- [Paul] Demands for thepresident to resign have mounted,
even as a growing numberof US House Democrats,
some 200, according to media accounts,
say they'd impeach the president.
One very notable call for his resignation
came from a Wall Street Journal editorial.
"If Mr. Trump wants toavoid a second impeachment,
his best path would be
to take personalresponsibility and resign."
It adds, "This might alsostem the flood of White House
and cabinet resignationsthat are understandable
as acts of conscience."
And the number of thoseresignations has also been growing.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos
and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao
have now stepped down in protest.
They join several others, including former
Acting White House Chiefof Staff, Mick Mulvaney.
Now Special Envoy to Northern Ireland,
he told CNBC Thursday, "I can't do it.
I can't stay."
- It's a small job.
It's a part-time gig,
but it's all I've gotin the administration.
I called Mike Pompeo lastnight to let him know,
tell him I'd be resigning from that.
And I wouldn't be surprised
to see more of my friends resign.
- [Paul] And the deathtoll from Wednesday's riots
grew again when Capitol HillPolice Officer Brian Sicknick
died Thursday night after being injured
during confrontations with protestors.
His death will beinvestigated as a homicide.
Sicknick's death came as the fallout grows
among Capitol Hill security officials
from the violent takeoverof the Capitol building
by what some are callingdomestic terrorists.
The Chief of the CapitolPolice has agreed to resign
before President-elect Joe Biden's
January 20th inauguration.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
says the Senate Sergeantat Arms has stepped down,
and Speaker Nancy Pelosi says
the House Sergeant atArms will also resign.
Meanwhile, former AttorneyGeneral William Barr
is blasting the president,telling the Associated Press
Trump's conduct Wednesday was
a "betrayal of his office and supporters."
Barr added, "Orchestrating a mob
to pressure Congress is inexcusable."
And some have taken another tactic,
calling for top White House officials
to use the 25th Amendment to oust Trump.
- It's time to invoke the 25th Amendment
and to end this nightmare.
- [Paul] But that move'san unlikely long shot
with Vice President MikePence reportedly opposed.
Amidst all this, PresidentTrump put out a video Thursday
night, finally calling for asmooth transition of power.
He also condemned the protesters
who took over the Capitol building.
- Like all Americans, I amoutraged by the violence,
lawlessness and mayhem.
A new administration will beinaugurated on January 20th.
My focus now turns toensuring a smooth, orderly,
and seamless transition of power.
This moment calls forhealing and reconciliation.
- Despite the president'sremarks, the damage has been done.
Now the question is in years ahead,
what impact will the Capitol chaos have
on Trump, Republicans,and the country itself?
Paul Strand, CBN News, Washington.
