Wicked Blue
Wicked Blue's JournalOhio Orthodox Priest Suspended, Could Be Removed From Church, After Participating in Capitol Rally
Newsweek
By Emily Czachor
Rev. Mark Hodges, an archpriest affiliated with several orthodox churches in southwestern Ohio, was temporarily barred from fulfilling his usual duties after participating in the January 6 rally that preceded the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol came to light. His suspension from priestly responsibilities is due to last three months, and could result in his "defrocking," a term to denote permanent removal from his status within the church.
Hodges claims the disciplinary action stemmed solely from his presence at the rally, where protesters baselessly challenged the presidential election's outcome, according to an email originally dispatched to the archpriest's family and friends, which he sent to Newsweek on Thursday afternoon. However, in additional comments, a spokesperson from the Diocese of the Midwest told Newsweek that its decision was motivated by a collection of factors.
"Fr. Mark was not suspended for his presence at the rally. This suspension is a result of various circumstances that is currently part of an internal process. All of the facts can not be disclosed at this current time. The suspension is not due to one event, but also involves other matters," the spokesperson said.
Hodges, whose official Facebook page prominently showcases anti-abortion rhetoric, homophobia, transphobia and racism, in addition to unfounded claims related to election fraud. A supporter of Donald Trump, the archpriest has posted countless articles that made clear his alignment with the former president's unsubstantiated allegations that President Joe Biden's election victory was illegitimate.
https://www.newsweek.com/ohio-priest-suspended-could-removed-church-after-participating-capitol-rally-1563533
The White House's dog days haven't returned just yet
CNN
By Kate Bennett and Paul LeBlanc
The new administration is working doggedly in its first days in office, but President Joe Biden's four-legged companions aren't joining in just yet.
Biden's dogs have not yet moved into the White House, a source familiar told CNN, but the pups are anticipated to arrive at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue soon
The family's pair of German shepherds, Champ and Major, will restore the time-honored tradition of keeping pets in the White House after former President Donald Trump opted against one.
Champ joined the Biden family during the presidential transition in December 2008, weeks after Biden had become vice president-elect.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/politics/biden-dogs-major-champ-white-house-pets/index.html
Trump hires South Carolina lawyer Butch Bowers to defend him in Capitol riot impeachment trial, repo
CNBC
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/21/trump-not-prepared-for-senate-impeachment-trial-for-capitol-riots.html
Former President Donald Trump has hired a lawyer, South Carolina attorney Butch Bowers, to defend him at his Senate impeachment trial, which could start as early as next week.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump loyalist, told fellow GOP senators on Thursday that Bowers had agreed to represent Trump in the case, where the former president is accused of inciting the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S Capitol, according to the D.C. newsletter Punchbowl.
The New York Times soon after confirmed that report, and noted that Trump’s other lawyers “had all bowed out” of representing him in what will be his second impeachment trial.
At Least 20 Capitol Police Officers Have COVID-19 After Riot
Source: NBC4 Washington
By Scott MacFarlane
Some U.S. Capitol Police officers say they’re worried the violent Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol was a COVID-19 superspreader event.
At least 20 officers have active cases of COVID-19, marking the largest number of cases among the rank and file in months, a Capitol Police union leader said.
Scores of supporters of Donald Trump swarmed into the Capitol without face masks during the riot, injuring officers and damaging an icon of American democracy.
Officers were equipped with personal protective equipment.
Read more: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/at-least-20-capitol-police-officers-have-covid-19-after-riot/2548415/
McConnell proposes delaying impeachment trial until February so Trump team can prepare
CNN
By Manu Raju, Lauren Fox and Jeremy Herb, CNN
Updated 6:00 PM ET, Thu January 21, 2021
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is proposing that the Senate give former President Donald Trump's legal team two weeks to prepare for the upcoming impeachment trial and delay its start until February, the Republican leader told his conference on a call Thursday, according to multiple GOP senators.
McConnell's proposal throws the timing of the trial further into doubt, though it remains to be seen if Democrats go along. House Democrats could still send the article over to the Senate and start the trial the next day.
Asked if he had heard a response from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, McConnell told CNN Wednesday, "Not yet but we continue to talk about it."
McConnell told Republicans he's in no rush to begin the trial. The Republican leader's point was the House moved quickly on impeachment but the Senate needs time to prepare for a full trial. News of McConnell's proposal was first reported by Politico.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/politics/nancy-pelosi-impeachment-timing/index.html
Trump Tax Law Firm Ends Work for Ex-President
Wall Street Journal
Corinne Ramey
The law firm that handled the tax affairs of Donald Trump and his company during his presidency said it would stop representing him and his business.
