Trump tweeted in response to the Capitol riots: Those who violate the law, you will pay the price.
On the evening of the 7th local time, Trump tweeted for the first time after his Twitter account was restored, in a video speech, saying that “the new government will take office from January 20”.
According to the U.S. Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC), the message of the video shared by Trump is close to the “concession” speech heard by the public earlier, admitting that the new government will soon take over and urging all parties to remain calm.
However, Trump still mentioned the election in the video. He said that he sought “all legal ways to win the election results” with the sole purpose of ensuring the integrity of the election. CNBC said that although Trump said he thought the electoral law must be reformed, he also admitted that Congress had confirmed the election results and would transfer power.
“Now we must calm down and regain calmness. We must continue to deal with American affairs,” Trump said in the video. “The new government will take office on January 20. My focus now is to ensure a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment needs healing and reconciliation.”
In addition, Trump also responded to the attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters in the video, which he condemned.
“You do not represent our country for those who commit acts of violence and destruction. And for those who break the law, you will pay the price. Trump said in the video.
CNBC said that before Trump sent the message to the outside world, several lawmakers accused Trump of inciting his supporters to protest against the election results and “stop stealing”.
On the afternoon of January 6th, local time, a group of Trump supporters protesting against “election fraud” in Washington rushed into the U.S. Capitol, and the ongoing process of confirming the final election results at a joint meeting of the Senate and the House of Representatives was suspended.
Parliamentarians were evacuated urgently, and protesters confronted and clashed with military and police forces. Police opened fire on the spot, killing at least four demonstrators in the clash.
Many American politicians and major media, including former President George W. Bush and several Republican lawmakers, accused the demonstrators of being “thugs” and said that it was Trump who incited the “riot” and the call for “remove Trump” was high.
At 3:40 a.m. local time on the 7th, after the resumption of the U.S. Congress officially confirmed that Biden had won the election, and Trump later expressed his willingness to “orderly transition” for the first time.
After the Capitol riots, former U.S. Attorney General Barr denounced Trump’s behavior as a “betrayal” of the president’s duties.
According to NBC, former U.S. Attorney General William Barr issued a statement on the 7th, condemning Trump supporters for storming the U.S. Capitol and calling Trump’s behavior “a betrayal of his office and supporters”.
In a statement obtained by the media, Barr also said that “it is inexcusable to plan a group of mobs to put pressure on Congress”.
According to previous reports, William Barr submitted his resignation to President Trump on December 14 last year.
Trump said on social media on the same day that Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will serve as Acting Attorney General.
U.S. media: Sources say that Pompeo Om Mnuchin and other senior Trump administration officials discuss invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution
Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC) just reported that after the impact on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, at least two senior officials and “confidants” of the Trump administration discussed the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
According to CNBC, citing three people familiar with the matter, the two are U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin.
D.C. prosecutors said they would not rule out investigating the accusation that Trump had incited congressional riots.
According to the U.S. Capitol Hill, Acting federal prosecutor Michael R. Sherwin in Washington, D.C., said on the 7th that Trump would not be ruled out of inciting congressional riots, and that “the Department of Justice considers bringing criminal charges against everyone who played a role in the riots”.
