Giuliani says he won’t be on Trump impeachment defense team
Trump was impeached by the House for a second time last week.
President Donald Trump is slated to hand over control of the White House to President-elect Joe Biden in three days.
The House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump last Wednesday on an article for "incitement of insurrection" for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol -- making him the only president to be impeached twice.
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Overview: Trump to speak in Texas, Biden team to push national security confirmations
When he leaves for Alamo, Texas, Tuesday morning, it will be President Trump's first time in public since last Wednesday -- the day his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol after he encouraged a crowd of thousands, at a rally beforehand, to put pressure on lawmakers affirming Biden's victory in Congress.
Apart from posting video on Twitter last Thursday, before the platform permanently suspended his account, the president has remained behind closed doors at the White House -- spending his final days in office out of the public eye -- but is expected to break his silence with afternoon remarks.
"President Trump is expected to travel to Alamo, Texas, on Tuesday to mark the completion of more than 400 miles of border wall -- a promise made, promise kept -- and his administration's efforts to reform our broken immigration system," White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere told reporters ahead of the visit.
The president is facing renewed calls from congressional Democrats to be removed from office in the wake of last week's riot, with the House poised to pass an impeachment resolution as early as Wednesday charging the president with incitement of insurrection -- and setting Trump up to be the first president in history to be impeached twice.
Trump, for the first time since the assault, spoke with Vice President Mike Pence at the urging of his advisers and allies in an Oval Office meeting Monday that lasted 90 minutes and was friendly in nature, according to White House officials briefed on the meeting. Pence is not expected to invoke the 25th Amendment as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called on him to do.
Biden, on Tuesday, will receive the President’s Daily Brief and meet with advisers, while his transition team and allies in Congress begin a push to confirm his national security nominees so they're in place next week, with priority on the confirmation of Department of Homeland Security Secretary-designate Alejandro Mayorkas.
Defense Secretary-designate Gen. Lloyd Austin, nominee for Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Secretary of State-designate Tony Blinken will also be part of the push ahead of their hearings on Capitol Hill.
Biden’s nominees may also need now to contend with an impeachment trial in the Senate. Biden suggested in remarks Monday the Senate look into splitting the its time in order to confirm his nominees, pass COVID-19 relief and deal with a presidential impeachment.
-ABC News' John Parkinson, Ben Gittleson and Molly Nagle
Several Capitol Police officers suspended pending outcome of investigations
Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, a House Appropriations subcommittee chairman who presides over Capitol Police funding, told reporters Monday afternoon that two Capitol Police officers have been suspended after the storming of the Capitol last week.
"One was the selfie officer, and another was an officer who had put on a MAGA hat and started directing some people around," he said.
Ryan said he was informed of both by the interim Capitol Police chief.
The congressman also said he has heard of 10 to 15 ongoing investigations of officers' actions and that the interim chief is taking "aggressive action" in the department to determine "if there was any facilitation or help" from inside the department.
Late Monday, the acting Capitol police chief released a statement that said the department has been actively reviewing video and other open source materials looking for officers and officials who appear to be in violation of department regulations and policies.
"Our Office of Professional Responsibility will investigate these behaviors for disciplinary action, up to, and including, termination. Several USCP officers have already been suspended pending the outcome of their investigations," the statement said.
Acting Chief Yoganada Pittman also said that law enforcement agencies throughout the capital region have comprehensive, coordinated plans in place to ensure the safety and security of the congressional community and for the upcoming presidential inauguration. There will be no public access to the Capitol grounds during the inauguration and but the event will go on as scheduled.
-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel and Jack Date
Rep. Raskin tells ABC News’ ‘Start Here’ about barricading with his family in the Capitol
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., joined ABC News’ “Start Here” to talk about the efforts in Congress to remove Trump from office and also described his experience at the Capitol during the riot, which also happened to be the day after his family had buried his son.
“We experienced a terrible family catastrophe and we had to bury my son on Tuesday. And then on Wednesday, I had to go in for the Electoral College count,” Raskin told ABC News' daily news podcast. “And our youngest daughter, Tabitha, said, ‘Daddy, don't go. I want you to stay home.’ And I said, I would love to be home, but I have to go in because this is a constitutional responsibility. And I've agreed also to be one of the floor managers for the Democratic side in debating these objections to the electors."
Raskin told “Start Here” that he brought Tabitha and a son-in-law who is married to his other daughter with him to the House chamber. They all had to shelter-in-place when the rioters broke into the Capitol.
“They ended up barricaded in a locked office off of ... the House chamber hiding under a desk as people pounded on the door. They heard the same sickening sounds I heard of people trying to barrel into the House chamber,” he said. "Listen to the stories of people who lived through this nightmare. You know, this is not some abstract question about Donald Trump just pocketing emoluments. He helped to unleash a furious savage mob on the Congress of the United States, our staffs, and in my case, on members of my family.”
Belichick says he won't accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was expected to be presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom later this week, a White House official said, but in a statement released Monday evening, he declined it.
"Recently, I was offered the opportunity to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which I was flattered by out of respect for what the honor represents and admiration for prior recipients. Subsequently, the tragic events of last week occurred and the decision has been made not to move forward with the award," he said in the statement. "Above all, I am an American citizen with a great reverence for our nation's values, freedom and democracy. I know I also represent my family and the New England Patriots team. One of the most rewarding things in my professional career took place in 2020 when, through the great leadership within our team, conversations about social justice, equality and human rights moved to the forefront and became actions. Continuing those efforts while remaining true to the people, team and country I love outweigh the benefits of any individual award."
Airbnb looking at possibly canceling reservations in Lansing before protests at Michigan Capitol
Online vacation rental marketplace Airbnb is reviewing, and potentially canceling, reservations in Lansing, Michigan, ahead of planned protests at the Michigan Capitol building.
“If we confirm that guests are associated with a violent hate group or otherwise not allowed on our platform for violating certain community policies prohibiting violence or engaging in criminal activity, we will cancel those reservations and ban them from Airbnb,” a company spokesperson said. “We are in contact with Governor Whitmer’s team, Mayor Schor and Chief Daryl Green about this plan, and if appropriate, we may bring information to the attention of local law enforcement.”
Airbnb’s efforts in Lansing are similar to its efforts in Washington, D.C. as the company seeks to identify people who have used their site and may pose a risk of violence ahead of planned protests.
“Downtown [Lansing] is a vibrant neighborhood and residents and businesses there should feel confident knowing that the Lansing Police Department is working closely with the Michigan State Police, Ingham County Sheriff’s Department and other police agencies to ensure these planned events remain peaceful,” said Lansing Mayor Andy Schor. “Airbnb has always been a fantastic partner with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and this effort continues to demonstrate their civic mindedness and high standards of quality."
Residents of downtown Lansing should stay inside and avoid demonstrations, said Schor.