Have NEVER seen this on Capitol Hill:
While talking to
@RepTimBurchett
after the GOP conference meeting, former
@SpeakerMcCarthy
walked by with his detail and McCarthy shoved Burchett. Burchett lunged towards me. I thought it was a joke, it was not. And a chase ensued...
Burchett's back was to McCarthy and his detail walking by in the hallway, then the lunge.
Burchett responded jokingly as McCarthy kept walking, "Sorry Kevin didn't mean to elbow --" then seriously yelled, "why'd you elbow me in the back Kevin?! Hey Kevin, you got any guts!?"
Burchett then looked back at me and said, "jerk" referring to McCarthy. I asked if he had done that before, Burchett said "no."
That's when the chase ensued. Burchett took off after McCarthy and his detail. I chased behind with my mic.
@RepTimBurchett
yelled after catching up to McCarthy, "Hey Kevin, why'd you walk behind me and elbow me in the back?"
KM: "I didn't elbow you in the back."
Burchett: "You got no guts, you did so, ...the reporter said it right there, what kind of chicken move is that..."
Burchett con't: "You got no guts, you did so, ...the reporter said it right there, what kind of chicken move is that? You're pathetic man, you are so pathetic."
Burchett starts to walk away from McCarthy, tells me, "What a jerk," and then yells back, "You need security Kevin!"
Burchett reiterates he hasn't talked to McCarthy since he voted against him.
"No, no that was it. That's it. He's got $17 million to work against me. And he's just a -- he should have kept his word. I think that just showed what he's about and it's unfortunate."
Burchett tells me that's the first point of "communication" with McCarthy since Burchett voted for McCarthy's ouster as speaker last month:
"That's just it" for communication since ouster vote, "He's just a jerk. He's just a childish little..."
Burchett adds, "did you just see that?" he asks in disbelief. I'm stunned, too.
Says he won't follow up with McCarthy on what happened, "he's on a downhill spiral... he just, that was pretty gutless of him. I'm disappointed in his, in him."
Confirming this
@politico
story, just spoke to Gladys Sicknick briefly and she said the meetings are not set yet, but she's looking to meet with members. When asked why she's pushing for the commission, she said, "Because my son is dead, and I want to know why."
SCOOP: The mother of fallen Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick is requesting meetings with every single GOP senator to push them to support a proposed Jan. 6 commission.
the latest >>
Oh my. On a flight, I just turned in my window seat to the right, touching my right armrest and see this. I almost touched it. I have lost my breath. Send thoughts and prayers. This is going to be one hella awkward convo with my neighbor.
NEW: NPR has learned that after tonight’s public meeting, the Jan. 6 panel will meet privately and Chair
@BennieGThompson
will recommend the committee seek Ginni Thomas’s cooperation with probe. This comes after her texts to former Trump CoS Mark Meadows were revealed.
Rep. Bennie Thompson tells NPR the Jan. 6 panel will request former VP Mike Pence to appear before the committee this month.
"I think you could expect that before the month's out," he said.
He’s also not ruling out an ask for Ivanka Trump, too. More:
Sen.
@lisamurkowski
on Woodward reports: “Some of the things I find quite surprising and quite concerning... I haven’t had an opportunity to read these full interviews but some of the press snippets have been certainly very, very, very concerning.”
Per sources, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund has submitted his resignation effective Jan. 16. Letter below.
@SpeakerPelosi
called for his removal earlier today.
Have NEVER seen this on Capitol Hill:
While talking to
@RepTimBurchett
after the GOP conference meeting, former
@SpeakerMcCarthy
walked by with his detail and McCarthy shoved Burchett. Burchett lunged towards me. I thought it was a joke, it was not. And a chase ensued...
NEW: Jan. 6 panel asks GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Ga. to voluntarily provide info regarding a tour he led through parts of Capitol complex on Jan. 5, 2021. House Rs have claimed there were no such tours, but panel's "review of evidence directly contradicts
that denial."
Personal news: I will be joining
@NPR
as a Congressional Correspondent! I’m thrilled to be joining an incredible team on the Hill and in journalism. It’s hard to leave Stripes, but looking forward to working for such a revered name in the business!
I say, anonymous toe, maybe, maybe, like that John Lennon song, we can live in harmony (but only for 5 minutes, max).
Coming home to DC makes up for all of it. And I’ve matured as a human being during this flight. Thanks for coming along!
