8″ January ” 2021 ” AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
Democrats say they could take up articles of impeachment against Trump as soon as next week if his Cabinet does not try to remove him first
- Democrats are discussing whether to move forward with the quick impeachment of President Donald Trump if his Cabinet does not try to remove him first.
- The storming of the US Capitol by supporters of Trump has prompted calls for his removal from office before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20.
- Trump has taken a more conciliatory tone – promising a smooth transfer of power and calling for “healing and reconciliation”.
- The chaotic scenes unfolded after Trump addressed thousands of protesters and repeated unfounded claims that the election was stolen from him. Five people died and 64 were arrested as protesters forced their way into the building.
Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the fallout from the chaos at the Capitol in Washington, DC. This is Mersiha Gadzo in Toronto, Canada.
21 seconds ago (16:31 GMT)
FBI, police to jointly investigate death of capitol police officer
The FBI and the Washington, DC police department will jointly investigate the death of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who died from injuries he sustained while defending the US Capitol, Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen has said.
13 mins ago (16:18 GMT)
White House’s Kudlow not resigning: CNBC
White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow will stay in his post until Biden is inaugurated, but will take unused vacation this month, CNBC has reported as a wave of officials from Trump’s administration quit following violent Capitol Hill demonstrations.
18 mins ago (16:14 GMT)
Republican senator would ‘definitely consider’ impeachment
A Republican senator has said that he would “definitely consider” Democratic moves to impeach Trump.
“The House, if they come together and have a process, I will definitely consider whatever articles they might move because … I believe the president has disregarded his oath of office,” Ben Sasse told CBS News.
44 mins ago (15:48 GMT)
Trump says he will not attend inauguration
Trump says he will not attend Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
“To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th,” he wrote on
Vice President Mike Pence is reportedly planning to attend the ceremony.
Trump will become only the fourth president in US history to skip the inauguration of his successor and the first since President Andrew Johnson missed Ulysses S. Grant’s swearing-in ceremony in 1869.
According to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, “Johnson did not accompany President-elect Grant to the Capitol, nor did he attend the Inaugural ceremonies. Instead, he remained at the White House signing last-minute legislation.”
51 mins ago (15:40 GMT)
Pelosi lowers Capitol flags in honour of officer
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says those responsible for police officer Brian Sicknick’s death from the siege at the Capitol “must be brought to justice”.
Pelosi said she was lowering flags at the Capitol in his honour.
Sicknick died “after defending the Capitol complex and protecting those who serve and work here. The perpetrators of Officer Sicknick’s death must be brought to justice,” she said.,
57 mins ago (15:35 GMT)
Biden will leave Congress to act on possible impeachment: Spokesman
Biden is focused on preparing to take office, and will leave to Congress, Vice President Mike Pence, and Trump’s Cabinet to “act as they see fit” on the issues of impeachment and the 25th Amendment, a Biden transition spokesman has said.
Spokesman Andrew Bates made the statement in response to a question by Reuters news agency.
“President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris are focused on their duty – preparing to take office on January 20th – and will leave it to Vice President Pence, the Cabinet and the Congress to act as they see fit,” Bates said.
2 hours ago (14:49 GMT)
Trump says his followers will continue to have a voice
Trump promises Americans who voted for him “will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form” in a Friday morning tweet
.Twitter suspended Trump’s account on Wednesday after a tweet which praised those attacking the Capitol Building with the president saying “we love you” and “you’re very special”. Trump’s account was reinstated on Thursday after Trump deleted the tweets.
2 hours ago (14:33 GMT)
House Democrats mull fast-track Trump impeachment
House Democratic leaders say the House could take up articles of impeachment against Trump as soon as next week if Vice President Mike Pence and Trump’s Cabinet do not act to remove him.
Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark of Massachusetts said the House “can use procedural tools to get articles of impeachment to the House floor quickly”, as early as the coming week, if Pence does not invoke the Constitution’s 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.
US House Democrats to have conference call at noon
The Democratic members of the US House of Representatives will have a conference call at noon local time (17:00 GMT) on Friday, a Democratic aide has said.
He said the topic was “general business”, but congressional Democrats have been weighing options in impeaching President Trump for a second time.SOURCE :
AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES