Capitol riots: Chief says back-up denied over ‘optics’, as 15,000 troops requested ahead of ‘uprising’
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Ousted police chief Steve Sund said he requested help or back up six times before and during the Capitol riots but was denied over the “optics”.
In his first interview since resigning, Sund said he asked House and Senate security officials permission to request the National Guard be placed on standby but that House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving wasn’t comfortable with the “optics” of formally declaring an emergency ahead of pro-Trump demonstrations.
The insight into what went wrong comes as the FBI warned an 'armed uprising' could take place in all 50 state capitols between now and the inauguration of Joe Biden if Congress moves to remove Donald Trump before 20 January.
As a result, the Pentagon has approved an additional 15,000 National Guard to be deployed or remain on stand by to for Inauguration Day.
Democrats, meanwhile, introduced an article of impeachment to the floor of the House of Representatives as lawmakers prepare to vote on a resolution asking the vice president, Mike Pence, to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Donald Trump from office.
For his part, Pence reportedly had his first call with Trump since the riot and committed to working together until the end of his term, appearing to douse speculation he could invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office.
With Republicans expected to resist the unanimous resolution, it is likely to return to the floor for a full vote on Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said. From that point, Pence will have 24 hours to respond, and if not the House will move to impeach the president.
In conversation with House Republicans, House GOP minority leader Kevin McCarthy reportedly said Trump bears some responsibility for the riot at the US Capitol. Even so, he said opposes impeachment but would be open to supporting a motion of censuring the president.
The work to remove Trump comes as his supporters planned to protest outside Twitter’s HQ in San Francisco, furious at the firm for suspending the outgoing president’s account.
Twenty people have now been arrested and await trial for their roles in the assault on Congress, while a Capitol Police officer who was videoed bravely confronting rioters inside the halls of Congress has been named as Eugene Goodman.
At least two Capitol police officers were suspended for taking selfies with rioters, while one was supposedly arrested for wearing a Maga hat and leading them around, according to Chair of the House subcommittee that oversees Capitol Police, congressman Tim Ryan.
PELOTON BLOCKS USERS FROM CREATING #STOPTHESTEAL HASHTAG
For Indy/Life, Chelsea Ritschel writes Peloton appears to have joined a growing list of companies blocking content related to the pro-Trump group Stop The Steal after the violent Capitol riots.
As of Monday, attempts to create a #StopTheSteal tag are now blocked, with a message appearing that reads: “This Tag does not meet our guidelines. Please contact Support if you believe this is an error.”
The block also applies to alternative spellings of the tag, with attempts to create a tag #StopTheSteall resulting in the same message on the exercise company’s app.
Peloton blocks users from creating #StopTheSteal hashtag on app
Companies including TikTok and Pinterest have also blocked the hashtag
GOP House minority leader Kevin McCarthy says Trump accepts ‘some responsibility’ for Capital riot, according to reports
In conversation with House Republicans, McCarthy said Trump bears some responsibility for the riot at the US Capitol, according to multiple reports.
Politico reporters Melanie Zanona and Olivia Beavers confirmed with two sources, while NBC News reported that the minority leader said he opposes impeachment but was open to supporting a motion of censure.
BREAKING: Pence pledges to work with Trump ‘for remainder of their term’ amid speculation VP may invoke 25th amendment over Capitol riot
Mike Pence is said to have vowed to work with Donald Trump for the “remainder of their term", amid speculation the vice president may invoke the 25th Amendment.
The Independent’s Andrew Buncombe is following the story as it unfolds.
Pence pledges to work with Trump ‘for remainder of their term’ amid speculation VP may invoke 25th amendment
Mike Pence is said to have vowed to work with Donald Trump for the “remainder of their term", amid speculation the vice president may invoke the 25th Amendment.
Joe Biden calls Arnold Schwarzenegger after he calls rioters Nazis
The former Governator is back in politics; at least tangentially.
He got a call from the president-elect today after putting out a call for unity in the wake of the Capitol riots.
It was fantastic to talk to President Elect @JoeBiden today about bringing the country back together. I’m here to help in any way I can,” Schwarzenegger tweeted Monday afternoon.
The call, confirmed by a Biden adviser to The Washington Post, came after Arnie posted a video holding his Conan the Barbarian sword calling rioters Nazis.
BREAKING: Trump declares emergency in DC ahead of Biden inauguration, reports
From the White House, via Washington Post correspondent Josh Dawsey:
“President Donald J.Trump declared that an emergency exists in the District of Columbia and ordered Federal assistance to supplement the District’s response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from the 59th Presidential Inauguration..."
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