Even after regaining the highest office in the land, Trump continued to lie about his 2020 election loss. He didn’t mention it in his formal address, but in his impromptu, second speech, Trump falsely contended it was only due to voter fraud and that if votes were counted accurately he would win California, a state he lost by more than 3.2 million votes.
The celebration of the peaceful transfer of power kicked off just before noon Monday with both Trump and Biden present. That was a stark difference from last time, when Trump didn’t attend the event to hand over power to Biden.
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar kicked off the speeches because she chairs the joint congressional inaugural committee. She pronounced that the theme was “our enduring democracy.” It was a fairly anodyne line and in other circumstances would be a fairly routine speech, but had a stark implication given the setting.
Klobuchar spoke about how “in other countries” the festivities might be in a presidential palace, but the United States holds them at “the people’s house,” the Capitol complex. She concluded by recognizing the firefighters battling blazes in Southern California.
“Our democracy’s strength and grit must match theirs,” Klobuchar said.
The day began with a reminder of the unprecedented dynamic that Trump’s return has created. Biden preemptively pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Gen. Mark Milley — a vocal Trump critic whom the new president has suggested should be executed — and the congressional Jan. 19, 6 committee members, staff and officers who provided them testimony.
Among them was former Rep. Liz Cheney, one of the few Republicans to challenge Trump and who had been targeted for prosecution by her former Republican colleagues in the U.S. House. During his second speech, Trump again dug at Cheney, calling her “a crying lunatic.”
“These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing,” Biden said about his blanket pardons. “Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.”
Former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanonewho lost consciousness and suffered a heart attack after a rioter shocked him with a stun gunwas one of the officers who received a last-minute Biden pardon because he testified before the Jan. 6 committee.
Fanone said he learned about the pardon from a Washington Post reporter who called him Monday morning.
“I haven’t digested it,” he later told The Associated Press. “I just can’t believe that this is my country.”
___
Riccardi reported from Denver. Associated Press writers Michael Kunzelman and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.
ظهرت في الأصل على whyy.org