ALL THE EVENTS FROM THE US CAPITAL
OFFICIALS PONDER CONSTITUTION AFTER RIOT
DONALD Trump may need to be fired twice after supporters of the delusional demagogue stormed the Capitol, laying siege to the heart of US democracy in an unprecedented insurrection that left four dead.
Colleagues are now considering invoking the Constitution to forcibly evict Mr Trump who, at a rally coinciding with the normal procedural confirmation of a new president, urged tens of thousands of supporters to march to the Capitol in protest at November’s “stolen” election.
In terrifying scenes, protesters overwhelmed police, smashing their way into the House and the Speaker’s office before taking selfies with statues in the rotunda.
Four people died and at least three pipe bombs were discovered in the chaos while Washington DC authorities imposed an overnight curfew.
Air force veteran Ashli Babbitt was shot by police when protesters stormed a barricaded door. Three others, a woman and two men died from medical episodes.
Another 52 people were arrested.
Mr Trump eventually used a video message to tell supporters to go home, but not before saying he knew their pain, loved them and that they were all “very special”.
Allies have now turned on Mr Trump, world leaders have condemned the violence, and Twitter and Facebook, the President’s usual mouthpieces to his supporters, have banned him.
Members of cabinet were discussing the option of using the 25th Amendment for the first time to try to prise him out of office early, according to multiple reports.
The amendment says that if the President becomes unable to perform his duties, he will automatically be replaced by the Vice President with the backing of Congress.
It comes as Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College was certified last night after passing 270 electoral votes, and confirms he will be the 46th US President.
In a statement, President Trump said he agreed to an orderly transition of power but fails to accept defeat or congratulate his successor.
“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th. I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!”.
The fact Mr Trump’s most senior colleagues were talking about how to show him the door early highlights the deep gloom and distress within the Republican Party following the insurrection.
Senior Republicans moved quickly to condemn the riots and Mr Trump’s role in inciting the violence, with former president George W. Bush saying: “This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic. I am appalled by the reckless behaviour of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement.”
He was joined by former presidents Barack Obama,
Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton in slamming Mr Trump.
Mr Obama called it “a moment of great dishonour”.
Mr Clinton said the insurrection was driven by “poison politics”.
Mr Carter called the events a “national tragedy”.
Senator Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, went straight for Mr Trump’s throat.
“What happened here today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States,” he said.
Other critics suggested impeaching Mr Trump again.
As recently as two days ago, the suggestion that the ever-loyal Vice President Mike Pence might move against his President would have been unthinkable.
But Mr Trump spent much of Thursday taking public shots at Mr Pence, saying he “wouldn’t like him so much” if he didn’t do something to reject the “certification” hearings in Congress for Mr Biden.
It was a cry against Mr Pence that Mr Trump used in front of the heaving, angry crowd that assembled near the White House, when he urged them to go to the Capitol and protest “peacefully and patriotically”.
“If Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election,” he said.
Last night, US time, the House of Representatives and the Senate both reconvened just hours after they were ordered to shelter in place in their offices and don gas masks with the rioters storming through the building as though there were no security measures in place.
Mr Pence, who as VP is president of the Senate, declared, “let’s get back to work”, as Congress reconvened to certify Mr Biden’s election win last night.
“To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins,” Mr Pence said.
“This is still the people’s house. And as we reconvene in this chamber, the world will again witness the resilience and strength of our democracy, for even in the wake of unprecedented violence and vandalism at this Capitol, the elected representatives of the US have assembled again on the very same day to support and defend the Constitution.”
It was reported that a number of senior people in Team Trump were considering resigning, including national security adviser Robert O’Brien, his deputy Matt Pottinger and deputy chief-ofstaff Chris Liddell. This followed the resignations of the White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews, and First Lady Melania Trump’s chief-of-staff, Stephanie Grisham.
Violence never wins. Freedom wins. Vice President Mike Pence