able to incite violence against our democracy without repercussion. The American people demand accountability to prevent such horrific events from ever happening again,” she mentioned. 
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  • Pelosi says House will impeach Trump, pushes VP to oust him

    Image Source : AP Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., holds a information convention on the day after violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Congress, on the Capitol in Washington
    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated Sunday the House will proceed with laws to question President Donald Trump as she pushes the vice chairman and Cabinet to invoke constitutional authority to power him out, warning that Trump is a menace to democracy after the lethal assault on the Capitol.
    Pelosi made the announcement in a letter to colleagues, saying the House will first vote to push Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the powers of the twenty fifth Amendment to take away Trump from workplace. After 24 hours, she stated, the House would proceed with laws on impeachment. Trump may turn out to be the one president to be impeached twice.
    “In protecting our Constitution and our Democracy, we will act with urgency, because this President represents an imminent threat to both,” she stated, and added: “The horror of the ongoing assault on our democracy perpetrated by this President is intensified and so is the immediate need for action.”
    On Monday, Pelosi’s management group will search a vote on a decision calling on Pence and Cabinet officers to invoke the twenty fifth Amendment.
    With the House not in session, there’s more likely to be an objection to its consideration. Pelosi would then put the decision earlier than the complete House on Tuesday. If it had been to cross, Pence and the Cabinet would have 24 hours to behave earlier than the House would transfer towards impeachment.
    With impeachment planning intensifying, stress was mounting for Trump to go away workplace even earlier than his time period ended amid alarming issues of extra unrest forward of the inauguration.
    Two Republican senators have now stated they need Trump to resign instantly within the wake of lethal riots on the Capitol. The president whipped up the mob that stormed the Capitol, despatched lawmakers into hiding and left 5 useless.
    Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania on Sunday joined Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in calling for Trump to “resign and go away as soon as possible.”
    “I think the president has disqualified himself from ever, certainly, serving in office again,” Toomey stated. “I don’t think he is electable in any way.”
    A rising variety of lawmakers need to stop him from ever once more holding elected workplace.
    House Democrats had been anticipated to introduce articles of impeachment on Monday. The technique could be to sentence the president’s actions swiftly however delay an impeachment trial within the Senate for 100 days. That would enable President-elect Joe Biden to deal with different priorities as quickly as he’s inaugurated Jan. 20.
    Rep. Jim Clyburn, the third-ranking House Democrat and a prime Biden ally, laid out the concepts Sunday because the nation got here to grips with the siege on the Capitol by Trump loyalists making an attempt to overturn the election outcomes.
    “Let’s give President-elect Biden the 100 days he needs to get his agenda off and running,” Clyburn stated.
    Murkowski, who has lengthy voiced her exasperation with Trump’s conduct in workplace, informed the Anchorage Daily News on Friday that Trump merely “needs to get out.” A 3rd, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., didn’t go that far, however on Sunday he warned Trump to be “very careful” in his closing days in workplace.
    During an interview on “60 Minutes” aired Sunday, Pelosi invoked the Watergate period when Republicans within the Senate informed President Richard Nixon, “It’s over.”
    “That’s what has to happen now,” she stated.

