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Post by Admin on Jan 5, 2022 4:02:12 GMT
Former President Donald Trump’s announcement Tuesday evening that he would cancel a previously planned press conference is good news for Senate Republicans, who earlier in the day openly fretted that he would pull their party back into debating his false election claims. It also ensures that Republicans won't have to keep one eye on the TV on the anniversary of the Capitol attack, nor will they face a deluge of questions about Trump in the immediate days. “I don't think that's a good idea,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), when asked about the press conference earlier Tuesday. “I guess it depends on what he's going to say. But early assumptions are that it's going to be an aggressive statement. I just don't think it's a good idea.” Similarly, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said she wanted to “stay focused on congressional activities." And Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who voted to convict Trump over his role in the Jan. 6 attack, said the event wasn’t a “terribly good idea,” but added, "What am I going to do about it?” And those were the members who decided to even talk about it. Even as the former president continues to defend the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol, Senate Republicans largely prefer to ignore him, still seeing scant purpose in provoking a prickly Trump even a year after he's left office. In interviews Tuesday, several declined to comment and instead said their attention is on moving forward. Senate Republicans' opting not to discuss Trump’s latest grievances highlights the ongoing tension within the GOP over how much attention to give to the former president, especially as he continues to falsely state that the 2020 election was stolen. While many Senate Republicans condemned Trump in the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack — when pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol — he still holds substantial sway over the party, particularly in GOP primaries.
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Post by Admin on Jan 5, 2022 15:36:06 GMT
#ABCNews #OnLocation #BreakingNews One year after the Jan. 6 insurrection, the FBI is still searching for 350 suspects | ABC News 1,132 views • Jan 5, 2022 • As the Omicron variant continues to surge, the CDC has faced criticism on its newest guidance to shorten the isolation to five days without requiring a negative test.
Plus, one year after the Jan. 6 insurrection, the FBI is still searching for 350 suspects.
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Post by Admin on Jan 5, 2022 22:28:09 GMT
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday defended the Justice Department’s approach to prosecuting those involved in the Jan. 6 riot, signaling the potential for charges for those who never set foot in the Capitol.
“The actions we have taken thus far will not be our last. The Justice Department remains committed to holding all January six perpetrators at any level, accountable under law, whether they were present that day, or were otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy. We will follow the facts wherever they lead,” Garland said on the eve of the attack's one-year anniversary.
The attorney general’s remarks came as Democratic lawmakers have voiced impatience with the Department of Justice's (DOJ) apparent unwillingness to target leaders who may have prompted the attack on the Capitol.
In recent weeks, the House Jan. 6 Select Committee have even signaled that it is considering criminal referrals to the DOJ if it finds evidence that former President Trump or members of his inner circle violated the law in connection with the riot.
In the nearly 30 minute speech, Garland defended the department's strategy of prosecuting more direct cases of those present in the building.
“We build investigations by laying a foundation. We resolve more straightforward cases first because they provide the evidentiary foundation for more complex cases. Investigating the more overt crimes, generates linkages to less overt ones. Overt actors and the evidence they provide can lead us to others who may also have been involved and that evidence can serve as a foundation for further investigative leads and techniques,” he said.
“Those involved must be held accountable. And there is no higher priority for us at the Department of Justice.”
The DOJ has charged more than 725 defendants in connection with the attack, filings made after reviewing more than 20,000 hours of video footage of that attack and serving more than 5,000 subpoenas and search warrants.
Garland said Wednesday that more than 300 of those defendants have been charged with felonies.
But even as the House select committee moves ahead with investigating Trump and his allies, there has been little to suggest that federal prosecutors have their sights set on political leaders who may have played a role in rallying the former president’s supporters to try and stop the Electoral College certification.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the vice chair of the Jan. 6 panel, said last month that one of the key questions for lawmakers is how culpable Trump is for last year’s violence.
“Did Donald Trump, through action or inaction, corruptly seek to obstruct or impede Congress’ official proceedings to count electoral votes?” Cheney asked during a hearing, citing a felony charge that has been brought against many of the Jan. 6 defendants.
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Post by Admin on Jan 6, 2022 3:33:25 GMT
WATCH LIVE: Congressional historians discuss one year after the Jan. 6 riots 2 waiting • Scheduled for Jan 7, 2022
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Post by Admin on Jan 6, 2022 15:00:19 GMT
WATCH LIVE: Events marking one year after Jan. 6 riots
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