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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DC mayor says National Mall will be temporarily closed for Biden’s inauguration 

During a news conference Friday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the National Mall is temporarily closed to the public through at least Thursday.

Thirteen metro stations inside the security perimeter will also be closed.

Bowser said the National Mall closure came at the request of and in cooperation with the Secret Service and the National Park Service.

The mayor urged Americans to enjoy the inauguration virtually from home this year.

She also discussed the city’s beefed-up security ahead of the inauguration but told D.C. residents she doesn’t expect the security measures currently in place to last too long after Biden takes office.

-ABC News’ Kenneth Moton


Nomination hearing for Avril Haines postponed 

The nomination hearing for Biden’s pick for director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, has been postponed. It was originally scheduled for Friday.

A joint statement from Senate Intelligence Committee Acting Chairman Marco Rubio and Vice Chairman Mark Warner on Thursday confirmed the postponement. It did not give specific reasons, but referenced the “unusual circumstances on Capitol Hill.”


Rubio and Warner added that they "look forward to holding a hearing next week" for Haines, but did not list a specific date.

-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin


Extremism seen on Jan. 6 'very likely part of an ongoing trend'

Far from a one-off event, the Jan. 6 siege at the Capitol emboldened extremists and “is very likely part of an ongoing trend,” according to a joint intelligence bulletin obtained by ABC News.

The trend involves domestic extremists exploiting lawful gatherings to engage in violence and criminal activity and the bulletin said that “very likely will increase throughout 2021.”

Targets include racial, ethnic and religious minorities along with journalists and government officials.

“Narratives surrounding the perceived success of the 6 January breach of the US Capitol, and the proliferation of conspiracy theories will likely lead to an increased [domestic violent extremist] threat towards representatives of federal, state, and local governments across the United States, particularly in the lead-in to the 20 January Presidential Inauguration,” the bulletin said.

Beyond the inauguration, the bulletin said gun control legislation, the easing of immigration restrictions and limits on the use of public land could antagonize extremists.

There is a range of groups that share what the bulletin called the “false narrative of a stolen election.”

In-person engagement between domestic violent extremists of differing ideological goals during the Capitol breach likely served to foster connections, which may increase DVEs’ willingness, capability, and motivation to attack and undermine a government they view as illegitimate,” the bulletin said.

-ABC News' Aaron Katersky


Incoming WH press secretary reveals some details of Biden's vaccine push

In a series of tweets Friday, incoming White House press secretary Jen Psaki provided some information on the structure of the Biden administration's vaccination effort and confirmed that the program will not go by the "Operation Warp Speed" name created by the Trump administration.

Psaki also said that Bechara Choucair, previously announced as the Biden team's vaccination coordinator, will lead the 100 million doses delivered in 100 days effort, while Dr. David Kessler's role will focus on maximizing the current supply of vaccine and to get more online as quickly as possible.

-ABC News' John Verhovek


Pelosi holds ceremonial engrossment after House impeaches Trump

Not an hour after the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump for a second time, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House impeachment managers walked across Statuary Hall to the Rayburn Room for a ceremonial engrossment ceremony for the article of impeachment.

The engrossment ceremony is a procedural step that takes the article one step closer to the Senate trial.

"Today in a bipartisan way, the House demonstrated that no one is above the law -- not even the president of the United States -- that Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to our country," Pelosi said, preparing to sign off on the engrossment. "And now, I sadly, with a heart broken over what this means to our country of a president who would incite insurrection will sign the address of the article of impeachment."

Pelosi was joined for the ceremony by the nine House impeachment managers -- one of the rarest assignments for a House member.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a former constitutional law professor who co-authored the article and whose family was present at the Capitol during last Wednesday's riot a day after burying Raskin's son, is serving as the lead impeachment manager. The other managers are Democratic Reps. Diana DeGette of Colorado, David Cicilline or Rhode Island, Joaquin Castro of Texas, Eric Swalwell of California, Ted Lieu of California, Joe Neguse of Colorado and Madeleine Dean, of Pennsylvania. and Del. Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands.

While Pelosi has declined to yet say publicly when the House will send the article over to the Senate, a source involved in the Democratic leadership deliberations told ABC News earlier Wednesday that Pelosi planned to send the article to the Senate next week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement after the House voted to impeach Trump indicating the Senate trial should take place after Trump leaves office -- a message to Pelosi to wait to send the article.