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.


0

Lin-Manuel Miranda to join Inauguration Day celebrations

Composer and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda is the latest celebrity added to the lineup for the inauguration primetime celebration for President-elect Joe Biden.

A mix of famous faces and everyday Americans will appear throughout the event.

Miranda, who created and starred in the musical "Hamilton," is expected to recite a classic work, according to the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Actresses Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria will introduce segments throughout the program.

Also participating will be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and chairman of the Skyhook Foundation, Chef Jose Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen, labor leader Dolores Huerta, and Kim Ng, the first woman MLB general manager.

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle


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.


Kamala Harris kicks off week of inauguration events

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris kicked off the first night of inaugural events with closing remarks on Saturday during an event titled "America United: An Inauguration Welcome Event Celebrating America’s Changemakers."

Harris noted the work that supporters did to make this moment what it is despite challenges due to coronavirus.

"I'm so excited to officially welcome you to the 59th presidential inauguration," Harris said. "We are here not only to celebrate and mark the start of a new administration, but to honor the work you have done from the primaries to the general election, right up to this very moment -- from Zoom grassroots fundraisers to union meetings on Google Meet to our drive-in rallies -- you were there every step of the way. And on the eve of this inauguration, the president-elect and I thank you for all you have done for our country; we would not be here without you."

Harris shared a message to young Americans to keep fighting and to dream with ambition. She noted that fighting for working people, rooting out systemic racism and combating the climate crisis, while strengthening democracy, are key goals for the administration.

"And I also would not be here without the generations of Americans who struggled and sacrificed to open up opportunity in our country. I stand on their shoulders. And as I've said before, while I may be the first woman to serve as vice president, I will not be the last," she said.

-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson


Pence urges new administration to 'stay the course'

Vice President Mike Pence addressed the incoming Biden-Harris administration during a speech at the Lemoore Naval Air Station in Fresno, California, Saturday.

"As a new American administration prepares to take office, we do well to remember as Americans that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and that a free and open Indo-Pacific is essential to our prosperity, our security, and the vitality of freedom in the world," Pence said during his remarks to sailors.

Pence urged the incoming administration to "stay the course" in the region.

"Do what we’ve done," he said. "Stand up to Chinese aggression and trade abuses. Stand strong for a free and open Indo-Pacific and put America and our freedom-loving allies first."

The Trump administration identified China as the greatest long-term threat to the U.S. The Asian nation has shown more assertiveness in the region, including expanding its military presence in the South China Sea.

Biden has said he may keep some of Trump's tariffs in place and expand human rights sanctions, but he's also expected to take a different tact than Trump's "America First" strategy.

-ABC News' Conor Finnegan contributed to this report


Republicans break from Trump as he's poised for second impeachment, leaders tell members to 'vote their conscience'

The House of Representatives is poised to impeach President Trump for a second time on Wednesday for "incitement of insurrection," exactly one week after a violent siege on the U.S. Capitol left five people dead.

House Democrats have the votes to impeach Trump, who will become the first and only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice.

And in a turn of events, at least five House Republicans -- including No. 3 Rep. Liz Cheney -- have announced they, too, will vote to impeach Trump, even though no Republicans supported the effort during Trump's first impeachment proceedings related to the Ukraine matter in 2019. The other House lawmakers who say they'll vote to remove Trump include GOP Reps. John Katko, R-N.Y., Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., Fred Upton, Mich., and Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash.

House GOP leadership said they would not encourage members to vote for or against Democrats' impeachment push, according to House leadership aides, but to "vote their conscience."

In the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not said if he would vote to convict or whether he'd hold a trial in the Senate, ABC News has learned, but he has privately indicated he believes impeaching Trump could make it easier to rid the Republican Party of Trumpism.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan