House impeaches Trump for role in deadly Capitol riot

DC Police Chief Robert Contee said on Wednesday that more than 20,000 National Guard members could be expected in the District for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, though he noted the final numbers will be provided by the United States Secret Service.

Multiple defense officials tell CNN that the total request for National Guard is close to 30,000 guardsmen to support US Capitol Police, Park Police and Washington Metropolitan Police Department but officials believe that the actual number needed is closer to 20,000.  The officials added that there is no concern that there will be any shortage of Guard forces to meet requirements from the 50 States and the District of Columbia. 

Asked if he's ever seen this much law enforcement reinforcement coming to the District, the newly-installed Chief Contee, who is a veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department and lifelong DC resident, answered, "not at this level, no."

Contee told reporters he remains concerned amid a "major security threat" ahead of the inauguration and planned demonstrations in the District this weekend.

"I've been concerned before today and will be through this weekend, and beyond," Contee said on Wednesday, while praising DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's security posture, including discouraging people from coming to DC for the inauguration. "There's a major security threat, and we are working to mitigate those threats," he added.

In an interview with CNN's Manu Raju, Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, a Republican from Washington, said "I’m not in fear at all," over whether her vote to impeach President Trump would have consequences.

"This decision was not, like, a fear-based decision for me," she said.

Beutler announced last night that she would vote to impeach Trump citing "indisputable evidence," over his role in the Capitol riot.

Beutler added that she's preparing to deliver a statement on the House floor on her vote to impeach.

She’s one of five House Republicans who’ve broken rank so far in announcing their intent to impeach President Donald Trump.

The death of a Georgia man who was charged as part of the Capitol insurrection has been ruled a suicide, officials say.

Police in suburban Atlanta responded Saturday morning to a call and found Christopher Stanton Georgia dead.  

The Fulton County Medical Examiner office performed an autopsy on Monday and has ruled his death a suicide. 

Two rifles were recovered from his home according to an incident report from the Alpharetta Police department. 

Georgia was charged with unlawful entry of the US Capitol, as well as violating a citywide curfew according to court documents filed in Washington. 

House Republican leaders believe they will lose about a dozen votes over the impeachment of President Trump, GOP sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. 

It's not certain yet, but that's the thinking right now, those sources tell CNN. 

Manu Raju reports from Capitol Hill: Division is playing out in the hallways

GOP Rep. Dan Newhouse said that he has “a lot to think about” when asked if he has decided how he’s going to vote on impeachment today in the House.

He called it “a big decision,” and said he wants to hear the debate play out.

Some context: We expect just a handful of Republicans to vote with Democrats to impeach Wednesday. One aide put that estimate at no more than 20.

Rep. Jim Jordan, a staunch Trump ally on Capitol Hill, told reporters he thinks Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney should be ousted from her leadership position after she said she'd support impeaching the President.

"I think she's totally wrong," he said. "I think there should be a conference and have a second vote on that," he added.

Some context: Cheney, the No. 3 House Republican, announced Tuesday she would vote in favor of impeachment, issuing a scathing statement that charged there had "never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution."

The number of Republicans who will ultimately vote for impeachment remains unclear, with estimates ranging from 10 to as many as 20. So far, five Republicans have said they will vote to impeach Trump, including Cheney. They are:

As lawmakers debate on President Trump's impeachment on the House floor inside, multiple layers of security are in place around the Capitol. Fencing, steel barriers and armed National Guard members surround the grounds, CNN correspondent Brian Todd reports.

Here's a look at what is in place:

"You can't really walk in this area unless you have some kind of ID saying you should be here. Just foot traffic around here is highly restricted," Todd said.

This comes as members of Congress continue to speak out about the vulnerable position the violent Capitol breach put them in, as well as concerns they have about their security going forward ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20.

In addition to National Guard members inside the Capitol, there are now metal detectors installed outside the House floor for all members and staff to go through.

CNN's Brian Todd reports on the scene outside the Capitol:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will open debate on the impeachment resolution, her spokesperson says.

Her remarks are expected around 12:15 p.m. ET.

Where things stand now: The House is currently voting on the rules governing the impeachment article.

Once the House passes the rule, the House will then proceed to a two-hour debate on the impeachment resolution.

Democrats are charging Trump with "incitement of insurrection" for his role in last week’s deadly Capitol attack. 

You can read the full resolution here.

Following an FBI warning about "armed protests" being planned at all 50 state capitols, Michigan has stepped up its security. Attorney General Dana Nessel says she is “"apoplectic" because she’s gravely concerned about the situation and does not think that the state capitol is safe.

Michigan's Capitol Commission banned the open carry of firearms inside the Capitol building in Lansing, beginning Jan. 11. The move was a response to the US Capitol riot as well as the spring incidents in which heavily armed demonstrators jammed inside the Michigan state Capitol to protest pandemic-related lockdowns. In addition, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, was the target of an alleged domestic terror plot by members of right wing militia groups.

"I think Michigan was definitely ground zero," Nessel said. "I think it was a dry run and people saw how very easy it was to essentially take over a state capitol building. And the lesson that they drew away from that was, ‘why not try it at the nation's capitol? If we can do it in Lansing, Michigan, maybe we can do the same thing in Washington, DC.’ And they were right," she told CNN. 

Nessel added that she expects the same people that were involved in the events at DC "to be back in Lansing."

Watch the full interview on CNN: