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US watchdog to investigate whether officials made 'improper attempts' to alter election result – live Trump article of impeachment to be delivered to Senate soon – live
(32 minutes later)
Department of Justice’s internal watchdog will investigate possible internal collusion with Trump’s attempts to overturn Biden’s 2020 victory Nancy Pelosi to send charge of incitement to Senate at 7pm ET, while Biden boosts vaccine goal follow all the latest news live
Janet Yellen was confirmed as Treasury Secretary. She’s the first woman to take the post.
Yellen, 74, received support from both Republicans and Democrats and was confirmed 84-15. She was chair of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018 and has longstanding ties to Capitol Hill lawmakers - making her an uncontroversial pick.
Minnesota officials said they’ve found the first known Covid-19 case associated with the P.1 variant found amid the outbreak in Manaus, Brazil.
The variant was found to have infected “a Minnesota resident with recent travel history to Brazil.” The individual tested positive on 9 January, and genomic sequencing has since revealed that they were carrying the P.1 variant.
Other cases of the P.1 variant could have gone undetected, as the US lacks a robust system for monitoring variants.
In a bit over an hour, the article of impeachment against Donald Trump will be walked over to the Senate. What’s next?In a bit over an hour, the article of impeachment against Donald Trump will be walked over to the Senate. What’s next?
What happens on today?What happens on today?
Pelosi will send the article of impeachment – the charge of incitement laid out and approved by the House – to the Senate at 7pm EST. The charge will be carried by Democratic impeachment managers in a small, formal procession through National Statuary Hall, where just weeks ago rioters paraded, waving Trump flags. In the Senate, Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland and the lead impeachment manager, will read the article of impeachment on the floor of the chamber.Pelosi will send the article of impeachment – the charge of incitement laid out and approved by the House – to the Senate at 7pm EST. The charge will be carried by Democratic impeachment managers in a small, formal procession through National Statuary Hall, where just weeks ago rioters paraded, waving Trump flags. In the Senate, Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland and the lead impeachment manager, will read the article of impeachment on the floor of the chamber.
What happens next?What happens next?
Traditionally the trial would begin almost immediately upon receipt of the impeachment article. But Senate leaders have agreed on a two-week delay, allowing time for Joe Biden to install his cabinet and begin pursuing a legislative agenda.Traditionally the trial would begin almost immediately upon receipt of the impeachment article. But Senate leaders have agreed on a two-week delay, allowing time for Joe Biden to install his cabinet and begin pursuing a legislative agenda.
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Under the deal struck by Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, and Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, the president’s team and the House managers will have until the week of 8 February to draft and exchange written legal briefs.Under the deal struck by Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, and Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, the president’s team and the House managers will have until the week of 8 February to draft and exchange written legal briefs.
Trump’s legal team must submit an answer to the article by 2 February, the same day House managers must provide their pre-trial brief. Trump’s pre-trial brief will be due on 8 February and the House will have until 9 February for a rebuttal, allowing for the trial to begin.Trump’s legal team must submit an answer to the article by 2 February, the same day House managers must provide their pre-trial brief. Trump’s pre-trial brief will be due on 8 February and the House will have until 9 February for a rebuttal, allowing for the trial to begin.
What is the charge?What is the charge?
Trump is accused of “inciting violence against the government of the United States”, for his statements at a rally prior to his supporters launching the attack on the Capitol in which five people died. The House impeached Trump for “high crimes and misdemeanors” on 13 January, exactly one week after the siege. The final vote was 232 to 197, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats.Trump is accused of “inciting violence against the government of the United States”, for his statements at a rally prior to his supporters launching the attack on the Capitol in which five people died. The House impeached Trump for “high crimes and misdemeanors” on 13 January, exactly one week after the siege. The final vote was 232 to 197, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats.
Will witnesses be called?Will witnesses be called?
