Gov. Tim Walz criticized Republican legislative leaders Monday for not taking a strong enough stand against the political violence in Washington and recent threats made in Minnesota. Republican leaders have compared the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol last week to protests here after the police killing of George Floyd. Gov. Walz on protests leading to evacuation of his son from the governor's mansionWalz remains upset about the assault on the Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.
The president incited his supporters to storm the building, Walz said, noting during a legislative preview event that a rally in St. Paul the same day included people making threats against him and his family.
“That language of taking the governor and his family prisoner and there may be casualties resulted for the first time the State Patrol entering the living quarters and removing my 14-year-old son to a safe location, as he’s crying looking for his dog, wondering what’s going on,” Walz said Monday.
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, said during the Monday event that he condemns all rhetoric that threatens violence. Comparing the recent events to the protests last summer against racial injustice, he said both sides need to tone down their rhetoric. [Read More]
State Capitols brace for violent protests “Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the U.S. Capitol from 17 January through 20 January,” the bulletin said, according to one official. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. [Read More]
House to vote on 25th Amendment resolution against Trump The House of Representatives is expected to debate and vote Tuesday on a measure calling on Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to declare President Trump incapable of executing his duties.
If the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet agree, Pence could assume the powers of the presidency.
The resolution calls on Pence to take these steps, referencing Trump's attempts to intervene in the vote counting of the Nov. 3 election, including his call to Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, as well as his inciting language to supporters at a rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 ahead of the siege at the Capitol building.
"While violent insurrectionists occupied parts of the Capitol, President Trump ignored or rejected repeated real-time entreaties from Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to appeal to his followers to exit the Capitol," states the measure, submitted by Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin. [Read More]
What to watch for among Republicans: Reps. "Cheney v McCarthy will be a fight to watch re the direction of the party going forward." via Maggie Haberman, NYTimes
