Militias Tied to Capitol Riot Discussed State of the Union Attack, Acting Capitol Police Chief Says
On 2/25/21 at 12:55 PM EST
Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said Thursday that the militia groups connected to the January 6 Capitol riot discussed plans for a similar attack during the State of the Union address.
Testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee, Pittman said, We know that the insurrectionists that attacked the Capitol weren t only interested in attacking members of Congress and officers. They wanted to send a symbolic message to the nation as [to] who was in charge of that legislative process.
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Fact Check: Is Biden Required to Give the SOTU Address in Person in His Inaugural Year?
On 2/25/21 at 4:23 PM EST
The Claim
Some users claimed that President Biden should have given a State of the Union address already.
The President is Constitutionally-mandated to give a State of the Union address which has been Jan/Feb since 1934 by invitation of the Speaker of the House.
This year’s #SOTU has been listed as TBD.
Can we get an update @SpeakerPelosi?
Asking on behalf of the Constitution. Tricia Flanagan (R-NJ) (@NewDayForNJ) February 24, 2021
The Facts
Since Ronald Reagan, presidents have delivered an Address Before a Joint Session of Congress, in the first year of their first term, usually with a focus on administration goals. No president has given a speech in his first year with the official title State of the Union since 1964, when Lyndon Johnson was in his first full year as president following the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
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The calls for civility within the GOP are being wiped away after Donald Trump attacked Mitch McConnell as a “dour, sullen, unsmiling political hack.”
More on that in a minute. But first.
SCOOP:
The House Democratic campaign arm’s plan to label the GOP as the GQP the party of QAnon is getting some pushback. Not all Democrats agree with this broad attack, with multiple Democrats telling your Huddle host a few Republicans are being unfairly targeted.
By Ryan Shepard
Jan 29, 2021
The fallout from the Capitol Hill riots will likely bleed into February. In an effort to increase protection for federal buildings and lawmakers, Acting Capitol Police Chief
Yogananda D. Pittman has proposed putting up permanent fencing around the United States Capitol. In addition to fencing, Pittman has also proposed having additional law enforcement at the Capitol. We all have the same goal to prevent what occurred on January 6 from ever happening again, Pittman said. In light of recent events, I can unequivocally say that vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made.
Seven-foot fencing was placed outside the Capitol following the Capitol Hill Riots on January 6. However, it is only intended to be kept up for 30 days. While lawmakers in Washington, D.C. do not appear opposed to additional law enforcement, they do not appear in favor of permanent barriers between the residents of the city and the lawmakers in the