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Insurrection In The Capitol: So Many Questions Remain After DC Siege

January 7, 2021
WASHINGTON D.C., USA - JANUARY 6: A US President Donald Trumps supporter faces off security forces after breaching security and entering the Capitol building in Washington D.C., United States on January 06, 2021. Pro... WASHINGTON D.C., USA - JANUARY 6: A US President Donald Trumps supporter faces off security forces after breaching security and entering the Capitol building in Washington D.C., United States on January 06, 2021. Pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol as lawmakers were set to sign off Wednesday on President-elect Joe Biden's electoral victory in what was supposed to be a routine process headed to Inauguration Day. (Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) MORE LESS
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January 7, 2021

As the dust, and tear gas, settles after a mob of violent insurrectionists laid siege to the United States Capitol, many questions remain outstanding. Why were the Capitol Police so outmanned? Who exactly was behind the order to finally send in the National Guard to help quell the uprising? Who were the individuals who led the charge — other than Trump himself — and how will they be held to account?

We’ll be piecing together more information throughout the day. Follow the TPM staff’s coverage below:

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As the dust, and tear gas, settles after a mob of violent insurrectionists laid siege to the United States Capitol, many questions remain outstanding. Why were the Capitol Police so outmanned? Who exactly was behind the order to finally send in the National Guard to help quell the uprising? Who were the individuals who led the charge — other than Trump himself — and how will they be held to account?

We’ll be piecing together more information throughout the day. Follow the TPM staff’s coverage below:

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Jan 7, 2021 7:28 p.m.

Trump Says It Out Loud: It’s Over

Free from Twitter jail, President Trump conceded defeat on Thursday evening in a video message from the White House.

“A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power,” Trump said. The President released a statement overnight after Congress finalized Joe Biden’s win, promising an orderly transition, but we hadn’t seen Trump say it himself until tonight.

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Jan 7, 2021 7:04 p.m.

Report: Capitol Police Officer Dies After Violent Siege

CNN reported that a Capitol Police officer has died from events tied to the violence that erupted at the Capitol yesterday, marking the fifth person to die as a result of the mob violence inflicted by Trump supporters.

One woman was fatally shot by Capitol Police as the pro-Trump mob reached the building. Three others also suffered from medical emergencies that proved fatal.

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Jan 7, 2021 6:58 p.m.

Ex-MO Senator Who Mentored Hawley Says it Was ‘The Biggest Mistake’ Of His Life

Former Missouri Sen. John Danforth regrets promoting Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) as the future of the GOP and a “once-in-a-generation” candidate destined for president, in light of the Republican senator’s support of the GOP’s fruitless efforts to object Congress’ certification of Biden’s electoral victory that incited the violent mob that breached the Capitol.

“I thought he was special. And I did my best to encourage people to support him both for attorney general and later the U.S. Senate and it was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my life,” Danford told the Kansas City Star. “I don’t know if he was always like this and good at covering it up or if it happened. I just don’t know.”

Shortly after being dumped by the publisher of his forthcoming book for “his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom,” Hawley said he plans to sue Simon and Schuster.

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Jan 7, 2021 6:27 p.m.

Second GOP Governor Calls For 25th Amendment To Be Invoked

Hours after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) appeared to suggest that the 25th Amendment should be invoked, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) similarly called for Trump to immediately “step down” in light of the President egging on the pro-Trump violent mob at the Capitol yesterday.

“I think people should pursue whatever they believe will make is possible — through the most expeditious way possible — for the president to step down and for the vice president to assume the powers of the office for the next 14 days so that an orderly transition can take place,” Baker said during a briefing, according to the Boston Herald.

Baker said that he leaves it up “to the people in Washington” to do that.

“I think it’s important at this point that there be an orderly transition and that that transition be led by the vice president,” Baker said.

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Jan 7, 2021 6:22 p.m.

Chief of Capitol Police Announces Resignation

Steven Sund, chief of the Capitol Police, has announced his resignation effective January 16, according to NBC News.

After the pro-Trump mob easily breached the Capitol Wednesday, criticism of the police response rained down from all sides, including from Pelosi who called for his resignation.

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Jan 7, 2021 6:13 p.m.
Nadler Joins Calls From House Judiciary Dems To Impeach Trump

The House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler (D-NY) joined calls put out by other Democrats on his committee, declaring that Trump should be impeached and officially removed from office.

“We have a limited period of time in which to act,” he tweeted. “The nation cannot afford a drawn out process and I support bringing articles of impeachment directly to the House floor.”