That is not yet known. In Trump’s first impeachment trial, over approaches to Ukraine for dirt on political rivals, the Republican-held Senate refused to call witnesses. Now the Senate is in Democratic hands but many in the party are hoping for a speedy trial so as not to distract from Biden’s first weeks in the White House. Some Democrats have said they do not expect to call witnesses, given that lawmakers bore witness to –and were the victims of – the attack on the Capitol.That is not yet known. In Trump’s first impeachment trial, over approaches to Ukraine for dirt on political rivals, the Republican-held Senate refused to call witnesses. Now the Senate is in Democratic hands but many in the party are hoping for a speedy trial so as not to distract from Biden’s first weeks in the White House. Some Democrats have said they do not expect to call witnesses, given that lawmakers bore witness to –and were the victims of – the attack on the Capitol.
Who runs the trial?Who runs the trial?
The chief justice of the supreme court, John Roberts, oversaw Trump’s first trial in February 2020. However, the constitution only stipulates that the chief justice must preside over the trial of a current president, leaving scholars divided over who should lead the chamber during the proceedings this time. If Roberts declined to preside, the task would likely fall to the president of the Senate: Kamala Harris, the vice-president. In the event she preferred not to become involved with the proceedings, which overlaps with her first weeks in her new job, the job could fall to Patrick Leahy, a Democratic senator from Vermont and the Senate president pro tempore, a position decided by seniority.The chief justice of the supreme court, John Roberts, oversaw Trump’s first trial in February 2020. However, the constitution only stipulates that the chief justice must preside over the trial of a current president, leaving scholars divided over who should lead the chamber during the proceedings this time. If Roberts declined to preside, the task would likely fall to the president of the Senate: Kamala Harris, the vice-president. In the event she preferred not to become involved with the proceedings, which overlaps with her first weeks in her new job, the job could fall to Patrick Leahy, a Democratic senator from Vermont and the Senate president pro tempore, a position decided by seniority.
Read more:Read more:
The Guardian’s Vivian Ho reports from San Francisco:The Guardian’s Vivian Ho reports from San Francisco:
California lifted its stay-at-home order statewide Monday after four-week projections showed intensive care unit capacity to be above 15% in beleaguered regions for the first time in weeks.California lifted its stay-at-home order statewide Monday after four-week projections showed intensive care unit capacity to be above 15% in beleaguered regions for the first time in weeks.
“Today we can lay claim to starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel as it relates to case numbers,” said the California governor Gavin Newsom during a press briefing on Monday.“Today we can lay claim to starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel as it relates to case numbers,” said the California governor Gavin Newsom during a press briefing on Monday.
Monday’s change moves counties back to a tiered system of reopening, with most regions across the state expected to move into the most restrictive tier. It lifts an evening curfew and, in many areas, will allow restaurants and churches to resume outdoor operations and hair and nail salons to reopen. Local officials still could choose to impose stricter rules.Monday’s change moves counties back to a tiered system of reopening, with most regions across the state expected to move into the most restrictive tier. It lifts an evening curfew and, in many areas, will allow restaurants and churches to resume outdoor operations and hair and nail salons to reopen. Local officials still could choose to impose stricter rules.
The decision came amid improving trends in the state’s rate of infections, hospitalizations and intensive care unit capacity as well as vaccinations. Newsom said on Monday that California averaged 23,283 new coronavirus cases per day over the past week, and its positivity rate was down to 8%, below that of Texas, Florida and Arizona.The decision came amid improving trends in the state’s rate of infections, hospitalizations and intensive care unit capacity as well as vaccinations. Newsom said on Monday that California averaged 23,283 new coronavirus cases per day over the past week, and its positivity rate was down to 8%, below that of Texas, Florida and Arizona.
Monday’s announcement follows months of a relentless case surge that exhausted the healthcare system statewide and made California the first US state to record 3m Covid-19 infections. It also comes as more than 50 wine country-based restaurants and wineries have filed a lawsuit against Newsomover the state’s restrictions on outdoor dining.Monday’s announcement follows months of a relentless case surge that exhausted the healthcare system statewide and made California the first US state to record 3m Covid-19 infections. It also comes as more than 50 wine country-based restaurants and wineries have filed a lawsuit against Newsomover the state’s restrictions on outdoor dining.
Public officials in some of California’s major cities and counties indicated they could soon lift local restrictions.Public officials in some of California’s major cities and counties indicated they could soon lift local restrictions.
“We will be moving forward with some limited re-openings, including outdoor dining and personal services,” said the San Francisco mayor London Breed in a tweet.“We will be moving forward with some limited re-openings, including outdoor dining and personal services,” said the San Francisco mayor London Breed in a tweet.
