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U.S. NEWS Thursday 21 January 2021

Democrats gaining Senate control as new members take oath

By LISA MASCARO AP Con- to more quickly advance
gressional Correspondent Biden's priorities, but not all
WASHINGTON (AP) — Three rank-and-file Senate Dem-
new senators were sworn ocrats are on board and
into office Wednesday af- new Senate Majority Lead-
ter President Joe Biden's er Chuck Schumer has not
inauguration, securing the agreed to any changes.
majority for Democrats Instead, Schumer has pro-
in the Senate and across posed an organizing reso-
a unified government to lution modeled after a
tackle the new president's 2001 agreement reached
agenda at a time of un- between the two leaders
precedented national the last time the chamber
challenges. was evenly divided. It al-
Vice President Kamala Har- lowed equal representa-
ris drew applause as she tion on committees, shared
entered the chamber to resources for offices and
deliver the oath of office to other needs and made no
the new Democratic sena- mention of filibuster chang-
tors — Jon Ossoff, Raphael es at all.
Warnock and Alex Padilla Talks have hit a stalemate,
— just hours after taking her leaving Senate action un-
own oath at the Capitol certain.
alongside Biden. The three Associated Press Biden has said he wants
Democrats join a Senate finish the remainder of Har- time, the Senate is about to McConnell is not relinquish- Congress to press ahead
narrowly split 50-50 be- ris' term — drawing chuck- launch an impeachment ing power without a fight. on all fronts, confirming his
tween the parties, but giv- les from the new vice presi- trial of Trump, charged by McConnell is is refusing nominees and consider-
ing Democrats the majority dent as she read aloud the the House of inciting the to enter a power-sharing ing his legislative priorities,
with Harris able to cast the official documentation. insurrection at the Capitol agreement with Senate but also holding the former
tie-breaking vote. Taken together, their arrival as rioters tried to interrupt Democrats unless they president responsible dur-
"Today, America is turning gives Democrats for the first the Electoral College tally meet his demands, chiefly ing the impeachment trial.
over a new leaf. We are time in a decade control of and overturn Biden's elec- to preserve the Senate That's a tall order for a Sen-
turning the page on the last the Senate, the House and tion. The Senate will need filibuster — the procedural ate under normal circum-
four years, we're going to the White House, as Biden to confirm Biden's Cabinet tool often used by the mi- stances, but even more so
reunite the country, defeat faces the unparalleled nominees as launches the nority party to block bills now in the post-Trump era,
COVID-19, rush economic challenges of the COVID-19 new administration. under rules that require 60 with Republicans badly
relief to the people," Ossoff crisis and its economic fall- To "restore the soul" of the votes to advance legisla- split between their loyal-
told reporters earlier at the out, and the nation's pain- country, Biden said in his tion. ties to the defeated presi-
Capitol. "That's what they ful political divisions from inaugural speech, requires It's an arcane fight McCon- dent and wealthy donors
sent us here to do." the deadly Jan. 6 siege of "unity." nell has inserted into what who are distancing them-
Ossoff, a former congressio- the Capitol by a mob loyal "We can do great things, has traditionally been a selves from Republicans
nal aide and investigative to Donald Trump. important things," Biden more routine organizing who back Trump. Speaker
journalist, and Warnock, a The pandemic has claimed said from the Capitol's west resolution, but a power Nancy Pelosi is expected to
pastor from the late Martin 400,000 American lives, front. "We can make Amer- play by the outgoing Re- soon transmit to the Senate
Luther King Jr.'s church in and Biden is proposing a ica once again a leading publican leader grabbing the House-passed article
Atlanta, won run-off elec- $1.9 trillion recovery pack- force of good in the world." at tools that can be used to of impeachment against
tions in Georgia this month, age to distribute vaccines Yet as Washington looks to block Biden's agenda. Trump, charged with incite-
defeating two Republi- and shore up an economy turn the page from Trump Progressive and liberal ment of insurrection, a step
cans. Padilla was tapped struggling from the virus to the Biden administration, Democrats are eager to that will launch the Senate
by California's governor to shutdowns. At the same Republican leader Mitch do away with the filibuster impeachment trial.q

Proud Boy organizer arrested in Florida for riot at Capitol

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Two crowd on Jan. 6 that over- media app Parler to dress
Florida men, including a whelmed Capitol Police of- in black to resemble the
self-described organizer ficers who were manning a far-left antifa movement,
for the Proud Boys, a far- metal barrier on the steps the affidavit said.
right extremist group, were of the Capitol. The mob Biggs had organized a 2019
arrested Wednesday for entered the building as rally in Portland, Oregon, in
taking part in the siege of lawmakers were certifying which more than 1,000 far-
the U.S. Capitol earlier this President Joe Biden's elec- right protesters and anti-
month, authorities said. tion win. Biggs appeared fascist counter-demonstra-
Joseph Biggs, 37, was ar- to be wearing a walkie- tors faced off. The Proud
rested in central Florida talkie during the storming Boys are a neofascist group
and faces charges of ob- of the Capitol, but he told known for engaging in vio-
structing an official pro- FBI agents that he had no lent clashes at political ral-
ceeding before Congress, knowledge about the plan- lies. During a September
entering a restricted on the ning of the destructive riot presidential debate, Trump Members of the Proud Boys, including organizer Joe Biggs, third
groups of the U.S. Capitol and didn't know who orga- had urged them to "stand from right, march across the Hawthorne Bridge during an "End
and disorderly conduct. nized it, the affidavit said. back and stand by" when Domestic Terrorism" rally in Portland, Ore., on Saturday, Aug. 17,
According to an arrest af- Ahead of the riot, Biggs told asked to condemn them 2019.
fidavit, Biggs was part of a followers of his on the social by a moderator.q Associated Press