Epiphany in Washington: What's Next?

A week that includes the almost certain Impeachment of a President is not normally described as quiet. But it may turn out to be, in contrast to the coming weekend and next week, including Inauguration Day in Washington.

 The House of Representatives has the votes to impeach Trump on the article charging him with inciting an insurrection on the Capitol. It is likely to be voted on exactly a week after the attempted coup, on Wednesday. Enough Democrats have already signed on as co-sponsors to pass it, while a small but growing number of Republicans let it be known they will consider voting for it. There may be as many as a dozen.  What happens regarding a Senate trial is still being discussed.

 As law enforcement investigations of the Capitol violence continue, and officials quarrel about who failed to do what, attention is also turning towards the plans of white supremacist and related terrorists groups for violence in Washington and all 50 state capitals this weekend and the following week.

 Homeland Security is beginning security arrangements for the Inauguration as early as January 13, as the FBI warns of online organizing for armed mobs.  Washington's Mayor has requested all permits for demonstrations be withdrawn and most of the federal tourist sights not already closed for Covid, will likely be off-limits through Inauguration Day.

 A Huffpost story provided the most graphic account so far of three planned clusters of events, all involving violence. Members of Congress were briefed and:

 “three members said was by far the most concerning plot would involve insurrectionists forming a perimeter around the Capitol, the White House and the Supreme Court, and then blocking Democrats from entering the Capitol ― perhaps even killing them ― so that Republicans could take control of the government. Democrats were told that the Capitol Police and the National Guard were preparing for potentially tens of thousands of armed protesters coming to Washington and were establishing rules of engagement for warfare. In general, the military and police don’t plan to shoot anyone until one of the rioters fires, but there could be exceptions.” 

Other sources indicated there are specific (if not specified) threats to Speaker Pelosi, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, and President-Elect Biden.

 The White House acquiesced to the Mayor of Washington’s request to declare a state of emergency for the city. Some 10,000 to 15,000 National Guard reportedly are being mobilized for a variety of tasks. It is likely that other measures are being taken that are not being publicized, so potential armed insurrectionists won’t be informed.  But additional Air Marshals are being added to flights in and out of Washington.

 Alot of the chatter may turn out to be bullshit but thanks to last Wednesday’s epiphany, authorities aren’t taking chances. Whether there is enough expertise and intelligence left in the Trumpified government to deal with these threats is another question.

 Meanwhile, two Democratic women Representatives, forced to shelter against the Wednesday attack with Republicans who refused masks offered to them, have tested positive. The first was Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, in her 70s and a recent cancer survivor. She has mild symptoms so far.

 The second is Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington State, who issued this statement: “Too many Republicans have refused to take this pandemic and virus seriously, and in doing so, they endanger everyone around them. Only hours after President Trump incited a deadly assault on our Capitol, our country, and our democracy, many Republicans still refused to take the bare minimum COVID-19 precaution and simply wear a damn mask in a crowded room during a pandemic — creating a superspreader event on top of a domestic terrorist attack."