Orange county planned to lift some restrictions as well, said Jessica Good, a spokesperson for the county health agency. In Los Angeles county, home to 10 million people, the Republican district supervisor Kathryn Barger expressed support for opening outdoor dining, personal care services and other industries and said the state must balance public health with “devastating social, emotional and economic impacts of this virus”.Los Angeles county public health officials are expected to hold a briefing later Monday.Orange county planned to lift some restrictions as well, said Jessica Good, a spokesperson for the county health agency. In Los Angeles county, home to 10 million people, the Republican district supervisor Kathryn Barger expressed support for opening outdoor dining, personal care services and other industries and said the state must balance public health with “devastating social, emotional and economic impacts of this virus”.Los Angeles county public health officials are expected to hold a briefing later Monday.
Others expressed dismay at how the order will affect low-income communities of color that have already been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic because so many work as essential workers in service industry jobs.Others expressed dismay at how the order will affect low-income communities of color that have already been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic because so many work as essential workers in service industry jobs.
“This new executive order is surprising,” tweeted Lena Gonzalez, a California state senator. “My quintessential question: How are low income communities of color and essential workers being impacted by this order? Why do I have to keep asking this question?“This new executive order is surprising,” tweeted Lena Gonzalez, a California state senator. “My quintessential question: How are low income communities of color and essential workers being impacted by this order? Why do I have to keep asking this question?
Read more:Read more:
It’s been a busy day so far in US politics and the best drama is yet to come, with the article of impeachment due to be marched from the House to the Senate at 7pm ET. Many apologies to all our readers that there wasn’t a summary in the middle of the day, the blog got carried away with so many events at the White House.It’s been a busy day so far in US politics and the best drama is yet to come, with the article of impeachment due to be marched from the House to the Senate at 7pm ET. Many apologies to all our readers that there wasn’t a summary in the middle of the day, the blog got carried away with so many events at the White House.
My Guardian colleague on the west coast, Maanvi Singh, will take over in a moment to carry you through the next few hours in her inimitable style.My Guardian colleague on the west coast, Maanvi Singh, will take over in a moment to carry you through the next few hours in her inimitable style.
Here are the main events so far today:Here are the main events so far today:
Joe Biden announced he is very keen to step up vaccination efforts in hopes of increasing from a million shots a day to 1.5m and getting most Americans vaccinated “by the spring”.Joe Biden announced he is very keen to step up vaccination efforts in hopes of increasing from a million shots a day to 1.5m and getting most Americans vaccinated “by the spring”.
The president signed an order to close loopholes and oblige the US government itself to made more effort to make its purchases from American-made manufacturers. He’s creating a new figure in the budget office.The president signed an order to close loopholes and oblige the US government itself to made more effort to make its purchases from American-made manufacturers. He’s creating a new figure in the budget office.
The Treasury Department is taking steps to get the project to put abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the US $20 bill back on track.The Treasury Department is taking steps to get the project to put abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the US $20 bill back on track.
The US Department of Justice’s internal watchdog, inspector general Michael Horowitz, is launching an investigation in whether any department officials engaged in an improper attempt to alter the election result.The US Department of Justice’s internal watchdog, inspector general Michael Horowitz, is launching an investigation in whether any department officials engaged in an improper attempt to alter the election result.
The Biden-Harris administration, with the strong support of the newly-sworn-in defense secretary Lloyd Austin, reversed Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the US military.The Biden-Harris administration, with the strong support of the newly-sworn-in defense secretary Lloyd Austin, reversed Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the US military.
In a little over two hours, the House of Representatives impeachment managers, led by Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin, will ceremoniously walk the article of impeachment against Donald Trump across the Capitol to the Senate, ahead of the former president’s trial for high crimes and misdemeanors.In a little over two hours, the House of Representatives impeachment managers, led by Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin, will ceremoniously walk the article of impeachment against Donald Trump across the Capitol to the Senate, ahead of the former president’s trial for high crimes and misdemeanors.
