Category: News Daypop

Sen. Lindsey Graham asked Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to support a vote to dismiss the article of impeachment brought by the House against President Donald Trump on Sunday. Graham wrote that holding an impeachment trial for Trump after he has left office would be “as unwise as it is unconstitutional” while the Senate awaits the House’s article of impeachment charging Trump with inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Graham’s letter comes after Trump became the second president to be impeached twice after the House voted 232-197 in favor of approving the article of impeachment, including support from 10 Republicans. In his letter, Graham cited that the Constitution includes two remedies for impeachment: removal and disqualification. He stated it was not in the framer’s intention to allow a former president to be disqualified from running via impeachment after leaving office.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has said there is “no chance that a fair or serious” impeachment trial could conclude before President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on Wednesday, as he declined to reconvene the Senate to begin the process, despite Schumer calling for an emergency session.

Lindsey Graham: Impeachment could ‘destroy’ GOP

Via www.msn.com

Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) reiterated his belief that his Republican colleagues in the Senate…

01/17/2021 1:21 PM

 

Editorial credit: Devi Bones / Shutterstock.com

President-elect Joe Biden introduced a $1.9 trillion spending package Thursday, aiming to speed distribution of the coronavirus vaccines and provide economic relief caused by the pandemic. The package proposal includes investing $20 billion in a national vaccination program, $1,400 stimulus checks and expanding unemployment insurance supplements to $400 per week.

Biden noted that this was the first of a two-part plan to in the road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden said that he would introduce a recovery plan next month during his address to a joint session of Congress. Biden’s proposed relief package comes several weeks after Congress passed a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package in December. Biden’s COVID-19 relief plan will build off the bipartisan relief legislation passed in December.

Biden is suggesting $1,400 stimulus checks in addition to the $600 direct payments passed in December, and his relief package also lays out his vaccine distribution plan. “The vaccine rollout in the United States has been a dismal failure thus far,” he said, adding that he “will have to move heaven and earth to get more people vaccinated.” Biden’s goal is to provide 100 million vaccinations during the first 100 days of his administration starting Jan. 20. But the pace has been slower than that so far, with 22 million doses distributed and 6.7 million administered by Friday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Biden lays out $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package with $1,400 stimulus checks

Via www.nbcnews.com

The “American Rescue Plan” also includes $416 billion in funds to help launch a national…

01/14/2021 6:31 PM

 

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Citing the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday the city will cut ties with the Trump Organization and will ending its contracts to operate several public venues. The Trump Organization had agreements with the city to operate the Central Park Carousel, Wollman and Lasker skating rinks and Ferry Point Golf Course. De Blasio blamed Trump for provoking the U.S. Capitol attack by radical Trump supporters on Jan. 6, and said the violence made it impossible for the city to continue its relationship with the organization.

De Blasio said the city has started the process to end those ties, per their contracts. The Carousel’s termination will be effective 25 days after the city’s termination notice is delivered, and the agreement for the Wollman and Lasker rinks ends after 30 days.

The Trump Organization responded by threatening legal action if the city proceeds, with a spokesman for the company stating: “Yet another example of Mayor de Blasio’s blatant disregard for the facts. The city of New York has no legal right to end our contracts and if they elect to proceed, they will owe The Trump Organization over $30 million dollars. This is nothing more than political discrimination, an attempt to infringe on the First Amendment and we plan to fight vigorously.”

New York will end contracts with Trump over Capitol riot

Via www.msn.com

New York City is terminating its contracts with the Trump Organization because of the mob riot…

01/13/2021 4:54 PM

 

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Trump makes history as 1st president to be impeached a 2nd time

Via www.msn.com

The unprecedented vote, just over a year after his first impeachment — made Donald Trump the…

01/13/2021 6:48 PM

 

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On Tuesday as at least three Republicans said they would vote to impeach him after his supporters stormed the Capitol last week.

Liz Cheney, the No. 3 Republican in the House of Representatives, said: Trump “summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack” on the Capitol last Wednesday, adding, “There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution,” as the Democratic-led chamber moved forward on a path to remove Trump from office. Cheney, the daughter of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, said in a statement, adding: “I will vote to impeach the president.”  Two other Republican House members, John Katko and Adam Kinzinger, said they would also vote for the second impeachment of the president, who leaves office in just eight days.

Their announcements came as Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday refrained from urging their members to vote against impeaching Trump, saying it was a matter of individual conscience. The House plans to vote as soon as Wednesday on an article of impeachment charging Trump with inciting insurrection unless he resigns or Vice President Mike Pence moves to oust him under a provision in the U.S. Constitution.

