US first lady ‘disappointed’ with Capitol riot
Agencies
WILMINGTON: Melania Trump said on Monday she was “disappointed and disheartened” by the riot at the Capitol last week by supporters of her husband, US President Donald Trump. But the first lady also lashed out at people she said have used the event to spread “salacious gossip, unwarranted personal attacks and false and misleading accusations” about her.
The statement marked her first public comment in the five days since a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday.
“I am disappointed and disheartened with what happened last week,” she wrote in a White House blog post released before sunrise. “I find it shameful that surrounding these tragic events there has been salacious gossip, unwarranted personal attacks, and false misleading accusations on me - from people who are looking to be relevant and have an agenda.”
The first lady did not say who she was referring to. Last week, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, the first lady’s former friend and one-time assistant at the White House, wrote an editorial accusing Melania of being “complicit in the destruction of America”.
US Army probing officer who led group to rally
US Army is investigating a psychological operations officer who led a group of people from North Carolina to the rally in Washington that led up to the deadly riot in the US Capitol by supporters of President Trump.
Commanders at Fort Bragg are reviewing Captain Emily Rainey’s involvement in last week’s events, but she said she acted within military regulations. Rainey led 100 members of Moore County Citizens for Freedom, which describes itself online as a network promoting conservative values, to Washington to support Trump.