I’m also super impressed the toe stayed long enough to pose for a pic.
But also, a reminder to people of the world, if you can, pedis can be wonderful! Also medical care if it’s more serious.
The toe hasn’t returned. But it’s like a horror film worrying it will.
I’ve since ordered a drink. This could help with toe watch. And cookies.
But I’m also worried I’m suffering from olfactory hallucinations. I swear I can smell it.
This is not helpful for my cookies.
So again, please send thoughts and prayers.
U.S. Capitol Police union issues searing statement calling for removal of top leaders. “Until we have a leadership team at USCP that is willing to work hand in hand with the Union and our Officers as one team, we will continue to have systemic failures.”
Senior aides for the House impeachment manager's team told reporters they'll present new evidence during the Senate trial today, including Capitol security camera footage that hasn't been seen before. Added there will be other new evidence today, but didn't elaborate further.
Omg you guys it came back!!! Just before landing, no wifi, and we were all alone.
But after my free drink, I’ve made peace with the toe. And thought, anonymous toe, you’ve earned this moment.
It had a few poses this time.
Dr. Fauci in a pre-recorded Monday
@CNN
interview to
@brianstelter
on if he’s sometimes muzzled by the White House: “It’s a mixed bag Brian. It’s erratic. Sometimes they let me out on some of the big shows, and then I can go multiple, multiple requests and they’re not granted.”
Per Dem aide on cxld all-member Syria/Turkey briefing: No credible justification given for cancellation/delay. WH said they will not be able to provide officials for House briefing, yet they are sending
@EsperDoD
@thejointstaff
Chair to
@SASCMajority
closed meeting tomorrow.
Okay, drink is chugged (with cookies). Olfactory hallucinations have dissipated. Toe has not re-emerged and we’re on track to land soon.
I may live to tell from this traumatic experience.
Also, airline hasn’t charged me for my drink? Maybe they knew!!! Thank you Delta!!!!
President Trump plans to give an address on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during Fourth of July celebrations. Critics say that’ll disrupt the traditionally non-partisan nature of the event. 🔊
U.S. Capitol Police say Officer Brian Sicknick, a 12-year veteran of the agency, died tonight from injuries sustained during Wednesday’s attack on the Capitol. With four civilians who were also killed, it brings the total dead following the violent clash to five.
Rep. Liz Cheney told me ahead of vote to censure Rep. Gosar: “There is no place in our political discourse for espousing violence and glorifying violence against a colleague. …It's very clear that in this atmosphere in which we are all operating, that is clearly untenable.”
Great
@mkraju
follow up here, Burchett describes as "clean shot to the kidneys" but says no plans to pursue an ethics complaint. He notes it happened from behind, and admits it hurt, "if you've ever been hit in the kidneys ...you don't have to hit very hard to cause... pain."
News -- Rep. Tim Burchett accuses Kevin McCarthy of a "sucker punch" to the kidneys and describes heated scene as he chased the former speaker down the hallway.
Said he's the type of the guy who as a kid would "hide behind his mama's skirt."
McCarthy denies it was intentional
On MSNBC, Rep.
@ElaineLuriaVA
signals that Jared Kushner appearance before the Jan. 6 panel today has been helpful:
"He was able to voluntarily provide information to us to verify, substantiate, provide his own take on this different reporting, so it was really valuable."
.
@MeghanMcCain
: ‘The America of John McCain was generous, and welcoming, and bold. She is resourceful and confident and secure... She speaks quietly because she is strong... the America of John McCain has never needed to be great again, because America is always great.’
U.S. Capitol Police union issues searing statement calling for removal of top leaders. “Until we have a leadership team at USCP that is willing to work hand in hand with the Union and our Officers as one team, we will continue to have systemic failures.”
NEW: Jan. 6 panel Chairman
@BennieGThompson
tells me Donald Trump Jr. is expected to appear but timing uncertain,” Don’t know,” he said.
Also timing for hearings has slid again, now set for June & June ONLY.
Also, panel will AGAIN ask
@GOPLeader
McCarthy to voluntarily appear.
🚨 BREAKING: In an unprecedented move, Jan. 6 panel SUBPOENAS FIVE House Republicans, inc. GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy plus:
Rep. Jim Jordan
Rep. Scott Perry
Rep. Andy Biggs
Rep. Mo Brooks
All refused voluntarily Jan. 6 testimony.
