WASHINGTON (AP): The latest on the consequences of the assault on the Capitol by a crowd of pro-Trump loyalists (always local):
16:20 h
The State Department is investigating what appears to be a “joke” after its website suggested that President Donald Trump’s term would end Monday evening.
The change to the Trump department’s biography page (which featured the text “Donald J. Trump’s term ended 2021-01-11 at 7:49:00 p.m.”) created a frenzy on the Internet Monday afternoon.
The problem comes as Trump is increasingly pressured to resign and when he faces a second impeachment after his supporters stormed the Capitol last week with the aim of stopping certification of Trump’s electoral defeat to the president elect Joe Biden.
Two people familiar with the incident say the department is investigating exactly how it happened. Although the department has not ruled out the possibility that the entry was the work of a disgruntled employee, no conclusions have yet been reached.
People spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak about it publicly.
The page has since been deleted.
– By AP writer Matthew Lee
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HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FALLOUT OF RIOTATION IN THE CHAPTER:
Read more:
– Republicans block the measure calling for Trump’s speedy withdrawal
– Analysis: a GOP calculation after turning a blind eye to Trump
– First lady “disappointed” by the Trump supporters ’riots in the Capitol
– The Capitol assaults a more sinister attack of what first appeared
– A propaganda theater: The Capitol, cameras and selfies
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HERE’S MORE:
16:10 h
The Department of Homeland Security is launching increased inauguration security measures ahead of schedule, citing an “evolving security landscape” prior to the event.
Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said Monday he advanced the schedule for the national special security event for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday, instead of Jan. 19. He cited “last week’s events” along with the evolving security landscape.
It comes days after thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol to try to stop Congress ’certification of Biden’s victory. Five people died.
The FBI has also issued an alert bulletin on plans for armed protests in the state’s 50 capitals and in Washington, DC, in the days leading up to Biden’s inauguration.
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14:55
Democrats say the House will consider ousting President Donald Trump on Wednesday, a week after an angry crowd of his supporters invaded the Capitol.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told Democrats Monday that members should plan to return to Washington Tuesday night to consider a House resolution calling on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke constitutional authority to remove Trump in office. That resolution is expected to happen, but Pence is unlikely to act.
Hoyer says the House will study dismissal on Wednesday.
House Democrats have moved quickly to draft a judicial indictment accusing Trump of inciting insurrection because he incited thousands of his supporters before the riots by falsely telling them they stole his election.
One of the article’s Democratic sponsors, Rhode Island Representative David Cicilline, says they have the votes to approve it.
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2.45 p.m.
The agency that oversees U.S. home security has a new leader.
Timothy Blodgett, the House’s deputy weapons sergeant, has been sworn in to replace Paul Irving, who resigned after last week’s riots at the Capitol.
Blodgett is one of three incumbent officers now leading security in and around the Capitol after the violent siege that left five dead, including a Capitol police officer.
Jennifer Hemingway, the non-commissioned officer of arms of the Senate, acts as sergeant of arms of the upper chamber in place of Michael Stenger. And Capitol police deputy chief Yogananda Pittman has been appointed acting chief, following the resignation of former chief Steven Sund.
Pittman, a 20-year veteran, is the first African-American woman to lead Capitol police. The department faces intense scrutiny after its lack of response to the riot, poor planning and failure to predict the severity of the threat led to widespread condemnation.
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14:40 h
Former House Speaker John Boehner said President Donald Trump should “consider resigning.”
Former Ohio Republican congressman began his remarks Monday during a webinar on health policy talking about Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread election fraud and last week’s siege of the Capitol by pro-Trump insurgents .
“Here, in my opinion, is the president of the United States inciting a riot … and the Capitol is threatening,” Boehner said. “It is time for Donald Trump to consider resigning. It has violated the oath of protection and defense of the United States Constitution.
Boehner was a speaker from 2011 to 2015 and has largely avoided making public comments about Trump. But on Monday he said Trump “has abused the loyalty of the people who voted for him.”
