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Trump 'provoked' Capitol mob: Republican Senate leader McConnell

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/01/07/capitol_1.jpg"/><figcaption>Police officers stand guard as supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021. <em>Leah Millis, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>WASHINGTON - The supporters of Donald Trump who attacked the US Capitol were &quot;provoked&quot; by the president and &quot;fed lies,&quot; Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday.</p><p>&quot;The mob was fed lies,&quot; the senator from Kentucky said in a speech on the Senate floor.</p><p>&quot;They were provoked by the president and other powerful people.</p><p>&quot;And they tried to use fear and violence to stop&quot; the certification by Congress of Democrat Joe Biden&#x27;s November 3 election victory, McConnell said.</p><p>&quot;But we pressed on. We stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation, not even for one night,&quot; he said.</p><p>Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6 following a speech by the president outside the White House in which he repeated his false claims to have won the election.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hWjqnr6R3nY?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>At least five people died in the mayhem.</p><p>The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives impeached Trump on January 13 for &quot;inciting insurrection&quot; and he faces a potential trial in the Senate after he leaves office on Wednesday.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KE3e2EZT-m4?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The votes of 17 Republican senators would be needed to convict Trump in the Senate and McConnell has not ruled out voting for conviction.</p><p>Democrat Chuck Schumer is expected to take over as Senate Majority Leader on Wednesday but McConnell will remain an influential voice in the Republican Party.</p><p>Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer also lashed out at Trump for his role in whipping up the crowd that staged the violent takeover of the Capitol.</p><p>&quot;Rioters, insurrectionists, white supremacists, and domestic terrorists tried to prevent the transfer of power,&quot; he said. &quot;They were incited by none other than the president of the United States.&quot;</p><p>Schumer said Biden would be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday &quot;despite what these evil terrorists tried to do.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The peaceful passing of the torch will take place tomorrow as it has for generations,&quot; he said.</p><p>cl/st</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R5xvIxneOSE?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>WASHINGTON - The supporters of Donald Trump who attacked the US Capitol were "provoked" by the president and "fed lies," Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday.</p>

WASHINGTON - The supporters of Donald Trump who attacked the US Capitol were "provoked" by the president and "fed lies," Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday.