Live Updates: Trump Pulls Out Wolf’s DHS Sec Nomination After Call to Condemn Violence in Capitol

US authorities intend to deploy 6,200 National Guard servicemen in Washington, DC, and build a temporary fence around the Capitol compound after the site of the country’s legislature was attacked by violent President Donald Trump’s supporters, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy told reporters on Thursday.

They made it clear that heightened security measures will be in place for at least 30 days, including on January 20 for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

“The fencing that is going up around the Capitol, non-scalable fencing, will be in place through the inauguration... The guard’s strength that will be coming on the ground by this weekend up to 6,200 will be available through the inauguration as well,” Bowser said during a joint press briefing.

McCarthy described it as “a larger composition of personnel that you would have for the standard inauguration.”

He said that the entire DC National Guard has been mobilized and is receiving reinforcements from states of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York. “These personnel and security measures will be in place for no less than 30 days,” McCarthy added.

According to McCarthy, 850 guardsmen were to be deployed on the Capitol grounds by Thursday noon, up from 150 sent there in the immediate aftermath of the breach by Trump loyalists who attempted to disrupt the Congressional certification of Biden’s victory. He also said that works are already underway to encircle the domed compound, that will be a venue for the presidential inauguration, with a 7-foot non-scalable fence.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a press briefing on Thursday that the attacks on journalists covering the Save America protest called for by President Donald Trump are "unacceptable."

On Wednesday, a Sputnik correspondent reported that Trump supporters surrounded an Associated Press crew outside the Capitol building, yelling "get out of here" and smashing their cameras and tripods.

"Attacks on the media, whether they are targeted, whether there are spontaneous, are unacceptable," Dujarric said.

The Wednesday’s rally took a violent turn after Trump supporters broke into Congress to protesting the verification of the Electoral College votes and engaged with police. At least four people died, including a female Air-Force veteran, who was shot inside Congress by a police officer.

Several individuals that stormed the US Capitol building will be charged with crimes on Thursday and more are expected to be charged in the coming days, acting US Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement.

"Some participants in yesterday's violence will be charged today, and we will continue to methodically access evidence, charge crimes and make arrests in the coming days and weeks to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law," Rosen said in the statement on Thursday.

On Wednesday, thousands of Trump supporters encircled the Capitol building to protest the verification of the Electoral College votes, some of which they claim are illegitimate. However, a large group of individuals entered the building and reached the Senate chamber where they engaged with Capitol police.

Rosen said federal prosecutors have been working with federal and local authorities to gather evidence, identify perpetrators and charge them if federal crimes where warranted.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said the agency has deployed its full investigative resources to prosecute the individuals who were engaged in criminal activity on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump has withdrawn Chad Wolf’s nomination for Secretary of Homeland Security, the White House said on Thursday in a withdrawal notice.

"Chad F. Wolf, of Virginia, to be Secretary of Homeland Security, vice Kirstjen Nielsen, resigned, which was sent to the Senate on January 3, 2021," the withdrawal notice said.

The announcement came after Wolf urged Trump and other officials in his administration to publicly condemn Wednesday's violent takeover of the US Capitol building by Trump supporters.

Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger on Thursday called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office using the 25th amendment of the US Constitution following the violent storming of the Capitol by rioters seeking to overturn results of the November 3 presidential election.

“It’s with a heavy heart I am calling for the sake of our Democracy that the 25th Amendment be invoked,” Kinzinger said in a statement.

Wall Street's key indexes opened higher on Thursday on hopes for a bigger pandemic aid under a Democrat-controlled Congress, Reuters reported.

According to the agency, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 71.8 points, or 0.23%, at the open to 30901.18. The S&P 500 rose 16.6 points, or 0.44%, at the open to 3764.71​, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 126.5 points, or 0.99%, to 12867.34.

The violence at the Capitol was shameful.

It was as criminal as the rioting and looting this summer which was not condemned strongly enough by the Left.

This violence is condemned in the strongest terms.

Our movement values respect for law and order and for the Police.

— Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) January 7, 2021

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday stated the recent civil unrest in Washington is an internal matter of the United States.

"This is a domestic issue of the United States," Zakharova told reporters.

"That said, we once again note that the US electoral system is archaic, inconsistent with modern democratic standards [due to] being prone to violations, while the US media have become an instrument of political struggle," Zakharova added.

"We wish for the friendly people of the US to overcome this dramatic moment of their history with dignity," the spokeswoman concluded.