This escalates panel war with House Rs. More:
Marianna was the first reporter I saw after the confrontation went down --- it started in a hallway facing the conference meeting room in HC-5 -- and we ended up in the Cannon tunnel at the end. McCarthy did not appear to stop or pause as he continued towards the tunnel.
"This place is a pressure cooker," Speaker Johnson said about members being in session for 10 weeks straight.
No moment captured the roiling tensions more than minutes before when Rep. Burchett confronted McCarthy: "you're so pathetic." What we witnessed:
End of this clip is quite something. Ex-Trump WH Attorney Eric Herschmann says he told John Eastman his best free legal advice he’d ever get in his life was to “get a great f’in criminal defense lawyer, you’re gonna need it.”
Major victory for
@SenGillibrand
’s years long fight to reform the military justice system. Her bill to force felony crimes, including sexual assault and more, to special prosecutors, is in the final version of defense bill approved by SASC committee tonight, per an aide familiar.
My coworker is really cramping my style today and not letting me focus on work or the view of the snow outside. I may have to report her to HR if this continues.
At closing of a Q&A with audience,
@SenDuckworth
was asked why she didn’t end today’s speech with declaration she’s running for President. ‘I want to spend a long time in the Senate representing my state. I think there’s a lot good work to be done and it’s an incredible job.’
The first sitting member Congress, Texas
@RepRonWright
, has died after receiving a covid diagnosis more than 3 weeks ago. An aide told me last week he wasn’t ready to share a health update for the member yet on his extended isolation. Wright also missed votes for several weeks.
The Capitol is blanketed today with new layers of security, including hundreds of members of the National Guard. Some sleeping from overnight stays, others up and about. I walked three in search of food to the Senate subway to get to the right spot to get fed. I hope.
Sen. Mazie Hirono says no debt ceiling via reconciliation, says Rs would "sabotage" w/100s of amendments: "They are probably just licking their lips at the prospect of screwing everybody over, they're good at that." And says Senate should vote on debt limit "every single day."
Marianna was with McCarthy when the confrontation went down and as Burchett caught back up to him. Listening back to tape, I can hear McCarthy chuckle when he's confronted about the shove, and denying it.
"This place is a pressure cooker," Speaker Johnson said about members being in session for 10 weeks straight.
No moment captured the roiling tensions more than minutes before when Rep. Burchett confronted McCarthy: "you're so pathetic." What we witnessed:
.
@SpeakerPelosi
also makes it official, sharing invitation letter on behalf of bipartisan Congressional leaders inviting Zelenskyy to address a joint session today.
On my way to the US to strengthen resilience and defense capabilities of 🇺🇦. In particular,
@POTUS
and I will discuss cooperation between 🇺🇦 and 🇺🇸. I will also have a speech at the Congress and a number of bilateral meetings.
Thompson also told reporters that the panel wrapped up a one-day retreat on hearings plans, new witnesses, with plans now to hold hearings in June and "we hope to complete the hearings in June."
"It was very fruitful," he said.
Who is Democrat Mary Peltola, who beat Sarah Palin’s hopes of winning a special U.S. House election after a Trump endorsement? Listen to this fabulous piece by Alaska politics pro
@lruskin
who previewed the potential for Peltola’s historic win here:
Alaska’s next congresswoman, Mary Peltola. she says she’s proud to be the 1st Alaska Native in Congress but plans to rep The whole state. “I’m more than my ethnicity
On Squawk Box,
@jimcramer
says
@SpeakerPelosi
could urge GOP in talks to remember the late John Lewis, needs for minorities, disenfranchised.
Pelosi: "Perhaps you have mistook them for somebody who gives a damn for what you just described.” Sounds like Cramer responds “Oh, Jeez.”
This is very tough news, as
@lourdesgnavarro
has been an incredible inspiration, wonderful influence and I’m having a very difficult time imagining
@NPR
without her. That said, I’ll be so excited for your next adventure and rooting for you — every step of the way.
In 2004, I joined
@NPR
as Mexico City correspondent and I have been so lucky to have been given so many opportunities by this amazing organization. Yes, I've covered calamities and conflicts, but also the explosions of joy and incandescent bravery that mark the human spirit..
Former Trump White House Counsel Pat Cipollone takes a break more than an hour into closed door testimony before the Jan. 6 committee at the O’Neill House Office Building. He’s appearing under subpoena for the formal interview after an informal meeting with panel in April.
