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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2:21 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

Rep. Crow to GOP colleagues: Show a fraction of the courage we ask of our troops, vote to impeach

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

House TV
House TV

Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, a veteran, called on his Republican colleagues to show a fraction of the courage of US troops by voting to impeach President Trump despite their fear of consequences.

"I have dedicated my life to the defense of our nation. And Donald Trump is a risk to all that I love," Crow said.

"Some of my Republican colleagues are afraid of the consequence of an impeachment vote but this Congress sends our men and women to war every day. I'm not asking you to storm the beaches of Normandy but show a fraction of the courage we ask of our troops every day. Leadership is hard. It's time to impeach," Crow said.

See the moment:

2:28 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

TSA increases security measures on DC flights, including some second ID checks

From CNN's Greg Wallace, Pete Muntean and Jeremy Diamond

Heightened airport security measures around inauguration in some cases include a second screening of passengers boarding flights, the Transportation Security Administration acknowledged to CNN.  

The second check at the boarding gate is in addition to the standard screening procedures done at TSA checkpoints.   

“This is a routine practice and represents one of the multiple layers of security that we employ,” agency spokesperson Carter Langston told CNN when asked about an account of TSA officers stopping passengers at the gate of a Washington-bound flight to check identification and bags.  

“It may occur with greater frequency due to recent and upcoming events, but it is a routine practice,” Langston said.   

The screening of DC-bound passengers is in addition to a heightened security and police presence at the three Washington-area airports that has included armored vehicles and a notable number of visible officers in terminals. 

TSA told CNN on Monday that the agency is on “high alert.”  

The developments come after rowdy incidents on airplanes and in airports as the rioters who ransacked the Capitol building traveled to and left Washington.   

The Federal Aviation Administration has warned individuals who "interfere with, physically assault, or threaten to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft face stiff penalties including fines of up to $35,000 and imprisonment."   

Steven D'Antuono, a senior Federal Bureau of Investigation official in the nation’s capital, said Tuesday that officials are “actively looking at” adding rioters to the federal No Fly List. 

2:24 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

Democratic congresswoman: Trump is a "traitor to our country"

House TV
House TV

Rep. Anna Eshoo, a Democrat from California, called President Trump a "traitor to our country" during her speech on the House floor this afternoon.

Eshoo said:

"future generations are not going to know the names of each member in the chamber today, in voting, but they will know what we did and why. We must impeach the President, because he incited a mob that attacked the Capitol of the United States. The tabernacle of our democracy."

She added that Trump is "incapable of honoring his oath and our constitution, and he has proven to be dangerous."

"I will vote to impeach this traitor to our country," Eshoo said.

Watch the moment:

4:48 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

A historic debate is underway in the House over whether to impeach Trump. Here's where things stand.

A historic debate is currently underway in the US House of Representatives over whether to impeach President Trump.

Democrats are charging him with "incitement of insurrection" for his role in last week’s deadly Capitol attack

Rep. Jamie Raskin, one of the Democrats leading the charge, said 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 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office and were heard yelling, "Where's Nancy?"

While many Republicans condemned the President's behavior, they argued that impeaching him would be divisive so close to his expected departure from office.

House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy – a staunch ally of the President – said he believes Trump is responsible for the deadly Capitol attack last week but 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. 

So far, six Republicans have announced they will vote for impeachment. They are:

  1. Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington
  2. Rep. John Katko of New York
  3. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington
  4. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois
  5. Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan
  6. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming

Republican leaders are expecting about 10 to 20 House Republicans to vote for impeachment but sources tell CNN there are many more members who "want to vote to impeach but they legitimately fear for their lives and their families’ lives," CNN's Jamie Gangel reports.

"Liz Cheney, these Republicans who have announced, they are showing courage at the same time as I have been told by Republican sources that members, Republican members, have said they are not going to vote for impeachment because they are still scared of Donald Trump," Gangel told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"I was told that the White House is continuing to pressure these members, that Trump has not stopped and that members 'fear for their lives and for their families' lives,'" she continued. "After what we saw on January 6th, a week later, that says a lot that the White House is still pressuring people."
2:07 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

President Trump calls for no violence in light of more demonstrations planned across the country

From CNN's Kaitlan Collins

As a sixth House Republican came forward to say they will vote to impeach him, President Trump issued a statement through his press office, but first given to Fox News, calling for no violence "amid reports of more demonstrations." 

Lawmakers and senior aides have been pleading with Trump to issue a statement saying as much while bracing for more members of his own party to vote against him. Kevin McCarthy just specifically called on Trump to issue a statement similar to this one. 

Trump is watching coverage of the debate on his impeachment in the West Wing right now, according to a source.

"In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind. That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers," the statement said.
4:49 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

At least 6 Republicans will vote to impeach Trump

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse, of Washington, tweeted his statement where he indicated that he will vote in favor of impeaching President Trump.

"Turning a blind eye to this brutal assault on our Republic is not an option," Newhouse stated.

Newhouse now joins other Republicans who have said they will vote to impeach Trump. At least six have said they will break ranks. 

Newhouse just spoke on the House floor as well.

These are the Republicans who say they will vote for impeachment (so far):

  1. Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington
  2. Rep. John Katko of New York
  3. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington
  4. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois
  5. Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan
  6. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming

1:59 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

GOP congressman will vote for impeachment: We "are responsible for not speaking out sooner"

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

House TV
House TV

Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse explained why he will vote in favor of impeaching Trump, saying, "There is no excuse for President Trump's actions."

"Others, including myself, are responsible for not speaking out sooner — before the President misinformed and inflamed a violent mob," Newhouse said.

Newhouse said Trump did not act to stop the insurrection at the Capitol. 

“There is no excuse for President Trump's actions. The President took an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Last week, there was a domestic threat at the door of the Capitol, and he did nothing to stop it. That is why with a heavy heart and clear resolve, I will vote yes on these articles of impeachment,” he said. 

Rep. Newhouse's remarks draw applause:  

1:45 p.m. ET, January 13, 2021

Liz Cheney on calls to resign: "I'm not going anywhere"

From CNN's Annie Grayer

GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, the number three House Republican, responded to calls for her to resign after she came out in support of impeaching President Trump.

"I'm not going anywhere” Cheney told reporters at the Capitol Wednesday.

“This is a vote of conscience. It's one where there are different views in our conference. But our nation is facing an unprecedented, since the civil war, constitutional crisis. That's what we need to be focused on. That's where our efforts and attention need to be."

Earlier today, Rep. Jim Jordan, a staunch Trump ally on Capitol Hill, told reporters he thinks Cheney should be ousted from her leadership position after she said she'd support impeaching the President.

Cheney announced Tuesday she would vote in favor, issuing a scathing statement that charged there had "never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution."

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

House Minority Leader McCarthy: Trump bears responsibility for Capitol attack

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

House TV
House TV

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.

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