    Corporate America started to point out its response to the Capitol riots by tying them to marketing campaign contributions.
    Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s CEO and President Kim Keck stated it is not going to contribute to these lawmakers — all Republicans — who supported challenges to Biden’s Electoral College win. The group “will suspend contributions to those lawmakers who voted to undermine our democracy,” Kim stated.
    Citigroup didn’t single out lawmakers aligned with Trump’s effort to overturn the election, however stated it might be pausing all federal political donations for the primary three months of the yr. Citi’s head of world authorities affairs, Candi Wolff, stated in a Friday memo to staff, “We want you to be assured that we will not support candidates who do not respect the rule of law.”
    House leaders, livid after the revolt, seem decided to behave towards Trump regardless of the quick timeline.
    Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has stated an impeachment trial couldn’t start beneath the present calendar earlier than Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.
    While many have criticized Trump, Republicans have stated that impeachment could be divisive in a time of unity.
    Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., stated that as a substitute of coming collectively, Democrats need to “talk about ridiculous things like ‘Let’s impeach a president’” with simply days left in workplace.
    Still, some Republicans is likely to be supportive.
    Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse stated he would check out any articles that the House despatched over. Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic, stated he would “vote the right way” if the matter had been put in entrance of him.
    The Democratic effort to stamp Trump’s presidential document — for the second time — with the indelible mark of impeachment had superior quickly for the reason that riot.
    Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I, a pacesetter of the House effort to draft impeachment articles accusing Trump of inciting revolt, stated Sunday that his group had 200-plus co-sponsors.
    The articles, if handed by the House, may then be transmitted to the Senate for a trial, with senators performing as jurors to acquit or convict Trump. If convicted, Trump could be faraway from workplace and succeeded by the vice chairman. It could be the primary time a U.S. president had been impeached twice.
    Potentially complicating Pelosi’s choice about impeachment was what it meant for Biden and the start of his presidency. While reiterating that he had lengthy considered Trump as unfit for workplace, Biden on Friday sidestepped a query about impeachment, saying what Congress did “is for them to decide.”
    A violent and largely white mob of Trump supporters overpowered police, broke by means of safety strains and home windows and rampaged by means of the Capitol on Wednesday, forcing lawmakers to scatter as they had been finalizing Biden’s victory over Trump within the Electoral College.
    Toomey appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” and NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Clyburn was on “Fox News Sunday” and CNN. Kinzinger was on ABC’s “This Week,” Blunt was on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and Rubio was on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”
    ALSO READ | Trump orders US flag at half-mast in respect of fallen Capitol officers
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  • US diplomats in extraordinary protest towards Trump for US Capitol riot

    In a extremely uncommon transfer, American diplomats have drafted two cables condemning President Donald Trump’s incitement of the lethal assault on the Capitol and calling for administration officers to probably assist invoking the twenty fifth Amendment to take away him from workplace.
    Using what is named the State Department’s “dissent channel”, profession international and civil service officers mentioned they worry final Wednesday’s siege might badly undermine US credibility to advertise and defend democratic values overseas.
    “Failing to publicly hold the president to account would further damage our democracy and our ability to effectively accomplish our foreign policy goals abroad,” based on the second of the 2 cables, which had been circulated amongst diplomats late final week after which despatched to State Department management.
    The cable known as on Pompeo to assist any lawful effort by Vice President Mike Pence and different Cabinet members to guard the nation together with by means of “the possible implementation of the procedures provided for in Article 4 of the 25th Amendment, if appropriate”.

    The modification permits for the vice chairman and a majority of the Cabinet to declare a president unfit for workplace, and the vice chairman then turns into performing president.
    The cables had been a rare protest towards a sitting US president by American diplomats, who’ve lengthy complained that the Trump administration has ignored and diminished their position and experience. The dissent channel is often used to oppose particular international coverage choices. The two most up-to-date cables seem like unprecedented of their scope and characterisation of the president as a hazard to the nation.

    The cables additionally replicate anger on the response to the riot by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a loyal Trump ally.
    Pompeo has condemned the violence on the Capitol however has pointedly not addressed the position Trump performed in encouraging his supporters who stormed the constructing. Nor has Pompeo addressed the aftermath or acknowledged that American diplomats abroad might now face new problem in selling democracy.
    Trump himself has railed about what he sees as disloyalty on the State Department. He as soon as referred to it publicly — and in entrance of Pompeo and reporters – as “the deep State Department”, a reference to what Trump and his supporters consider is a cabal of entrenched bureaucrats intent on subverting his insurance policies.
    It was not instantly clear what number of diplomats signed the cables, each of which had been considered by The Associated Press. The State Department didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

    “It is essential that the Department of State explicitly denounce President Trumps role in this violent attack on the US government,” mentioned the primary of the 2 cables, which added that the president’s personal feedback shouldn’t be used “as he is not a credible voice on this matter”.
    “Just as we routinely denounce foreign leaders who use violence and intimidation to interfere in peaceful democratic processes and override the will of their voters, the department’s public statements about this episode should also mention President Trump by name. It is critical that we communicate to the world that in our system, no one — not even the president — is above the law or immune from public criticism”.
    “This would be a first step towards repairing the damage to our international credibility,” it mentioned. “It would allow the beacon of democracy to shine on despite this dark episode. It would also send a strong message to our friends and adversaries that the Department of State applies an ethos of integrity and objective standards when it condemns assaults on democracy at home or abroad.”

