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
32 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
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.   

10:54 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

FBI asks public to help identify rioters

From CNN's Paul P. Murphy

John Minchillo/AP
John Minchillo/AP

The FBI is asking Americans to step up and help identify the people that participated in Wednesday's riot and insurrection at the US Capitol.

It's not just tips and information that the agency wants, it's also asking for photos or videos.

"The FBI is seeking information that will assist in identifying individuals who are actively instigating violence in Washington, DC," it said on its website.
"The FBI is accepting tips and digital media depicting rioting and violence in the U.S. Capitol Building and surrounding area in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021."

You can find out how to submit tips and information here.

10:29 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

DC attorney general says federal law enforcement partners "let us down"

From CNN's Nicky Robertson 

DC Attorney General Karl Racine is interviewed in his office at One Judiciary Square on March 7, 2019.
DC Attorney General Karl Racine is interviewed in his office at One Judiciary Square on March 7, 2019. Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post/Getty Images

DC Attorney General Karl Racine on Thursday said that federal law enforcement officials let down DC in handling the rioters Wednesday but notes that it is not in his jurisdiction to prosecute the majority of offenses committed.  

“DC law enforcement officers, frankly, they did their jobs. And they went out and afterward, they helped the Capitol Police restore order and arrested folks pursuant to the curfew order that Mayor Bowser invoked. Our federal partners let us down,” Racine said, noting DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's curfew last night, during an interview Thursday morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.    

Racine said that he hopes President-elect Joe Biden’s attorney general pick Merrick Garland will pursue arrests. 

“My office, for example, is not the predominant prosecutor for the adult offenses that were committed yesterday. The United States attorney's office with the United States attorney appointed by President Trump is the prosecutor. I certainly hope those career prosecutors and I do have faith in career prosecutors, will do the right thing, and I know that Merrick Garland and his new U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia will prosecute,” he stated. 

Jim Sciutto Reports:

9:57 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Democratic senator says a laptop was stolen from his office during US Capitol riots

From CNN's Pervaiz Shallwani 

Sen. Jeff Merkley attends a press conference at the Capitol on January 25, 2020.
Sen. Jeff Merkley attends a press conference at the Capitol on January 25, 2020. Shutterstock

Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, says rioters who ransacked his office at the US Capitol building Wednesday stole a laptop that was on a table.

In a video posted to his Twitter page early morning, Merkley says rioters “smashed the door virtually off its hinges.” He said the door was unlocked.

Merkley said rioters “tore things off the walls,” including art from a renowned artist, showed a Trump 2020 flag that was left behind and stole a laptop that sitting on a table. He also show a cigarette butt that was stamped out.

“So count this office is trashed. You can see the debris is all over the floor,” he says.

Watch the video here:

10:15 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Another Trump official resigns after the Capitol Hill riots

From CNN's Jeremy Diamond

John Costello, the Commerce Department's deputy assistant secretary for intelligence and security, has resigned his post in the wake of the insurrection on Capitol Hill yesterday and the President's response, a senior administration official tells CNN.

Costello's resignation is the latest, but likely not the last, in a string of resignations fueled by the President's handling of yesterday's unrest.

9:46 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

A day after the Capitol riot, Trump's schedule includes giving the Medal of Freedom to golfers

From CNN's Betsy Klein

President Trump on Thursday will return his focus to the trappings of office on Thursday, one day after a mob of his supporters breached the US Capitol and the 2020 presidential election has been certified for Joe Biden.

He is expected to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player, as well as Olympic athlete Babe Zaharias, a White House official told CNN.

With 13 days left in office, the White House has been inundated with requests for the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Thursday’s presentation was not listed on Trump’s public schedule, which instead said Trump would have “many meetings” and “many calls.”

Earlier this week, Trump bestowed the Medal of Freedom upon Rep. Devin Nunes, and is expected to honor Rep. Jim Jordan. Trump is also considering granting the Medal of Freedom to Bobby Bowden, the retired Florida State University football coach.

9:49 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

White House press office was unaware of Trump's overnight statement promising "orderly transition"

From CNN's Jeremy Diamond

President Donald Trump arrives at a rally near the White House on January 6.
President Donald Trump arrives at a rally near the White House on January 6. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump's statement overnight acknowledging that there will be an "orderly transition" was released on Twitter by the President's aide Dan Scavino without the knowledge of the White House press office, a White House official said.  

Nearly six hours after Scavino posted the statement on Twitter, the White House has yet to release the statement on official White House letterhead. It has so far only been posted on Scavino's personal Twitter page.

White House press officials woke up Thursday morning to find out about the statement via the news, just like everyone else, the official said.

It remains unclear whether the White House will release the statement via official channels.

9:24 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Here is what the damage inside the Capitol looks like this morning

From CNN's Manu Raju

This is some of the damage and debris still seen throughout the US Capitol building today after a violent mob stormed the building Wednesday afternoon.