By Colby Itkowitz, Kim Bellware, Felicia Sonmez and John Wagner, Washington Post
President Trump called the effort by House Democrats to impeach him for a second time a “witch hunt” and offered no regrets for inciting the mob attack on the Capitol last week as he emerged from seclusion Tuesday to travel to Alamo, Tex., to tour a section of the border wall.
In an unusual move, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon body comprising the military’s top leaders, issued a memo to the entire U.S. military condemning the Capitol riot and confirming Joe Biden will become the 46th commander in chief of the armed forces on Jan. 20.
The House was poised to vote Tuesday on formally calling on Vice President Pence to declare Trump unfit for office and remove him by invoking the 25th Amendment. If Pence doesn’t act, the House was on track to vote on impeachment as soon as Wednesday.
Joint Chiefs of Staff issue military-wide memo condemning Capitol riot, confirming Biden
By Paul Sonne, Washington Post
The Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon body comprising the military’s top leaders, issued a memo to the entire U.S. military on Tuesday condemning the Capitol riot and confirming Biden will become the 46th commander in chief of the armed forces on Jan. 20.
In the memo, the top Pentagon brass characterized the violent riot as “a direct assault on the U.S. Congress, the Capitol building and our Constitutional process,” and said the military remained fully committed to protecting and defending the Constitution “against all enemies foreign and domestic.”
Read the Joint Chiefs of Staff memo
“As service members, we must embody the values and ideals of the nation,” the top brass said. “We support and defend the Constitution. Any act to disrupt the Constitutional process is not only against our traditions, values and oath; it is against the law.”
Read the full story
Here’s what you need to know (From the New York Times)
McConnell is said to be pleased about impeachment, believing it will be easier to purge Trump from the G.O.P.
In his first public appearance since the Capitol siege, Trump expresses no contrition for inciting the mob.
Democrats set up impeachment after vote demanding Pence wrest presidential powers.
First Republican backs impeachment as leaders forego formally lobbying against it.
Group pledges up to $50 million to defend Republicans who support impeaching Trump.
Biden’s team lobbies Congress to quickly confirm national security nominees.
Enhanced security measures for the inauguration are starting earlier than planned.
Trump faces impeachment for his incendiary speech. Is he also in legal jeopardy?
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