NEW: After failing to show for a deposition today, the Jan. 6 panel will move forward with proceedings to refer former strategist Steve Bannon for criminal contempt. Story TK.
Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund told me he believes pipe bombs at RNC, DNC may have been planned to pull police attention away from insurrection: "I think that's all part of the concerted and coordinated efforts that led to the violent attack."
In my final project
@starsandstripes
, I wrote about the “atomic vets.” This time last year, I didn’t know who they were. This is the culmination of a nearly yearlong odyssey documenting their stories and sacrifices. Here’s part 1 of a 3-part series.
.
@RepDarrenSoto
spokeswoman confirms Alejandra Juarez boarded her flight from
@MCO
to
@ATLairport
and has promised U.S. officials she will board her connecting flight to Mexico. The flight is slated to arrive in Atlanta at 10:34 a.m.
Thompson also said there's no longer a need to issue an interim report this summer followed by a final this Fall. Rather, "the progress is at a better pace then we anticipated, so in all probability the goal is to produce one (final) report now" in early Fall.
Sen. Murkowski on Nov. presidential vote (previously said she was struggling to vote for Trump): “I’m not spending a lot of time or focus on the presidential right now, what I’m trying to do is make sure that we’ve got a good, strong majority here in the Senate.”
Service at 10A ET for the late Roberta McCain, who died last month at the age of 108. The mother of the late Sen. John McCain once told me “I married into the military and I loved it. I loved it every day.”
Today we say goodbye to a fierce woman, a mother, a maverick and a larger than life influence on all of us. Please join us at 10am ET to remember and celebrate the remarkable life of Roberta McCain
NEW: The Jan. 6 select committee has broadened its probe with a sweeping new list of record demands for eight federal agencies, with a direct aim at ex-Trump officials.
NEW: Jan. 6 panel issues letters for new voluntary asks for testimony from three new Republican House members:
Andy Biggs of Arizona
Mo Brooks of Alabama
Ronny Jackson of Texas
This follows Chair Thompson hints last week that new asks would be coming soon.
Former Sen.
@JeffFlake
told me after walking in, "It's painful to see the whole city shut down" and there lots of work to do for Republican party to be "relevant" and a "rational party" again.
NEW: Jan. 6 panel chairman Bennie Thompson tells me clock is slipping on panel to present findings in public hearings. Recently, he hoped to hold in April, but now unlikely:
"In reality, more like May, just because we have an inordinate amount of depositions to get through."
Spotted: famed photographer
@annieleibovitz
leaving
@SpeakerPelosi
’s office. She tells me she’s shooting her for a Fall issue of
@VanityFair
. (Ironically, this is a terrible, blurry pic of Leibovitz.)
The aides said they will also focus on former President Donald Trump's lack of remorse in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol in this final day of opening statements.
@JuddLegum
I went into it not knowing how long it would take, and freaked a tad 2 hours in, BUT can we all just agree that Robert De Niro is a gift to humankind and we won’t EVER see anyone the likes of him ever again? So it’s worth it. Oh, also Al Pacino and Joe Pesci are killer, too.
Since she began this morning, Ginni Thomas has testified for several hours behind closed doors before the Jan. 6 panel. She returned to the room from a a break moments ago, seen smiling at times as she walked with her legal team. She’s declined to respond to reporter questions.
Thompson also recapped recent testimony by Kimberly Guilfoyle and ex-Trump WH aide Stephen Miller: Miller was "not really" combative, Guilfoyle didn't invoke any privileges.
Thompson said it remains to be seen how valuable their testimony was, whether they covered new ground.
At start of Jan. 6 select panel meeting to hold Mark Meadows in contempt, Chair
@BennieGThompson
notes about a dozen witnesses are expected to appear this week, for total of 300 who have cooperated so far, plus more than 30k documents and nearly 250 tips.
U.S. Capitol Police union issues support for S.C.
@SenatorTimScott
&
@RepRalphNorman
plan for late officer Brian Sicknick to lie in honor at the Capitol before his internment at
@ArlingtonNatl
on Feb. 3. Sicknick died from injuries suffered in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Combat veteran
@SenDuckworth
in briefing on military at the National Press Building recounts day she was shot down as Black Hawk helicopter pilot. ‘I probably should have died that day...the only reason I didn’t bleed out was the heroism’ of soldiers around her.