This comes as the vice president declared he does not support invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.

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Jan 7, 2021 6:00 p.m.

Swalwell Wants To Look Into Possible Coordination Between Rioters And Lawmakers

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, suggested on Thursday that the possibility of coordination between rioters and lawmakers or their staffs should be investigated.

“We need to understand who was a part of this insurrection, whether there were people on the inside where members or senators or their staffs were working in coordination with the protesters,” he said on MSNBC.

“It seemed just all too coincidental that they knew exactly where to go,” he continued. “To see some of the rooms that were ravaged, like the different parliamentarian offices which I have a hard time finding, and to see that they were able to get into there just leads me to believe that we need to understand fully who was working with these individuals and what were the intelligence failures from law enforcement that didn’t understand this.”

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Jan 7, 2021 6:00 p.m.

Hawley’s Book Dumped As Result Of GOP Electoral Challenge Scheme Inciting Violent Mob

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who joined the GOP’s fruitless efforts to object Congress’ certification of Biden’s electoral victory, has been dumped by the publisher of his forthcoming book after “his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom.”

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Jan 7, 2021 5:41 p.m.

WH Press Secretary Takes No Questions After Weak Condemnation Of Pro-Trump Mob Violence

Holding true to her tactic of deflection, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany failed to hold the President — who egged on his supporters leading up to the mayhem that broke out at the Capitol yesterday — accountable during a press conference that lasted under two minutes.

“The violence we saw yesterday at our nation’s capital was appalling, reprehensible, and antithetical to the American way. We condemn it,” McEnany said. “The President and this administration condemn it in the strongest possible terms. It is unacceptable. Those people should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

McEnany tried to promote herself as an advocate for the First Amendment, thanked law enforcement officers, and said that the White House “grieves for the loss of life and those injured.”

Without specifics, McEnany pointed fingers at a “group of violent rioters” rather than acknowledging the reality that it was a mob full of Trump supporters who breached the Capitol.

“What we saw yesterday was a group of violent rioters undermining the rights of thousands who came to have their voices heard at our nation’s capital,” McEnany said. “Those who violently besieged our capital are the opposite of what this administration stands for.”

McEnany left the podium without taking questions as she pretended that the Trump administration values “safety, peace and freedom” and that it’s working to “ensure an orderly transition of power.”

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Jan 7, 2021 5:16 p.m.

Former Trump Chief Of Staff Endorses Mounting Calls For 25th Amendment To Be Invoked

In an interview with CNN, John Kelly said he supports invoking the 25th Amendment to boot Trump from office and that he would suggest doing so if he were a member of Trump’s cabinet.

“Yes, I would,” Kelly said when asked if he support invoking the 25th Amendment if he had a vote.”I think that the Cabinet should meet and have a discussion. I don’t think that it’ll happen, but I think the Cabinet should meet and discuss this because the behavior yesterday and in the weeks and months before that has just been outrageous from the President.”

Kelly went on to excoriate Trump by saying that yesterday’s siege of the Capitol is “a direct result of his poisoning the minds of people with the lies and the frauds.”

Note: Kelly’s term as White House chief of staff from July 2017-January 2019 included Trump’s “very fine people” response to the Charlottesville white nationalist rally and the Trump administration’s family separations policy that Kelly himself proposed.

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  1. Avatar for dave48 dave48 says:

    We’re still not done with this folks. They’ll be even more craziness to come. You can bet on it.

    Edit: He just threw his own supporters under the bus. He’s done! There’s no coming back from this.

  2. Foxy Friend hopes Trump can forgive Pence? Give me a break. That is the very definition of what is wrong with Fox News. It is why Fox News should be run out of business.

    Pence did exactly what he was required to do by the Constitution. There is nothing for Trump to forgive. In fact if I was Pence after yesterday’s attempted coup Trump’s forgiveness would be the last thing I would be concerned about.

  3. Let’s hope reinstating something like the Fairness Doctrine is high on the Biden agenda. It’s as important as anything else he’s facing - perhaps more important. I know the genie is out of the bottle, but we have to try.

  4. Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt said on Thursday that she hopes President Trump “will be able to forgive” Vice President Mike Pence

    You cannot expect someone who screws Sean Hannity for fun, to understand how outrageous her statement is. Trump forgiving Pence for not committing a crime on his behalf.

  5. I suspect many of the crazies are still in DC. The police have pictures, and probably have a lot of names by now. They should be all about rounding them up in their hotels. I think no knock warrants should be appropriate.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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