Yahoo News Capitol riots: Chief says back-up denied over ‘optics’, as 15,000 troops requested ahead of ‘uprising’
House speaker Nancy Pelosi
(AP)Ousted police chief Steve Sund said he requested help or back up six times before and during the Capitol riots but was denied over the “optics”.
In his first interview since resigning, Sund said he asked House and Senate security officials permission to request the National Guard be placed on standby but that House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving wasn’t comfortable with the “optics” of formally declaring an emergency ahead of pro-Trump demonstrations.
The insight into what went wrong comes as the FBI warned an 'armed uprising' could take place in all 50 state capitols between now and the inauguration of Joe Biden if Congress moves to remove Donald Trump before 20 January.
As a result, the Pentagon has approved an additional 15,000 National Guard to be deployed or remain on stand by to for Inauguration Day.
Democrats, meanwhile, introduced an article of impeachment to the floor of the House of Representatives as lawmakers prepare to vote on a resolution asking the vice president, Mike Pence, to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Donald Trump from office.
For his part, Pence reportedly had his first call with Trump since the riot and committed to working together until the end of his term, appearing to douse speculation he could invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office.
With Republicans expected to resist the unanimous resolution, it is likely to return to the floor for a full vote on Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said. From that point, Pence will have 24 hours to respond, and if not the House will move to impeach the president.
In conversation with House Republicans, House GOP minority leader Kevin McCarthy reportedly said Trump bears some responsibility for the riot at the US Capitol. Even so, he said opposes impeachment but would be open to supporting a motion of censuring the president.
The work to remove Trump comes as his supporters planned to protest outside Twitter’s HQ in San Francisco, furious at the firm for suspending the outgoing president’s account.
Twenty people have now been arrested and await trial for their roles in the assault on Congress, while a Capitol Police officer who was videoed bravely confronting rioters inside the halls of Congress has been named as Eugene Goodman.
At least two Capitol police officers were suspended for taking selfies with rioters, while one was supposedly arrested for wearing a Maga hat and leading them around, according to Chair of the House subcommittee that oversees Capitol Police, congressman Tim Ryan.