It is a single article, accusing Trump of “incitement of insurrection” because he exhorted the supporters at his rally near the White House on January 6 to “fight” to overturn the election result.It is a single article, accusing Trump of “incitement of insurrection” because he exhorted the supporters at his rally near the White House on January 6 to “fight” to overturn the election result.
But there’s also the Georgia element.But there’s also the Georgia element.
Here are some condensed extracts from the article (my bold), you can read the whole thing here.Here are some condensed extracts from the article (my bold), you can read the whole thing here.
“On January 6, 2021, the House and Senate met at the US Capitol to count the votes of the electoral college. In the months preceding, President Trump repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the results were the product of widespread fraud and should not be accepted or certified by officials.“On January 6, 2021, the House and Senate met at the US Capitol to count the votes of the electoral college. In the months preceding, President Trump repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the results were the product of widespread fraud and should not be accepted or certified by officials.
“Shortly before the joint session, Trump addressed a crowd in Washington, DC. There, he reiterated false claims that ‘we won this election and we won it by a landslide’. He also willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged - and foreseeably resulted in - lawless action at the Capitol, such as: ‘if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country any more.’“Shortly before the joint session, Trump addressed a crowd in Washington, DC. There, he reiterated false claims that ‘we won this election and we won it by a landslide’. He also willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged - and foreseeably resulted in - lawless action at the Capitol, such as: ‘if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country any more.’
“Thus incited by President Trump, members of the crowd he had addressed, in an attempt to interfere with the joint session [of Congress], unlawfully breached and vandalized the Capitol, injured and killed law enforcement personnel, menaced members of Congress, the vice president [Mike Pence] and congressional personnel, and engaged in other violent, deadly, destructive and seditious acts.”“Thus incited by President Trump, members of the crowd he had addressed, in an attempt to interfere with the joint session [of Congress], unlawfully breached and vandalized the Capitol, injured and killed law enforcement personnel, menaced members of Congress, the vice president [Mike Pence] and congressional personnel, and engaged in other violent, deadly, destructive and seditious acts.”
Then it refers back a little before January 6, when it said his conduct followed “prior efforts to subvert and obstruct” the certification of election results, including:Then it refers back a little before January 6, when it said his conduct followed “prior efforts to subvert and obstruct” the certification of election results, including:
“A phone call on January 2 during which President Trump urged the secretary of state of Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, to ‘find’ enough votes to overturn the Georgia presidential election results and threatened Raffensperger if he failed to do so.”“A phone call on January 2 during which President Trump urged the secretary of state of Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, to ‘find’ enough votes to overturn the Georgia presidential election results and threatened Raffensperger if he failed to do so.”
It then goes on to say that “Trump gravely endangered the security of the US...threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power.......he betrayed his trust as president.”It then goes on to say that “Trump gravely endangered the security of the US...threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power.......he betrayed his trust as president.”
The White House press briefings will from now on regularly include an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for what seems to be the first time in history.The White House press briefings will from now on regularly include an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for what seems to be the first time in history.
Jen Psaki, press secretary, announced the change today, noting that an interpreter named Heather was translating the conference virtually in a concurrent livestream.Jen Psaki, press secretary, announced the change today, noting that an interpreter named Heather was translating the conference virtually in a concurrent livestream.
“The president is committed to building an America that is more inclusive, more just and more accessible for every American,” she said.“The president is committed to building an America that is more inclusive, more just and more accessible for every American,” she said.
About one million Americans use ASL as their primary language of communication.About one million Americans use ASL as their primary language of communication.
Without access to the language and interpreters, many deaf people suffer job discrimination or underemployment.Without access to the language and interpreters, many deaf people suffer job discrimination or underemployment.
The Trump administration had been sued over the lack of accessibility of its press conferences, as NPR pointed out.The Trump administration had been sued over the lack of accessibility of its press conferences, as NPR pointed out.
A judge had required the press briefings to include sign language at coronavirus briefings last September.Biden’s inauguration ceremony, meanwhile, included a sign language interpreter and such interpretation was seen on his presidential campaign trail last year.A judge had required the press briefings to include sign language at coronavirus briefings last September.Biden’s inauguration ceremony, meanwhile, included a sign language interpreter and such interpretation was seen on his presidential campaign trail last year.
