Calls grow for Trump's removal after Capitol riot

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

Updated 12:01 p.m. ET, February 8, 2021
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11:28 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Former Attorney General Bill Barr says Trump's conduct was "betrayal of his office"

From CNN’s Evan Perez

William Barr, Trump’s former Attorney General, accused the President of “orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress” and went on to call his conduct a “betrayal of his office.” 

In response to riots that took place at the US Capitol on Wednesday, Barr said in statement sent to CNN: “Orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress is inexcusable. The President’s conduct yesterday was a betrayal of his office and supporters.”

1:01 p.m. ET, January 7, 2021

DC police made 68 arrests Wednesday, mayor's spokeswoman says

From CNN's Alex Marquardt and Aileen Graef

DC’s Metropolitan Police Department made 68 arrests last night following an insurrection at the US Capitol, according to a mayor’s spokeswoman.

Most of the arrests were made for curfew violations after DC Mayor Muriel Bowser imposed a 6 p.m. ET curfew in the District of Columbia. Other charges included weapons charges and unlawful entry.

Last night’s arrests include the following charges:

  • Five arrests for possession of an illegal firearm. (One on US Capitol Grounds.)
  • Two arrests for illegal possession of other weapons (metal knuckles & blackjack-like weapon.) Note – while these types weapons may be legal in other states, they are illegal in DC.
  • 25 arrests for curfew violations and unlawful entry on the Capitol Grounds. 
  • 36 arrests for curfew violations, including 8 arrests for curfew violations on US Capitol Grounds and 28 arrests for curfew violations throughout the city.
11:15 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Facebook says it may ban Trump's account "indefinitely"

From CNN’s Brian Fung

Al Drago/Getty Images
Al Drago/Getty Images

Facebook’s restrictions on President Trump’s account will continue at least the next two weeks and perhaps “indefinitely,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a blog post

The decision marks a major escalation by Facebook as it’s come under intense pressure to ban Trump following his inflammatory rhetoric encouraging insurrection.  

If the restrictions hold, Facebook could be the first major platform to remove Trump permanently.

2:46 p.m. ET, January 7, 2021

You might hear talk of the 25th Amendment today. Here's what you need to know.

From CNN's Zachary B. Wolf

After violent pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday, a growing number of Republican leaders and Cabinet officials told CNN that they believe Donald Trump should be removed from office before Jan. 20.

Some of them called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked — as has at least one GOP lawmaker, Rep. Adam Kinzinger.

The amendment has periodically been discussed as a means of last resort to remove a rogue or incapacitated president.

Here's what you need to know about the amendment:

  • How it works: To forcibly wrest power from Trump, Vice President Mike Pence would have to be on board, according to the text of the amendment. Read the full language here. Pence would also need either a majority of Trump's Cabinet officials to agree the President is unfit for office and temporarily seize power from him.
  • Trump could dispute their move: He would need to write a letter to Congress. Pence and the Cabinet would then have four days to dispute him. Congress would then vote — it requires a two-thirds supermajority, usually 67 senators and 290 House members to permanently remove him.
  • Some history about the amendment: The 25th Amendment was enacted in the wake of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, whose predecessor Dwight Eisenhower suffered major heart attacks. It was meant to create a clear line of succession and prepare for urgent contingencies.

 

2:47 p.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Republican congressman calls for Trump to be removed from office

Kevin Dietsch/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Kevin Dietsch/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois, tweeted a video message Thursday calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked and President Trump to be removed from office.

Kinzinger said that yesterday, it became evident that Trump "has abdicated his duty to protect the American people and the people's house."

Kinzinger said Trump "invoked and inflamed passions that only gave fuel to the insurrection that we saw here."

"It's time to invoke the 25th Amendment and end this nightmare," he added.

Watch the video:

 

1:01 p.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Law enforcement officials expecting dozens of charges against US Capitol rioters

From CNN's Evan Perez

Alex Wong/Getty Images
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Following Wednesday’s embarrassing federal response to Pro-Trump rioters ransacking of the Capitol, the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies are planning a push to make arrests and bring charges against those who led the insurrection, federal law enforcement officials said. 

Dozens of charges are expected in Washington DC’s local and federal courts, including as many as 15 federal cases against people who are believed to be involved in the more serious alleged crimes, the officials said Thursday.

FBI digital experts spent the night ingesting surveillance video from the Capitol buildings and the area around the complex and are using software to match images and faces with social media posts showing some of the mayhem. In some cases, people involved in storming the Capitol made social media postings ahead of the rally making clear what their plans were, which federal prosecutors can use to help bring charges. 

Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and other federal officials are coordinating the response but are also facing questions about why law enforcement appeared unprepared for the onslaught that in many ways had already been telegraphed by President Trump and his supporters on social media. 

Part of the response Thursday includes repairing and building new harder-to-breach fencing around the capitol west-facing grounds to protect the area to be used for Inauguration ceremonies in two weeks. Trump supporters could be seen swarming over the stage where Biden will take the oath of office.

Some more context: On Wednesday, CNN reported that a law enforcement source confirmed to CNN that pipe bombs were found at the headquarters for the DNC, RNC and grounds of the United States Capitol. The source said all the devices were safely detonated by the police. A source told CNN there could be charges related to that as well.

10:25 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Trump national security official resigns after yesterday's violence

From CNN's Alex Marquardt

Ryan Tully, senior director for European and Russian Affairs, has resigned from the National Security Council, a White House official confirms to CNN. He quit after a violent mob stormed the US Capitol yesterday.

The resignation was first reported by Bloomberg News. 

10:22 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Video appears to show Capitol Hill police officer taking selfie with rioter

From CNN's Paul P. Murphy

From Twitter
From Twitter

Livestream video appears to show a Capitol Hill police officer taking a selfie with a rioter inside the building.

The snippet of livestream posted online is short, and it's unclear what prompted, or followed, the interaction.

CNN has reached out to the Capitol Hill Police for comment about the incident.

10:52 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

About 6,200 National Guardsmen mobilized to help in Washington, DC 

From CNN's Barbara Starr

Members of the DC National Guard are deployed outside of the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 6, 2021. 
Members of the DC National Guard are deployed outside of the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 6, 2021.  Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

Several states and the District of Columbia are mobilizing approximately 6,200 National Guardsmen to Washington, DC, a US defense official tells CNN.

The guardsmen being deployed from out of state include 1,000 from New York, 500 from Maryland and 500 from New Jersey.

As CNN previously reported, the DC National Guard also activated 1,100 members Wednesday to assist in the response to the insurrection at the Capitol.