Mitch McConnell: Trump 'provoked' Capitol siege, mob was fed lies
(Sourced from PTI)
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday explicitly blamed US President Donald Trump for the deadly riot at the Capitol, saying the mob was fed lies and Trump and others "provoked" those intent on overturning Democrat Joe Biden's election. Ahead of Trump's historic second impeachment trial, McConnell's remarks were his most severe public rebuke of the outgoing President.
The GOP leader is setting a tone as Republicans weigh whether to convict Trump on the impeachment charge that will soon be sent over from the House - incitement of insurrection. Trump's last full day in office on Tuesday was also the senators' first day back since the deadly Capitol siege and the House vote to impeach him for his role in the riots.
Meanwhile, the Republican leader vowed a safe and successful inauguration of Biden on Wednesday at the Capitol, where final preparations are underway amid heavy security. Three new Democratic senators-elect are to be sworn into office shortly after Biden's inauguration, giving the Democrats the barest majority, a 50-50 Senate chamber. New Vice President Kamala Harris will swear them in.
The Democrats, led by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, will take charge of the Senate as they launch a trial against Trump, while also quickly confirming Biden's Cabinet and being asked to consider the passage of a sweeping new $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is yet to send the sole article of impeachment to the Senate.
Schumer said the Senate needs to set a precedent that the severest offense committed by a President would be met by the severest remedy provided by the Constitution - impeachment, and disbarment from future office. McConnell and Schumer conferred how to balance the trial with other businesses so that it doesn't slow down the Senate's business and delay impeachment proceedings.
The start of the new Congress session is also forcing lawmakers to come to terms with the post-Trump era, a transfer of power that Trump's mob of supporters tried to prevent after he urged them to storm the Capitol. Meanwhile, Pelosi said that if evidence shows that members of Congress aided and abetted the rioters they could be prosecuted.
To recall, the House impeached Trump last week on the sole charge, incitement of insurrection, making him the only President to be impeached twice. A rioter died during the siege and a police officer died later of injuries; three other people involved died of medical emergencies. Trump was first impeached in 2019 over relations with Ukraine and was acquitted in 2020 by the Senate.
Seven Republican senators led by Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, tried to overturn Biden's election during the Electoral College tally. Cruz was presiding over the Senate on Tuesday while McConnell delivered his blistering remarks.