A New Jersey Democrat is calling on Joe Biden to fire top officials at the US Postal Service over what he called “their silence and complicity” in attempts by Donald Trump to undermine the electoral process back in the late summer, the Hill reports.A New Jersey Democrat is calling on Joe Biden to fire top officials at the US Postal Service over what he called “their silence and complicity” in attempts by Donald Trump to undermine the electoral process back in the late summer, the Hill reports.
“Today I am calling on President Biden to fire the entire Postal Board of Governors for their silence and complicity in trump and dejoy’s attempts to subvert the election and destroy the Post Office,” Representative Bill Pascrell tweeted, referring to postmaster general Louis DeJoy.“Today I am calling on President Biden to fire the entire Postal Board of Governors for their silence and complicity in trump and dejoy’s attempts to subvert the election and destroy the Post Office,” Representative Bill Pascrell tweeted, referring to postmaster general Louis DeJoy.
The tweet accompanied a letter from Pascrell, a fierce Trump critic, to Biden saying the Postal Service’s Board of Governors “sat silent” while DeJoy implemented “efforts to dismantle mail sorting machines, cut overtime, restrict deliveries, and remove mailboxes,” which he noted the Postal Service inspector general had blamed for reductions in both the timeliness and quality of the nation’s mail delivery service.The tweet accompanied a letter from Pascrell, a fierce Trump critic, to Biden saying the Postal Service’s Board of Governors “sat silent” while DeJoy implemented “efforts to dismantle mail sorting machines, cut overtime, restrict deliveries, and remove mailboxes,” which he noted the Postal Service inspector general had blamed for reductions in both the timeliness and quality of the nation’s mail delivery service.
“If we wear masks between now and the end of April we can save 50,000 lives,” Biden said about curbing the spread of coronavirus, just now at the White House.“If we wear masks between now and the end of April we can save 50,000 lives,” Biden said about curbing the spread of coronavirus, just now at the White House.
The president said the government is racing towards its initial goal to get a million Americans vaccinated per day and would like to increase to getting 1.5m shots into arms across the US daily.The president said the government is racing towards its initial goal to get a million Americans vaccinated per day and would like to increase to getting 1.5m shots into arms across the US daily.
Jonathan Reiner, professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences thinks the vaccinations could and should double from one to two million shots administered every day.Jonathan Reiner, professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences thinks the vaccinations could and should double from one to two million shots administered every day.
The White House event with the president has just ended.The White House event with the president has just ended.
Joe Biden is still talking at the White House, now taking press questions. He has complained that the division in government has actually led to less heated discussion on Capitol Hill, not more - at least in terms of lawmakers talking to each other across the aisle.Joe Biden is still talking at the White House, now taking press questions. He has complained that the division in government has actually led to less heated discussion on Capitol Hill, not more - at least in terms of lawmakers talking to each other across the aisle.
“There were very few debates on the Senate floor last year on any issue”, Biden said, turning to his vice president, Kamala Harris, standing close by, for affirmation.“There were very few debates on the Senate floor last year on any issue”, Biden said, turning to his vice president, Kamala Harris, standing close by, for affirmation.
Harris, who until she became veep was a Democratic Senator for California, nodded in agreement.Harris, who until she became veep was a Democratic Senator for California, nodded in agreement.
Biden continued: “I’m optimistic that. It may take some time, but if we treat each other with respect...we are going to argue like hell, but I think we can do it in a way where we can get things done for the American people.”Biden continued: “I’m optimistic that. It may take some time, but if we treat each other with respect...we are going to argue like hell, but I think we can do it in a way where we can get things done for the American people.”
“The middle class built this country and the unions built the middle class, so let’s invest in them again,” US president Joe Biden just said.“The middle class built this country and the unions built the middle class, so let’s invest in them again,” US president Joe Biden just said.
He’s now signing an executive order to push the government to buy American. Now he’s going to Q&A from the press.He’s now signing an executive order to push the government to buy American. Now he’s going to Q&A from the press.
The first question concerns Chicago teachers who are refusing to return to in-person teaching in the classroom because they are at risk from coronavirus, while the vaccination program is behind.The first question concerns Chicago teachers who are refusing to return to in-person teaching in the classroom because they are at risk from coronavirus, while the vaccination program is behind.