Peaceful transition of power is a sign of mature #democracy which is 🇺🇸. #RuleofLaw is not the rule of the street. We strongly believe in the supremacy of democratic values in our allied country. #Washington

— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) January 6, 2021

Once he leaves Office if Trump tries to come to UK the Home Sect should give serious consideration to denying him entry, she has the power if an applicant's presence is not conducive to the public good

Trump's default is to stir up racial tension & yday he incited a violent mob. pic.twitter.com/75fBChvFKQ

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) January 7, 2021

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has expressed concerns over the electoral unrest in the United States, calling on all involved parties to respect democratic principles and refrain from violence.

Organizations and countries around the world have been voicing concerns over the violent protests that engulfed the US capital of Washington over the past day. Supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday as Congress was set to certify his electoral defeat to Joe Biden. Four people died during the unrest.

"Watching the increasingly disquieting events unfolding in the United States capital in recent hours following the November general elections, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights [ODIHR] voices its concern regarding the integrity of the democratic process, and calls on all sides to keep to the principles of democracy and the rule of law," the office said in a press release.

ODIHR observed the US election and recalled in the press release that its mission had found no grounds to confirm electoral fraud allegations, voiced by Trump.

Noting that US legal system is conducive to a smooth transfer of power, ODIHR said that "restraint by all those involved in the process remains vital, even in a country with such strong institutions and traditional respect for democratic norms," adding that "neither incitement to violence nor violence itself has any place in the democratic process."

OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, in turn, said she was "disturbed by this assault on democratic institutions and principles," while OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde called for respecting the outcome of the election in line with democratic principles.

US Congress certified Biden's victory earlier on Thursday. While insisting on his non-recognition of voting results, Trump pledged to ensure an orderly handover of power on January 20.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that she felt "anger and sadness" when watching footage of the violence that erupted last night in Washington and regret at outgoing US President Donald Trump's refusal to accept election defeat.

"We all have seen the disturbing picture of the Congress' storming last night, this picture made me angry and sad. I am sure that I feel like the majority of the friends of the US, millions of people who admire the American democratic tradition," Merkel said at a press conference.

The chancellor added that she "regrets very much that President Trump has not accepted his defeat since November, and did not accept it yesterday either."

...fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!”

— Dan Scavino🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) January 7, 2021

US Congress voted to certify Joe Biden’s November election victory after the joint session was interrupted when supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol building.

Biden won the US presidential election by a 306-232 electoral vote margin, although over a dozen senators and 100 members of the House objected. However, it was insufficient to prevent Congress from approving the results and prevent Biden from taking office on 20 January.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump loyalists broke into the US Capitol building after the president delivered a fiery speech to tens of thousands of supporters near the White House. During the remarks Trump said he refused to concede and called on his supporters to keep fighting to prevent the election from being “stolen,” claiming widespread vote fraud, allegations that have been refuted by election officials.

The US House of Representatives has rejected the challenge to the outcome of the electoral college vote in the state of Pennsylvania.

The challenge was rejected in a 92-7 vote. The Senate voted down the objection earlier in the day.

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has called on US President Donald Trump to condemn the violence after the storming of the Capitol building by his supporters on 6 January.

"He should absolutely condemn everything that has taken place. He made a statement yesterday and it did very little to de-escalate the situation.... Words of provocation are completely wrong," Patel told Sky News. 

Patel also told BBC TV that Trump's "comments directly led to the violence, and so far, he has failed to condemn that violence and that is completely wrong".

Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio congressman charged with funding the Capitol Police, has promised to open an investigation into how hundreds of President Donald Trump supporters were able to storm US Capitol buildings on Wednesday.

Congress has resumed tallying certificates of the electoral vote:

Georgia- 16 Biden/Harris
Hawaii – 4 Biden/Harris
Idaho – 4 Trump/Pence
Illinois –20 Biden/Harris
Indiana- 11 Trump/Pence

— House Press Gallery (@HouseDailyPress) January 7, 2021

1.6.21 Chief Contee and @MayorBowser provide situational updates https://t.co/Pk5yfs302D

— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 7, 2021

I have issued Mayor’s Order 2021-003, extending the public emergency declared earlier today for a total of 15 days, until and unless provided for by further Mayoral Order.

— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 7, 2021

6-93: Senate defeats the objection to Arizona’s 2020 electoral votes. 6 Republicans voted Yes: Cruz, Hawley, Hyde-Smith, Kennedy, Marshall and Tuberville. pic.twitter.com/ddFfLrHwcw

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) January 7, 2021

It is added that Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger and Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Liddell are also considering to step down.

At the request of the U.S. National Guard, I’m deploying 1,000 members of the NY National Guard to D.C. for up to 2 weeks.

