As investigations into the deadly January 6 siege of the Capitol continue, questions about how pro-Trump rioters were able to access specific locations in the building are surfacing. According to Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Wash. 8th District), it is not out of the realm of possibility that the mob was aided by members of Congress.
"Inciting insurrection is impeachable but it is also illegal. Although I'm not a lawyer, I think that that needs to be pursued. I can tell you that it is already being looked into by the FBI, looking at who inside was helping," she told Cheddar.
While officials have not yet given confirmation, there are reports from members like Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J. 11th District) that some members of Congress toured the Capitol building Tuesday with groups that included individuals accused of attacking it the following day.
"And the fact there were any tours going on in a Capitol during the COVID pandemic when nobody's allowed unless they are personally escorted in by a member of Congress, suggests that if there was insider knowledge, that some of my colleagues may have been co-conspirators," Schrier said.
The Washington representative is calling for those officials to be held accountable if the allegations are true, as well as President Donald Trump and any GOP supporters that may have incited violence.
Though the House impeached Trump for a historic second time on Wednesday, the process will likely linger past Inauguration Day. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he will not call senators back before next week to hold a hearing on the charge of high crimes and misdemeanors. Still, Schrier said the facts of the case are clear-cut and could be handled before Biden is sworn in.
"I think that this should be, could be, a very speedy trial," she said. "I believe that if we can call back 435 members of Congress, we can certainly call back 100 senators to take this up immediately and I think that's what [McConnell] should do."
Democratic Agenda
For Schrier, the sooner the body is able to address the president's role in last week's Capitol siege, the better equipped Congress will be to get to work once President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in. Democrats will soon control all three legislative branches and the Washington congresswoman said the body will be able to work on solutions that have been pushed aside during the Trump presidency.
Among top priorities will be getting more COVID relief to Americans and improving laws guiding elections, according to Schrier, who sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee.
"It is urgent, I believe, that we pass H.R. 1, the big government reform bill that gets corruption out of politics, gets big special interest money out of our politics, makes it easier to vote."
While Democrats will control two branches of the federal government for at least the next two years, Schrier said members from both sides of the aisle will need to repair their working relationships.
"This really needs truth and reconciliation and frankly it will need a lot of Republicans to step up and speak the truth," she said, adding, "Even those who voted against impeachment yesterday, many of them still condemned the president's behavior, and so it will really take some voices of conscience from within to speak to their own part and set this right."
President Biden announced a ban on Russian oil and natural gas imports to the U.S. in response to its invasion of Ukraine, a move he warned could lead to an even greater surge in gas prices. The ban is prompting a conversation about the current oil production levels in the U.S. and whether or not the industry can ramp up production to soften the blow to American families at the gas pump. Clark Williams-Derry, Energy Finance Analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, breaks down the state of the U.S. oil industry and how the ban might impact production levels here at home.
PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Starbucks are the latest American food brands to have halted business operations in Russia after having faced scrutiny and criticism for originally failing to do so amid the country's invasion of Ukraine.
As Russia intensifies its war on Ukraine, President Biden announced a ban on oil imported from the aggressor nation. Critics of Russia have said this would be the best way to force Putin to pull back, but curbs on Russian oil exports are expected to send already skyrocketing oil and gas prices even higher, further impacting consumers, businesses, financial markets, and the global economy. Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Energy Workforce and Technology Council, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. "It's certainly going to increase pricing, but it is the right thing to do," she said. "The industry itself has already pulled out of the significant portion of its operations in Russia."
Sports Betting in the U.S. is booming. According to industry experts, we could see another boom this year as more states move towards statewide legalization of sports wagering. While this comes as huge news for fans, there are some very real concerns as to whether or not sports betting potentially poses a threat to public health. Senior Clinician at the Caron Treatment Centers, Eric Webber, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
The Biden administration has made gender policy a core part of how it governs. The president established the first Gender Policy Council. It's on the same level as the National Security Council, Domestic Policy Council and National Economic Council, putting the interests of women and other underserved groups at the table for the most important policy discussions.
Cheddar News sat down with Jennifer Klein, executive director and co-chair of the White House Gender Policy Council, to discuss the council's work and its significance during Women's History Month.
State Representative Jessica González, Vice Chair of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, joins Cheddar News to discuss the latest Texas anti-transgender directive.
The United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack joins None of the Above to discuss the newly emerging conflict in Europe, what it means for agriculture in the states, dairy and meat consumption, and how the department is planning to promote climate-smart agriculture.
Tens of thousands of people have fled Ukraine in attempts to escape the Russian Invasion. According to the U.N. neighboring countries like Poland, Hungary, and even Romania have seen half a million refugees. While the hospitality is being welcomed by many, it also highlights the mistreatment of migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Professor of Philosophy and Director of Politics at Northeastern University Serena Parekh, joined Cheddar, to discuss more.
As Russia unleashed war in the country of Ukraine, global leaders have started inflicting punishment on Vladimir Putin's regime via commercial and financial penalties. According to President Joe Biden Putin's aggression is "a flagrant violation of international law and it demands a firm response from the international community".However, the main question is will these sanctions actually work. Partner at Jenner & Block LLP, Rachel Alpert, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