Biden said: “We should make our school classrooms safe and secure” for teachers and children. He wants better ventilation, better sanitization, more testing, plastic dividers between desks and some other measures.Biden said: “We should make our school classrooms safe and secure” for teachers and children. He wants better ventilation, better sanitization, more testing, plastic dividers between desks and some other measures.
“They just want to work in a safe environment, and we can do that, and we should be able to open up these schools if we do this,” Biden said.“They just want to work in a safe environment, and we can do that, and we should be able to open up these schools if we do this,” Biden said.
The president is creating a new role in the White House Office of Management and Budget, the director of Made in America, to oversee the administration’s efforts to maximize the US government buying American when it spends money.
One of the jobs will be to stop federal agencies waiving rules on the government buying American made goods “with impunity”, Biden just said.
The US government is the world’s biggest single buyer of goods and services. Biden just said, for example, that the government is a huge purchaser of vehicles and he wants those vehicles to become electric vehicles that are made in the US.
Joe Biden is back in front of the cameras at the White House, this time to promote his Made in America initiative to, according to officials, harness the purchasing power of the US government, the world’s biggest single buyer of goods and services, to strengthen domestic manufacturing and union jobs and create markets for new technologies.
Biden will sign an executive order aimed at closing loopholes in existing “Buy American” provisions.
Here’s some more detail and context on the Justice Department’s internal watchdog launching an investigation on whether current or former department officials made an “improper attempt” to seek to alter the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The announcement by Inspector General Michael Horowitz came after the New York Times first reported that Jeffrey Clark, then the department’s acting assistant attorney general for the Civil Division, had plotted with Donald Trump in a failed attempt to oust then-Attorney General Jeff Rosen so that he could launch a probe of alleged voter fraud in Georgia.
Clark, Reuters reports this afternoon, was sympathetic to Trump’s so-called “Stop the Steal” campaign to overturn his defeat by Joe Biden.
Clark met with Congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania to discuss a plan to have the department launch election fraud investigations to help achieve Trump’s goal of overturning Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Perry has since confirmed that he introduced Clark to Trump.
“Throughout the past four years, I worked with Assistant Attorney General Clark on various legislative matters. When President Trump asked if I would make an introduction, I obliged,” Perry said in a statement.
The plan to oust Rosen and replace him with Clark so that the department could pursue investigations of Trump’s baseless voter fraud claims collapsed after senior department leaders pledged to resign in protest, current and former Justice Department officials told Reuters.
The reports about Clark and Trump’s failed plan “raise deeply troubling questions regarding the Justice Department’s role in Trump’s scheme to overturn the election,” wrote nine Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
According to current and former officials, Clark tried to pressure Rosen and former acting Deputy Attorney General Rich Donoghue to hold a press conference to announce they were pursuing allegations of election fraud. They said he also advocated for them to send a letter he had penned to Georgia state officials announcing they were launching a probe.Rosen and Donoghue rejected both requests.
Clark has left the Justice Department and has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Tim Ryan, who briefly ran for the Democratic nomination for president in the 2020 election, says he’s “looking seriously” at running for Senate in 2022 to represent Ohio, after Republican Senator announced his retirement earlier today.
Ryan ran as a moderate in the Democratic primary contest. The congressman was always a long-shot. When he ended his campaign in the fall of 2019, he said:
“I got into this race in April to really give voice to the forgotten people of our country: the workers who have been left behind, the businesses who have been left behind, the people who need health care or aren’t getting a quality education, or are saddled by tremendous debt.”
“I’m proud of this campaign because I believe we’ve done that. We’ve given voice to the forgotten communities and the forgotten people in the United States.”
Joe Biden came from behind to win the nomination and then the presidency in November 2020. Rob Portman announced earlier today that he won’t run for re-election.
More on the venerable Patrick Leahy, Democratic Senator from Vermont, on his upcoming role presiding over the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump.
A quick reminder of the timeline. The article of impeachment (charge against Donald Trump of incitement to insurrection) will be delivered from the House of Representatives across the halls of Congress to the Senate this evening.