    It additionally mentioned Pompeo ought to assist any effort by Vice President Mike Pence and different Cabinet members to invoke the twenty fifth Amendment to take away Trump from workplace.

  • Trump orders US flag at half-mast in respect of fallen Capitol officers

    Image Source : AP US President Donald Trump
    US President Donald Trump on Sunday (native time) ordered the flag of the United States be flown half-mast on the White House and all federal buildings, grounds, and embassies to honour Capitol Police officers Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, who have been each on obligation when a mob of Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday.

    In a proclamation, Trump mentioned: “As a sign of respect for the service and sacrifice of United States Capitol Police Officers Brian D. Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, and all Capitol Police Officers and law enforcement across this great Nation, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, January 13, 2021.”

    “I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations,” he added.

    This comes after the Capitol Police officer Sicknick died on Thursday on account of accidents sustained accidents through the mob violence on the Capitol.

    Following this, the Capitol Police on Sunday introduced the off-duty demise of a Capitol police officer Howard Liebengood, who’s the son and namesake of a former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, Howard Liebengood Sr.

    Chaotic and violent scenes erupted on the Capitol on Wednesday as Trump supporters stormed the constructing to protest the Electoral College vote, forcing a lockdown and confrontations with the police.

    A rising variety of Democrats and Republicans have known as for Trump’s impeachment for his position in inciting his supporters who stormed the Capitol constructing.

    Five folks have died within the ensuing scuffle.

    (With inputs from ANI)

    ALSO READ | Democrats plan lightning Trump impeachment, need him out now

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  • Breaking News January 11 LIVE: Top Headlines This Hour

    Image Source : INDIA TV Breaking News January 11
    The whole variety of world coronavirus instances has surpassed 90 million, together with 1,943,090 fatalities. As many as 64,810,969 sufferers are reported to have recovered. Follow this breaking information weblog for stay updates on the coronavirus pandemic because it continues to pose a problem for well being employees and scientists who’re in a race in opposition to time to supply a vaccine/drugs.

    IndiaTelevisionNews.com brings you the financial fallout of the COVID-19 disaster that has resulted in job losses in tens of millions and altering the best way we work. Stay Home, Stay Safe, and Stay Informed as our crew of devoted editors/reporters convey you the newest information on coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine trial updates, photographs, video, information, views and high tales from monsoon rains, enterprise, politics, schooling, science, yoga, and far more in India and worldwide.
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  • Pelosi tells lawmakers to organize for motion subsequent week on Trump

    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi informed lawmakers to be “prepared to return to Washington” subsequent week, suggesting she is contemplating impeachment or one other formal response to President Donald Trump’s encouragement of supporters who attacked the Capitol.
    In a letter to fellow Democrats, Pelosi stopped in need of saying whether or not she supposed to maneuver ahead with impeachment or one other course of geared toward eradicating Trump from workplace earlier than his time period expires on Jan. 20, but she insisted that Trump be held accountable in some style.
    “It is absolutely essential that those who perpetrated the assault on our democracy be held accountable,” she mentioned within the letter launched late Saturday. “There must be a recognition that this desecration was instigated by the president.”

    She mentioned she is going to proceed to fulfill with lawmakers and Constitutional specialists, however added, “I urge you to be prepared to return to Washington this week.”

    Pelosi has referred to as on the president to resign over Wednesday’s violent assault on the Capitol. Five folks died, together with a police officer, after Trump supporters broke by means of safety obstacles and rampaged by means of the constructing, forcing lawmakers to evacuate whereas they have been counting Electoral College votes.