My1sttoday: Trump on Wednesday release a video hours after he was impeached in which he condemned the violence of his supporters a week after a mob fueled by conspiracy theories over the election attacked the Capitol as lawmakers were counting the Electoral College results. Trump denounces Capitol violence in video after being impeached.
The video came hours after the House voted to make Trump the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, and as Trump faces both legal threats and the possibility of a Senate conviction for his actions related to last week’s insurrection.
Trump, in a five-minute, pre-recorded video address from the Oval Office, made no mention of the impeachment charge that he incited the violence, but said he “unequivocally” condemned the mayhem at the Capitol.
“Mob violence goes against everything I believe in and everything our movement stands for. No true supporter of mine could truly endorse political violence,” Trump said.
“No true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement or our great American flag. No true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their fellow Americans. If you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement. You are attacking it and you are attacking our country.”
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 13, 2021
A Capitol Police officer was killed in last week’s violence, and video and firsthand accounts have since emerged of the mob assaulting police, breaking down doors and shattering windows and carrying zip ties, as well as chanting “Hang Mike Pence.” Dozens have been arrested in connection with the chaos.
Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that some individuals complicit in the riots may face sedition and conspiracy charges.