Senators will be sworn tomorrow in as jurors. Then there’s a pause in the proceedings and the trial begins on Monday February 8. It’s not known yet how long the trial is expected to last, but it should be pretty swift, perhaps wrapping up that same week.
Here’s my colleague Lauren Gambino:
Another flashback to January 6 and the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol by pro-Trump supporters egged on by the-then president.
Just watched the video that George Conway tweeted. The footage is pretty brutal in reference to Mike Pence.
More on Harriet Tubman.
The redesigned $20 bill was initially due to be unveiled last year, but those efforts were halted by the Treasury after the former president, Donald Trump, called them an example of “pure political correctness”, whatever the heck that means in this context.
Here’s a depiction of what the new bill could look like.
As a presidential candidate, Trump suggested Tubman would be better-suited for the $2 bill, a note that is not widely circulated, Reuters further reports.
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers in May 2019 that he was focused on redesigning the bills to address counterfeiting issues, not making any changes to their imagery.
Tubman, who was born into slavery and grew up on a Maryland plantation before escaping in her late 20s, would replace Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, on the front of the $20 bill.
Tubman returned to the South many times to help hundreds of slaves to freedom and later worked as a Union spy during the Civil War. She died in 1913.
There have been no women depicted on US bills since former first lady Martha Washington, who was featured on the $1 silver certificate from 1891 to 1896, and Native American woman Pocahontas, who was included in a group image on the $20 bill from 1865 to 1869.
Other women, including Native American interpreter Sacagawea, suffragist Susan B. Anthony and author and activist Helen Keller have been featured on coins, Reuters reminds us.
In the redesign announced in 2016, Andrew Jackson would have remained on the back of the $20 bill.
Treasury officials had no immediate comment.
Jen Psaki’s White House briefing having wrapped up, and indeed former press secretary Sarah Sanders having confirmed her run for governor in Arkansas earlier today, it seems as apposite a time as any to check in with the Washington Post’s fact checkers, who have released their final count of Donald Trump’s lies in office, whether from the White House podium, from stages at rallies or, who knows, in tweets sent from the bath:
So writes Glenn Kessler in a valedictory post, released late on Friday night, that is of course well worth reading.
Psaki’s briefings have started smoothly, the experienced press secretary riffling through her binder, stating the administration’s position, deflecting if caught off guard and, today, complimenting one reporter’s mask. Psaki also announced the return of regular Covid briefings, a practice which fell victim to Trump’s extraordinary appetite for untruth.
Nor were reporters subjected to attacks from the podium as they were under Sanders. Her campaign announcement, inevitably, included an attack on the media:
Here’s more on South Africa and coronavirus travel restrictions in relation to the US.
The White House confirmed Joe Biden is signing an order today imposing a ban on most non-US citizens entering the country who have recently been in South Africa, starting on Saturday.
Spokeswoman Jen Psaki also confirmed Biden will re-impose an entry ban on nearly all non-US-citizen travelers who have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders - a ban that was set to expire tomorrow.
“With the pandemic worsening and more contagious variants spreading, this isn’t the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel,” Psaki said at a news briefing, Reuters reports.
The briefing is just about to wrap up.
The Treasury Department is taking steps to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, as was planned in the Obama administration.
Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist and political activist who as a young age escaped slavery herself and subsequently made incredibly dangerous missions back to slaveholders’ estates to rescue enslaved people, using the network of activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.
Barack Obama decided that Tubman should replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, leading to celebrations that an escaped slave would be honored over a slaveowner president, as the Guardian put it at the time, 2016.
Donald Trump, who placed a portrait of “bloody, bloody” Andrew Jackson, murderous enemy of Native Americans, prominently in the Oval Office, squished that plan. Now it looks like Joe Biden has revived it (as well as replacing the Jackson portrait in the Oval with one of Benjamin Franklin).
Obama at one point nicknamed what he hoped would be the forthcoming new $20 bills as “Tubmans”.
As my colleague Amanda Holpuch wrote:
Among 200-year-old facts that will be new to many is that Tubman was the first woman in US history to plan and lead an armed expedition, liberating nearly 750 enslaved men and women in the process.
She also fought for decades to gain compensation for her work as a spy, scout and nurse during the US civil war and was an advocate for both women’s suffrage and proper care of the elderly.