House impeaches Trump for role in deadly Capitol riot

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Melissa Mahtani, Fernando Alfonso III and Veronica Rocha, CNN

Updated 8:54 a.m. ET, January 14, 2021

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1:48 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

House Minority Leader McCarthy: Trump bears responsibility for Capitol attack

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy said that President Trump is responsible for the deadly Capitol attack last week but said impeaching him would be a "mistake."

“The President bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters. He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding. These facts require immediate action of President Trump,” McCarthy said.

He called the attack “undemocratic, un-American and criminal.”

McCarthy said that impeaching Trump would divide the country further and called for Congress to focus on uniting Americans.

“I believe impeaching the President in such a short time frame would be a mistake. No investigations have been completed. No hearings have been held," he said.

See it here:

1:39 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

Democrat says House members could have been killed by Pro-Trump rioters during Capitol attack

Rep. Jamie Raskin said that House members "could've died" during the Jan. 6 insurrection.

He mentioned that the mob had erected a gallows outside the Capitol building and were heard chanting "Hang Mike Pence." He added that some of those who stormed the building got into Nancy Pelosi's office and were heard yelling, "Where's Nancy?"

"They may have been hunting for Pence and Pelosi to stage their coup, but every one of us in this room right now could've died," Raskin said.

The Maryland Democrat added, "it's a bit much to be hearing that these people would not be trying to destroy our government and kill us if we just weren't so mean to them."

Watch:

1:43 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

No evidence that Antifa caused riots at the Capitol, House Minority Leader says

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy dismissed claims that supposed left-wing activists, namely Antifa, were responsible for the riots at the US Capitol.

"Some say the riots were caused by Antifa. There is absolutely no evidence of that. And conservatives should be the first to say so. Conservatives also know that the only thing that stops mob violence is to meet it with force rooted in justice and backed by moral courage," he said Wednesday.

The FBI told reporters Friday there's "no indication" that Antifa disguised themselves as Trump supporters to join the ranks of the mob.

Read a fact-check here.

1:40 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

House Democrat asks GOP colleagues if they'll choose to “stand for the republic" or Trump

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Democratic Rep. David Ciccilline urged his fellow lawmakers to support the impeachment of Trump and stand for the republic instead of this President.

After recounting the storming of the US Capitol that followed a Trump rally in Washington, DC, he asked his fellow lawmakers who planned to vote against impeachment: "Is this the kind of country you want to live in? What are you going to tell your children and grandchildren when they ask what you did in this moment? Did you stand for the republic or for this President?”

Ciccilline, who co-wrote the impeachment article, added:

“Heed the words of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President who told our country that a House divided against itself cannot stand. This great House, in which he served, cannot and will not endure if we do not stand together now. The President and the terrorists who stormed these halls last Wednesday did not succeed in toppling our republic. We must ensure they never do.”

See his remarks:

1:32 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

Impeaching Trump a second time would split the US, GOP Rep. Van Drew says

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a Republican from New Jersey, said that impeaching President Trump for a second time would "fracture" the country again.

"We've been here before. We've done this before. This has failed before. We fractured our nation using the same process before. Congress must be the glue that starts unifying everyone," Van Drew said.

For context: Van Drew is a former Democrat who flipped to the Republican Party in 2019. He said the "final sign" for him to switch parties was being told to vote in favor of Trump’s first impeachment.

"Nearly half the country supports our current president. This takes their voice away. We must be bigger and better than the most base of instincts that have been driving our political discourse. It is destroying us," he said.

WATCH HIS REMARKS HERE:

1:16 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

Democratic congressman says some House members may be "co-conspirators" of Trump in inciting riot

Rep. Cedric Richmond, a Democrat from Louisiana, noting that it would likely be his last floor speech before he leaves the House, said today that some of his fellow lawmakers "may well be co-conspirators" of President Trump in inciting the riot last week.

"President Trump put the domestic terrorists on notice by saying, stand back, and stand by. He then summoned them to DC, directed them to march on the Capitol. And then he sat back and watched the insurrection," he said.

Richmond continued: "Some of my colleagues, some of which may well be co-conspirators in their latest attempt to placate and please this unfit president suggest that we shouldn't punish him in order to unify the country. That is the climax of foolishness."

Richmond said that during Trump's first impeachment Republicans said Congress didn't need to impeach him "because he learned his lesson."

"Simply put, we told you so," he said.

As his time expired, he closed with a sign-off: "Richmond out."

Some context: Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond will join President-elect Joe Biden's White House, departing the New Orleans-area House of Representatives seat he has held since 2011. Richmond will serve as senior adviser to the President and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Watch:

1:22 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

"What's the point" in impeachment with days left in Trump's term, GOP representative asks

Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko argued against impeaching President Trump, saying there is no point in going through proceedings to remove the President when he has just one week left in office.

"At a time when our country needs unity, it is concerning that my Democratic colleagues have chosen to begin impeachment proceedings against a president with just seven days left in office," she said during debate over the article.

Lesko said, "I've heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say they have to impeach the President because he is too dangerous to stay in power. Yet they know that it is impossible for the Senate to remove him before his term expires. So what is the point?"

She said that Congress has certified the count of the Electoral College and acknowledged that Joe Biden will be the next president.

"President Trump has indicated he will peacefully transfer power to President-elect Biden next week. So why pursue impeachment just one week before he leaves office?" Lesko said.

Watch:

1:14 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

McConnell won't have an early Senate trial

From CNN's Manu Raju

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell won't agree to bring the Senate back early, according to Republican sources, and he communicated as much to Sen. Chuck Schumer today.

That means a Senate trial won't happen now until the early days of the Biden presidency.

McConnell spokesperson Doug Andres confirmed as much on Twitter just moments ago.

Remember: President Trump will s tay in office and likely finish out his term because it takes a Senate conviction to remove him even after he’s been impeached.

1:13 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

House Democrat: "Trump is a living, breathing, impeachable offense"

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

“Donald Trump is a living, breathing, impeachable offense. It is what it is,” Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said in his argument in favor of impeachment.

Jeffries also said that the President incited the deadly Capitol mob and called him "a clear and present danger” to the American people.

“Violence will not win. Insurrection will not win. Sedition will not win. Terror will not win. Lawlessness will not win. Mob rule will not win. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Democracy will prevail,” Jeffries said.