Above image: Screenshot of President Donald Trump during his address on Thursday night.
UPDATES BELOW
Education head DeVos quits, cites Trump rhetoric
Jan. 07, 2021, 8:07 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest on the fallout of the storming of the Capitol by a mob of pro-Trump loyalists:
8:05 p.m.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has become the second Cabinet secretary to resign a day after a pro-Trump insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
In a resignation letter Thursday, DeVos blamed President Donald Trump for inflaming tensions in the violent assault on the seat of the nation’s democracy. She says, “There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me.”
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao tendered her resignation earlier Thursday. News of DeVos’ resignation was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
In a farewell letter to Congress earlier this week, DeVos urged lawmakers to reject policies supported by President-elect Joe Biden, and to protect Trump administration policies that Biden has promised to eliminate.
Jan. 07, 2021, 6:27 p.m. — The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest on the fallout of the storming of the Capitol by a mob of pro-Trump loyalists:
Jan. 07, 2021, 6:20 p.m.
President Donald Trump is conceding* to President-elect Joe Biden and condemning the violent supporters who stormed the nation’s Capitol Wednesday.
To view the statement from President Trump, scroll below to see it via his Twitter feed.
*CNN and other outlets are not referring to the speech as an “official” concession, but an acknowledgment of the new administration.
President Donald Trump on Thursday:
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021
In the new video message, Trump says that now that Congress has certified the results, the “new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20” and his “focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power.”
He is also speaking out against the violence, calling it a “heinous attack” that left him “outraged by the violence lawlessness and mayhem.”
Trump did not address his role in inciting the violence. But he is telling his supporters that, while he knows they are “disappointed,” he wants them to know “our incredible journey is only just beginning.”
And in other breaking news:
There are now reports a fifth person has died as a result of Wednesday’s violence — a Capitol police officer. UPDATE: The Hill now says the Capitol police officer who had reportedly died is apparently still alive. Click here for the article.- The Wall Street Journal editorial board is calling for Trump’s resignation. The Journal is owned by conservative media mogul and longtime GOP supporter, Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Fox News. Click here for more information on the editorial, and scroll below for Twitter access to the Journal’s Twitter’s post.
- The FBI is actively looking for protestors who stormed the Capitol via closed circuit security camera footage, social media, tips from citizens, and other sources. Some protestors could face 20 years in federal prison for their participation in Wednesday’s Capitol breach.
The link to the Wall Street Journal editorial from Twitter is below, however, the entire article might be behind a paywall for some readers.
From @WSJopinion: If Trump wants to avoid a second impeachment, his best path would be to take personal responsibility and resign, writes The Editorial Board https://t.co/EtTbeiP4ps
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 8, 2021
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Congress confirmed Democrat Joe Biden as the presidential election winner before dawn Thursday, hours after a violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a stunning attempt to overturn the election, undercut the nation’s democracy and keep Trump in the White House.
The top two Democrats in Congress are calling on the Cabinet to use the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office, and if it doesn’t, they are considering impeachment again.
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