Boehner also pointed to Republican Congressmen echoing Trump’s “noise” over election fraud claims, although courts and election officials have repeatedly said no such evidence was presented.
“Shame on them,” Boehner said. “Leaders Lead.”
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2:30 p.m.
President-elect Joe Biden says he has spoken to Senate leaders about the time lag between approving his key cabinet nominations and proceeding with a possible impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.
The House is preparing indictments against Trump for the second time in just over a year. This time, it’s to help incite last week’s violent insurgency at the U.S. Capitol.
But Trump leaves office on Jan. 20 and the Senate is unlikely to meet again until next week, raising concerns in Congress Democrats that the impeachment process could overshadow the start of Biden’s presidency and the confirmation of your options for key administration positions.
After receiving his second shot of the coronavirus vaccine Monday in Delaware, Biden downplayed those concerns and suggested the Senate could do both.
The president-elect said he had spoken to Senate leaders about the division of time in the House and “spend half a day dealing with the removal, half a day to get my people appointed and confirmed in the Senate. “.
Biden said the deal would also allow the Senate to work on another pandemic response bill that would include more financial aid for Americans battling the virus.
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13:35 h
Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey says she has tested positive for COVID-19 and believes it was exposed during protective isolation in the U.S. Capitol building as a result of Wednesday’s riots.
She was one of dozens of lawmakers taken to a safe location when pro-Donald Trump insurgents stormed the Capitol. A press release from his office on Monday notes that “several members of the space ignored instructions to wear masks.”
Watson Coleman isolates himself at home and awaits the results of another test. She says, “Although I experience mild, cold-like symptoms, I’m still in a good mood and will continue to work on behalf of my components.”
Watson Coleman had received the first dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech COVID19 vaccine, which has been made available to members of Congress.
Some members of Congress met for hours in the great hall, while others stayed there for a shorter period.
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13:30 h
The head of the National Guard says at least 10,000 troops will be deployed in Washington, DC on Saturday, and an additional 5,000 could be requested from other states.
There are currently 6,200 members of the guard in the city of DC and five nearby states. The increase in requests for members of the Guard on Monday comes as officials prepare for more, possibly violent protests over the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Army General Daniel Hokanson, head of the National Guard Office, told reporters he is authorized to bring up to 15,000 members of the Guard. He said the number of deployments changes according to the hours and days, according to requests from the secret service, park police and Capitol police.
There have been repeated questions about why members of the Guard were not introduced more quickly as the deadly riot unfolded on Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol. Guard officials said they responded as quickly as possible as the situation deviated from control, but said Capitol police repeatedly rejected offers of help in the days leading up to the protests.
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12:25 pm
The National Park Service closes public access to the Monument in Washington until Jan. 24, citing threats surrounding Joe Biden’s inauguration.
The agency said Monday it was implementing the temporary closure “in response to credible threats to visitors and park resources.”
Park officials say groups involved in last week’s riots at the U.S. Capitol continue to “threaten to disrupt” the opening of Biden on Jan. 20. As a result, officials are closing tours at the Washington Monument from Monday through Jan. 24. .
They say they could also establish some temporary road closures, parking areas and toilets at the National Mall and that they could extend the closures “if conditions persist.”
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11:45 h
Assistant Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman has been appointed acting chief after the former department leader resigned following the deadly siege of the Capitol.
Pittman, a 20-year veteran, is the first African-American woman to head the department. He joined the department in 2001 and served as captain, deputy director and commander of the office.
Steven Sund announced his resignation as police chief on Thursday, following Wednesday’s violent riot that left five people dead, including a Capitol police officer.
The department’s lack of response to the riot, poor planning and lack of anticipation of the seriousness of the threat have led to condemnation by lawmakers. In addition to Sund, the arms sergeants of the House and Senate also resigned.
The FBI is also investigating whether some riot police planned to kidnap members of Congress and hold them hostage.