Making his first public appearance since last Wednesday’s riot, Trump showed no remorse for remarks he made to supporters at a rally before they stormed the seat of Congress: “What I said was totally appropriate,” Trump told reporters as he left for a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border wall near Alamo, Texas. “I want no violence.”

Rep. Liz Cheney, No. 3 House Republican, backs impeaching Trump, says he ‘summoned this mob’

Via www.nbcnews.com

Although Pence is unlikely to remove Trump from office under the 25th Amendment, Trump could…

01/12/2021 6:37 PM

 

On Tuesday, officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expanded COVID-19 vaccine availability during the initial phase of distribution to include people age 65 years and older. The changes also give priority to those with underlying health conditions that place them at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 infection.  For instance, people with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, are believed to be at increased risk for severe COVID-19.

HHS secretary Alex Azar said during a press briefing Tuesday, “With the case counts we’re facing now, there’s no time to waste. It’s time to move on to the next phase, [and] this next phase reflects the urgency of the situation we face.” Previously, “phase 1A” of the vaccination recommendations issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in December called for healthcare workers and adults age 75 years and older, particularly those residing in nursing homes, to be given priority.

HHS will also be releasing the nation’s “entire supply” of vaccine for use as first or second doses. As part of Operation Warp Speed, U.S. health officials are monitoring vaccine production at the manufacturer level and are confident that sufficient doses will be available.

Feds Order States to Expand Vaccine Targets as Covid-19 Deaths Surge

Via www.nytimes.com

Racing against a rising death toll, the Trump administration has ordered states to offer…

01/12/2021 4:37 PM

 

State capitols across the nation are stepping up security, and deploying National Guard units, SWAT teams and extra police officers as several legislatures convened amid heightened safety concerns following last week’s violence at the U.S. Capitol.

After insurrectionists backing President Donald Trump overran the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, some governors and lawmakers began ramping up security because of online threats suggesting that more mobs could target state capitols.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee activated hundreds of National Guard troops to help state police keep order at the state Capitol and defend security fencing. At the Georgia Capitol, a state patrol SWAT team walked the perimeter wearing fatigues and carrying rifles while lawmakers gathered inside for the start of a two-year term.  In Idaho, doors to the House and Senate chambers were locked Monday morning, and two Idaho state troopers were stationed at each entrance. 

Legislatures convened in more than half a dozen states. Because of concerns about the coronavirus, many state capitols had already adopted procedures to curb the potential for large crowds, including arranging for lawmakers to meet remotely. Those steps greatly reduced the number of people who are actually working in capitol buildings.

Security in D.C., state Capitols tightened amid inauguration threats

Via www.upi.com

Security officials in Washington, D.C., and state capitals are on the alert for possible armed…

01/11/2021 4:39 PM

 

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Trump hits Cuba with new terrorism sanctions in waning days

Via abcnews.go.com

The Trump administration has re-designated Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism” in a…

01/11/2021 4:23 PM

 

Editorial credit: Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com

A Capitol Police Officer who responded to the siege on the Capitol building on Wednesday died while off duty, the U.S. Capitol Police said. 51-year-old Officer Howard Liebengood, who had been with the department since April 2005, died while off duty three days after the riot that saw supporters of President Trump make their way inside the Capitol building as Congress was certifying the results of November’s presidential election. 

“We are reeling from the death of Officer Liebengood,” Gus Apapthansiou, the chairman of Libengood’s police union said. “Every Capitol Police Officer puts the security of others before their own safety and Officer Liebengood was an example of the selfless service that is the hallmark of USCP. This is a tragic day.”

The White House lowered its flags to half-staff on Sunday following the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died from injuries while responding to the mob on Sunday. One woman, identified as Ashli Babbit was also shot and killed by authorities at the Capitol during the riot. Three others Rosanne Boyland, Benjamin Philip and Kevin Greeson also died due to medical emergencies.

Off-Duty Capitol Police Officer Who ‘Responded to the Rioting’ Dies at 51

Via www.msn.com

Howard Liebengood, an off-duty United States Capitol Police officer and 15-year veteran who…

01/10/2021 2:30 PM

 

Trump impeachment: House to call on Pence and Cabinet to use 25th Amendment and then move to impeachment

Via www.msn.com

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said for the first time Sunday the House will move to impeach…

01/10/2021 7:37 PM