So let me get this straight, tonight Twitter permanently shuts down
@realDonaldTrump
, so then he seizes on the
@POTUS
account and gets frozen out there THEN he goes for
@TeamTrump
to tweet and now that account is suspended? I can hardly keep up.
She also speaks against
@realDonaldTrump
efforts to ban transgenders from serving, and other concerns of discrimination, saying it didn’t matter who saved her the day her life hung in the balance, ‘all I remember is they did not leave me behind.’
Murkowski said she's focused on retaining Senate's GOP majority, "so that whoever is the president, whether it continues to be President Trump, or whether it is a President Biden, that we are able to advance an agenda that works not only for my state, but the broader country."
.
@senatemajldr
congratulates Biden win: “The electoral college has spoken. So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden. The president-elect is no stranger to the Senate. He’s devoted himself to public service for many years."
A senior aide said they expect to put on a devastating case today: "You should expect a compelling presentation from manager after manager, like a trial, the case will build. ...Each piece building on the other, the beginning, a middle and an end and today will be the beginning."
Jan. 6 panel chair
@BennieGThompson
& vice chair
@RepLizCheney
: Public reports, witness accounts indicate some individuals, groups engaged in efforts to gather information about layout of U.S. Capitol, and House and Senate office buildings, before the siege.
Thomas, spouse of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, sent 29 texts to Meadows in after 2020 election and now in possession as first revealed in a WaPo-CBS report. More on Ginni Thomas, and her controversial history here:
BREAKING: Jan. 6 panel subpoenas organizers behind rally that preceded deadly attack on Capitol. The 11 subpoenaed have been linked with "Women For America First" group that played a role in the event, inc. 2 women considered its founders, Amy & Kylie Jane Kremer. Story TK.
NEW: NPR has learned that after tonight’s public meeting, the Jan. 6 panel will meet privately and Chair
@BennieGThompson
will recommend the committee seek Ginni Thomas’s cooperation with probe. This comes after her texts to former Trump CoS Mark Meadows were revealed.
"You'll see footage you have never seen before that shows a view of the Capitol that is quite extraordinary, the view of the attack that has never been public before, which you will see for the first time starting today," an aide said in a call with reporters.
This is incredible. A few days ago in Paraguay, 9-year-old aspiring drummer Emma Peralta camped out with her drums in front of the hotel where the Foo Fighters were staying. Then, Taylor Hawkins came out to meet her.
Now, her father says he doesn’t know how to tell her the news.
NEW: Jan. 6 panel issues six new subpoenas tied to the fake electors scheme, including AZ GOP Chair Kelli Ward and PA GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano.
Panel also up to more than 550 witnesses.
The full list of new subpoena targets and their roles via the panel:
“She was so loving and such a worldly person, the smartest person I knew,” Kay Kent told
@starsandstripes
of her sister-in-law Shannon Kent. “Rambo on the outside but a girly girl at heart. She was such a badass woman.” w/
@CDicksteinDC
&
@chadgarland
NEW: The Jan. 6 panel has issued a subpoena for Jeffrey Clark, the ex-Justice department official who promised to pursue former President Trump's false election fraud claims. Trump had considered replacing former ex-AG Jeffrey Rosen with Clark. Story TK.
House impeachment managers will focus on the harm and damage left behind by the insurrection in day two of their presentations for the Senate impeachment trial, according to senior aides to the team.
In suit, ex-staffer for Rep. Lamborn claims he “allowed his son to live in a storage area in the basement of the U.S. Capitol for some weeks” while he was moving to D.C. in addition to staff running personal errands and helping Lamborn’s son prep for job interviews.
A former staffer for GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn has filed suit against Lamborn & his office alleging a “reckless and dangerous approach to COVID-19.” The story was first reported by NBC's
@MacFarlaneNews
.
#copolitics
Huge victory for Jan 6 panel, with SCOTUS rejecting Trump effort stop National Archives from releasing hundreds of thousands of pages to the House select committee. This marks nearly three months to the date since Trump sued the panel.
Over the past year, I had the deep honor of working on a 3-part
@starsandstripes
series on Sen. John McCain. During this time, he seemed to bring life to the Dylan Thomas poem, to rage, rage against the dying of the light. You can start the series here:
“Shannon was an inspirational sailor, well-respected, an expert in her field, and a courageous leader, but she was also a beloved mother, daughter and spouse. Her loss brings great sorrow to us all,”
@USNavy
Adm. William Moran said.