The firm, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, is currently wrangling with the New York attorney general’s office over documents related to its work for the former president’s business, the Trump Organization. Led by Democratic Attorney General Letitia James, the office is conducting a civil-fraud probe into Mr. Trump’s financial dealings.
“We have had a limited representation of the Trump Organization and Donald Trump in tax-related matters,” a Morgan Lewis spokeswoman said. “For those matters not already concluded, we are transitioning as appropriate to other counsel.”
The spokeswoman didn’t provide a reason for the firm’s decision.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-tax-law-firm-ends-work-for-ex-president-11611252382
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner move out of DC and lease luxury condo in Miami
By Kate Bennett, CNN
CNN Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have moved out of their Washington, DC, home, and have signed a one-year lease on a luxury condo in Miami at the Arte, an expensive oceanfront residential building, a source familiar with the couple's move confirmed to CNN.
The last of their moving trucks departed the now-vacant property in the Kalorama neighborhood of DC Thursday.
Trump's and Kushner's items are scheduled to be delivered to Miami, said a source with information on where the trucks were headed.
The Wall Street Journal was first to report the Trump-Kushner Miami rental.
CNN reached out to a representative for Ivanka Trump and has not immediately received a response.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/politics/ivanka-trump-jared-kushner-luxury-condo-miami/index.html
Enjoy it while you can. Prison awaits.
Also, the CNN article states that rents hover in the $40,000-per-month range, while units typically sell for between $7 and 15 million.
Biden: Wearing a mask is a 'patriotic act' amid 'wartime effort' to fight Covid-19
CNN
DJ Judd
In remarks at the White House Thursday afternoon, US President Joe Biden acknowledged the uphill battle his administration faces to vaccinate enough Americans to achieve immunity at any significant level.
“The brutal truth is it's going to take months before we can get the majority of Americans vaccinated, so, while we increase vaccinations, we're gonna take steps necessary now to slow the spread of the diseases as well," he told reporters Thursday.
“One of our 100 day challenges is asking the American people to mask up for the first 100 days, the next 99 days," Biden added.
"The mask has become a partisan issue unfortunately, but it's a patriotic act. But, for a few months to wear a mask, no vaccines, the fact is that they’re the single best thing we can do, they’re even more important than the vaccines, because they take time to work." (my boldface - w.B.)
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-01-21-21/index.html
Pelosi says House will be "completely ready" to pass Biden's Covid-19 package first week of February
CNN
Clare Foran, Annie Grayer and Manu Raju
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the timing of a Senate impeachment trial during her opening remarks of her weekly news conference, but did not specify exactly when that will unfold and when the House will send articles.
"We will be, in the next few days, I’ll be talking with the managers as to when the Senate will be ready for the trial of the then-President of the United States for his role in instigating an insurrection on the Capitol of the United States," she said.
"Everyone’s asking – I’m not going to be telling you when it is going. We had to wait for the Senate to be in session. They have now informed us they are ready to receive, the question is other questions about how a trial will proceed, but we are ready," she said.
Pelosi was later asked, can you put finer point on impeachment timing and said, "No," adding, "you’ll be the first to know."
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/president-joe-biden-news-01-21-20/index.html
Florida-based bank announces it is closing Trump's accounts
Source: Washington Post
David A. Fahrenthold
Another one of former president Donald Trump’s banks said Thursday that it is closing his accounts, as Trump returns to a business hammered by covid-19 and the backlash to Trump’s role in the deadly attack on the Capitol.
“We no longer have any depository relationship with him," Bank United said Thursday. The bank declined to give a reason for its decision.
The Florida-based bank had held some of Trump’s money since at least 2015, according to the former president’s financial disclosures. At the end of 2020, Trump said he had two money market accounts at Bank United, containing between $5.1 million and $25.2 million combined. The financial disclosure forms allowed Trump to list his assets in ranges, rather than exact dollar amounts.
Since the Jan. 6 attack, a number of key partners, vendors and customers have cut ties with Trump’s company. That list now includes three of the four banks that held Trump’s largest deposits: Signature Bank and Professional Bank announced their decisions earlier this month. The fourth, Capital One Bank, has declined comment, saying it does not discuss current or former customer relationships.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/21/joe-biden-live-updates/
Sorry Donald, you can't get cash from the ATM
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