Washington (WBAP/KLIF) – Under pressure from top officials and Capitol Hill lawmakers, President Donald Trump on Wednesday released a video message recorded in the Oval Office following the historic impeachment vote in the House of Representatives.
In the video, Trump ask the nation to remain peaceful amid threats of upcoming armed demonstrations at US capitals nationwide. Trump had been briefed by the Secret Service about the planned protests which officials say could be far worst that the siege at the U.S. Capitol. The briefing took place on Monday.
Trump says in part:
“No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. No true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement or our great American flag,” he said from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. Now I am asking everyone who has ever believed in our agenda to be thinking of ways to ease tensions, calm tempers and help to promote peace in our country.”
Watch:
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 13, 2021
.During the impeachment hearing , several other Republicans are backing impeachment, including No. 3 GOP leader Liz Cheney. Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is a member of the House Republican leadership.
“The president of the United States summoned this mob, assembled this mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the president. The president could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy voted against impeachment but proposed a censure of the president.
McCarthy says that in a private conversation with Trump he admitted to ‘some’ role in the attack of the Capitol; though Trump also blamed antifa activists. McCarthy told Mr. Trump, “It was not antifa, it was MAGA. I know, I was there,”
Hours earlier, the White House had issued a statement urging no more violence amid dire warnings from the FBI about armed protests being planned in state capitals across the country.
.@POTUS: 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. Thank You. pic.twitter.com/mOOGZjqTLW
— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) January 13, 2021
Meantime, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is not ruling out that he might vote to convict the now twice-impeached President Donald Trump.
The Kentucky Republican is blocking a quick Senate trial of Trump. But he’s told colleagues he’s not made up his mind about how he’ll vote whenever that trial begins.
McConnell is Washington’s most influential Republican.
The trial probably won’t begin till around Jan. 20.
That’s around when Democrats will take majority control of the chamber and the day of Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration.
