Gov’t Watchdogs To Investigate Capitol Police, Potential Congressional Role In Attack

Two federal watchdogs are opening investigations into last week’s breach of the Capitol — including one looking at the potential involvement of Republican legislators. The New York Times reported the probes Wednesday.

Continue reading “Gov’t Watchdogs To Investigate Capitol Police, Potential Congressional Role In Attack”

Secret Service Flags New Round Of Potentially Violent DC Protests In Bulletin

The Secret Service earlier this week flagged potentially violent protests in Washington, D.C. planned for the days leading up to Joe Biden’s inauguration as President, the Daily Beast reported Wednesday

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Feast of False Equivalency

TPM Reader DW is watching the impeachment debate: “While we’re treated to this feast of false equivalency from Republicans, it’s worth remembering that the only officers killed during BLM protests last summer were shot by a right-wing extremist engaging in a false flag attack.”

Federalist Society Cofounder Joins With Top Dem Lawyer To Call For Impeachment

The cofounder of the Federalist Society called for President Donald Trump to be impeached Wednesday following years of ardent support for the President from the conservative establishment.

Continue reading “Federalist Society Cofounder Joins With Top Dem Lawyer To Call For Impeachment”

Will We Ever Find Out What Trump Was After With The Atlanta U.S. Attorney Shake-Up?

Whatever President Trump thought would happen in the U.S. attorney’s office in Atlanta,  it doesn’t appear he will be getting what he was hoping for.

Continue reading “Will We Ever Find Out What Trump Was After With The Atlanta U.S. Attorney Shake-Up?”

McCarthy Tries To Thread The Needle Amid Trump Chaos He Supported

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) outlined his convoluted position on how to deal with President Trump a week after insurrectionist violence left five people dead after Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

McCarthy said on Wednesday that while he did not believe President Donald Trump should be impeached with just a week left in his term, he did believe that the President was responsible for the violent mob attack on the Capitol last week.

“I believe impeaching the President in such a short time frame would be a mistake,” McCarthy said on the House floor.

“No investigations have been completed,” the top House Republican added. “No hearings have been held. What’s more, the Senate has confirmed that no trial will begin until after President-elect Biden is sworn in. But here is what a vote to impeach would do: A vote to impeach will further divide the nation. A vote to impeach will further fan the flames of partisan division.”

Just days after the November election, McCarthy tweeted that Republicans would not back down from “battle.”

And even after the deadly violence at the Capitol last week, McCarthy joined a majority of his House GOP colleagues to reject the Electoral College votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania.

McCarthy was clear, however, in pinning responsibility for the attack on Trump.

“The President bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters,” McCarthy said. “He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding. These facts require immediate actions by President Trump: accept his share of responsibility, quell the brewing unrest and ensure President-elect Biden is able to successfully begin his term.”

McCarthy also said Antifa was not to blame for the violence, as some on the right have claimed in recent days.

The comments echoed similar sentiments offered by other Republican lawmakers who have pushed back on an effort led by House Democrats to impeach President Trump after Vice President Mike Pence rejected a call to invoke the 25th amendment to remove the president from office after he used a rally speech last Wednesday to fuel an attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol where Congress met for a joint session to reaffirm Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

McCarthy’s plea against impeachment as the right course of action comes after at least six House Republicans on Tuesday said they planned to back the article of impeachment against Trump on the basis of “incitement of insurrection.” Additional reporting also suggested that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who delivered a blistering rebuke of the President’s anti-democratic effort last week, had an appetite for impeachment.

Backlash Begins: House GOPers Petition To Oust Cheney From Leadership

A day after Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) announced her support for impeaching President Trump, the President’s allies in the House Republican conference circulated a petition on Wednesday urging its third-ranking member to resign from her leadership position over her impending impeachment vote. Continue reading “Backlash Begins: House GOPers Petition To Oust Cheney From Leadership”

Trump Issues Tweet-Like Statement From White House Calling For ‘NO Violence’

President Trump on Wednesday urged his supporters to lower the temperature, a week after his followers stormed the U.S. Capitol in a mob that left several people dead.

“In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind. That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers. Thank You,” Trump said in a statement that would likely show up on his Twitter feed, if the President still had one.

The statement took no responsibility for the violence Trump incited last week. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump showed no remorse for the shocking attack on the seat of the United States government.