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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Biden introducing vaccination plan, economic rescue package in address

Biden, in an evening address from Wilmington, Delaware, is announcing his vaccination and economic rescue legislative package.

The ambitious $1.9 trillion proposal focuses on stimulus amid the ongoing pandemic.

Biden's plan would dedicate more than $1 trillion of the $1.9 trillion price tag for direct stimulus, officials said, while $400 billion would go toward COVID-related projects, including the nationwide vaccination program, and $440 billion toward relief for communities and businesses.

The plan includes direct payments of up to $1,400 to families in need, that when combined with the recent $600 stimulus payment would deliver on Biden's pledge to pass $2,000 of direct payments, along with a $400 weekly unemployment insurance benefit through September and a child tax credit.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle


Moving day begins at the White House

Photos show the beginning of the process to move President Donald Trump out of the White House, as workers load boxes on to trucks.


Biden announces former Senate candidate as DNC chair

Biden on Thursday announced his slate for new leadership at the Democratic National Committee, including former South Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Jaime Harrison to be the next chair of the DNC.

Harrison, who lost the 2020 race to GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham last year, despite breaking numerous fundraising records, will officially become DNC chair after the full committee votes on Jan. 21, the day after Biden's inauguration.

Graham congratulated Harrison on the news in a tweet earlier Thursday.

In addition to Harrison, Biden also announced the names of four DNC vice chairs, all of whom were prominent backers of his presidential campaign, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who served as a campaign co-chair.

Whitmer is joined by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Texas Rep. Filemon Vela as new DNC vice chairs.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Harrison an "inspiring, energizing and influential" in a press release.

"As former Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party and senatorial candidate, Jaime brings an outstanding track record of success -- from galvanizing the grassroots, mobilizing millions and shattering fundraising records -- that will be critical during this pivotal moment for our Party and Country," she added.

-ABC News' John Verhovek and Beatrice Peterson


Pence visits Capitol, addresses National Guardsmen

During an unscheduled stop on Capitol Hill, Vice President Mike Pence greeted National Guardsmen and telling them that he had just come from a briefing where he heard about their efforts.

He thanked the personnel for "stepping forward for your country" to make the historic transfer of power possible.

"It's been my great honor to serve as your vice president and I want to thank you for your service," Pence said.

The vice president then spoke to individual guardsmen asking them where they are from and how long they served.

About 20,000 National Guard members are expected in Washington this week to protect the city ahead of Biden's inauguration.

"Have a safe inauguration," Pence said.

-ABC News' Elizabeth Thomas and John Parkinson


Republican lawmaker explains why he voted ‘no’ on the article of impeachment

Although South Dakota Rep. Dusty Johnson said that Trump deserves “more than his fair share of blame” for the U.S. Capitol riot last week, he voted not to impeach the president Wednesday.

Johnson told ABC News that his decision was based on due process of the law.

“I think due process matters,” said Johnson. “I just felt like a snap impeachment was not in the best interest of the country.”

He said Trump could have been held accountable through censure.

“Impeachment for someone who is out of office looks like some sort of formal reprimand. Really, you can’t kick them out when they’re already gone,” said Johnson. “I think (Nancy Pelosi) could have gotten 100 Republican votes for censure.”

Democrats defended the use of impeachment because an impeachment and a conviction vote by two-thirds of the Senate would open Trump up to a congressional ban on running for federal office. Trump has already indicated that he would run for office again in 2024.

Johnson said that he and “dozens” of his Republican colleagues felt frustrated on the House floor Wednesday. He said that his fellow Democrats missed an opportunity to work across the aisle.

“The rhetoric on the House floor today was the most toxic I have seen in my two years. It was the most rancorous,” he said. “And that’s one of the reasons why I was trying to get some of my Democratic colleagues more interested in a bipartisan censure, a more unifying approach than, I think, a largely single-party impeachment process.”

-ABC News Haley Yamada