A peaceful transition of power is the cornerstone of our democracy & NY stands ready to help ensure the will of the American people is safely carried out. pic.twitter.com/3AStpH4B9Y

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 7, 2021

"When I arrived in Washington this morning I fully intended to object the certification of the Electoral votes, however, the events that have transpired today have forced me to reconsider and I cannot now in good conscious object to the certification of these electors," Loeffler said on Wednesday.

Senators Steve Daines and Mike Braun will reportedly also reverse their original decisions to object the election results.

"The United States and the United States Congress have faced down much greater threats than the unhinged crowd we saw today," McConnell said. "We've never been deterred before and we'll not be deterred today."

Here’s my statement on today’s violence at the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/jLCKo2D1Ya

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 7, 2021

Today’s shameful assault on our democracy — anointed at the highest level of government — must not deter us from our responsibility to the Constitution. Tonight, we will move forward with the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s election.

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 7, 2021

Vice President @Mike_Pence has returned to the Senate. He never left the Capitol.@VP was in regular contact w/ House & Senate leadership, Cap Police, DOJ, & DoD to facilitate efforts to secure the Capitol & reconvene Congress.

And now we will finish the People’s business.

— Devin O’Malley (@VPPressSec) January 7, 2021

Trump supporters have breached past the gates of the Governor's mansion in Olympia, Washington, according to video footage from local television station KIRO 7.

The video footage on Wednesday showed about 50 protesters on the steps of the residency holding Trump flags.

The report said on Wednesday that it is unclear why Trump did not initially approve the order.

Reminder: A citywide curfew for the District of Columbia is in effect from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7.

— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 6, 2021

"There were approximately 5 weapons that have been recovered. We were looking at just about 13 arrests," Contee said during press briefing on Wednesday.

All of the arrested individuals arrived to Washington, DC from the closest suburbs and from several US states, Contee added.

pic.twitter.com/Pm2PKV0Fp3

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021

All Americans should be outraged by this attack on our nation’s Capitol. This is a heinous and violent assault on the heart of our democracy. I will not stand for this, and neither should any American.

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) January 6, 2021

Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) January 6, 2021

My team and I are working closely with @MayorBowser, @SpeakerPelosi, and @SenSchumer to respond to the situation in Washington, D.C.

Per the Mayor's request, I am sending members of the Virginia National Guard along with 200 Virginia State Troopers.

— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 6, 2021

There is nothing patriotic about what is occurring on Capitol Hill. This is 3rd world style anti-American anarchy.

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 6, 2021

I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021

US House Chamber... pic.twitter.com/COQwIzh110

— John W. Dean (@JohnWDean) January 6, 2021

This is a coup attempt.

— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) January 6, 2021

This violence is unacceptable and needs to be met with the full force of the law.

God bless the Capitol Police who are keeping us safe.

— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) January 6, 2021

Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021

"Today, I'm ordering a citywide curfew for the District of Columbia from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7," Bowser said in a statement.

I’m sheltering in place in my office. The building next door has been evacuated. I can’t believe I have to write this.

— Rep. Haley Stevens (@RepHaleyStevens) January 6, 2021

MAGA protesters have crossed the police line and now occupy the steps of the US Capitol

pic.twitter.com/9ZAwdLAULE

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 6, 2021

Police are evacuating congressional offices on Wednesday as pro-Trump demonstrations descend on Capitol Hill to protest the results of the 2020 presidential election, US Congressman Ritchie Torres said in a statement on Wednesday.

"My staff and I were ordered to evacuate the Cannon building," Torres said via Twitter.

Video footage on social media shows clashes between pro-Trump protesters and police outside the Capitol building.

Police officers used non-lethal munitions near the US Capitol to disperse pro-Trump protesters in Washington, DC, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene on Wednesday.

Protesters were trying to approach Congress as lawmakers gathered for a joint session to count and certify the Electoral College votes for president and vice president.

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has slammed fellow Republicans for challenging Biden's Electoral College victory, saying it could do great harm to America.

"We cannot simply declare ourselves a national board of election on steroids...The voters, courts, states, they've all spoken. If we overrule them it would damage our republic forever", McConnell said, as quoted by Reuters.

CHAOS: Arrests being made as Trump supporters try to storm the US Capitol

Video via @Julio_Rosas11

pic.twitter.com/0aLz2VDrvJ

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 6, 2021

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Tens of thousands of US President Donald Trump's supporters have gathered in Washington, DC in what they say is a show of support for election integrity in the United States, a Sputnik correspondent reported form the scene on Wednesday.

People from across the United States have gathered near the White House to express their support for the US president who is scheduled to address the rally at 11:00 a.m. (16:00 GMT). The rally remains peaceful, while US media reported a big police presence in the area.