House to send impeachment article to Senate, COVID-19: 5 things to know Monday

Editors, USA TODAY
·4 min read

House to send impeachment article against Trump to Senate

The House will send the article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump to the Senate on Monday, officially beginning the trial process. The House swiftly impeached Trump on Jan. 13 for inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol the week before. When it comes to trial, senators will vote to decide whether to convict or acquit Trump. The trial is unprecedented in nearly every way possible. No president had been impeached twice and no president has been tried by the Senate after he left office — an issue dividing constitutional scholars over what is legally permissible. The trial will begin the week of Feb. 8.

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Biden expected to reinstate COVID-19 travel restrictions

President Joe Biden on Monday is expected to reinstate travel restrictions to combat COVID-19 infections, a White House official who was not authorized to speak ahead of the official announcement confirmed to USA TODAY. The restrictions, which were in place for most of 2020, apply to non-U.S. citizens who have been in Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe. Then-President Donald Trump rescinded the restrictions days before the end of his term. Last week, Biden issued an executive order directing federal agencies to require international air travelers to quarantine upon U.S. arrival. The order also requires that all U.S.-bound passengers ages 2 and above get negative COVID-19 test results within three days of traveling.

Will Biden reverse military rules on transgender troops?

The Biden administration intends within days to reverse the Pentagon policy former President Donald Trump ordered that limits the service and treatment of transgender troops, according to an official with Biden’s transition team. Reuters and The Wall Street Journal report that the reversal could happen as soon as Monday. Trump announced the ban on service by transgender troops in 2017, a move that caught military officials by surprise. The Trump policy effectively bans transgender people from joining the military and limits their treatment. Major medical and psychological associations say there is no scientific reason for banning transgender troops from serving.

Hearing for rioter accused of threats against Ocasio-Cortez, Capitol officer

A detention hearing is set Monday for a Texas man who allegedly participated in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack and posted death threats against Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and a Capitol police officer. Garret Miller faces five criminal charges, including trespassing and making death threats, according to the Department of Justice. Miller tweeted "assassinate AOC" hours after he posted pictures of himself storming the Capitol. He is alleged to have threatened the police officer who shot another rioter who died, saying on Instagram he was going to "hug his neck with a nice rope." Miller was arrested Wednesday and made his first court appearance Friday.

Nearly half of US, from California to Kansas to New York, braces for snow and rain

Brace yourselves for wintry weather: two storm systems will continue their paths through the nation on Monday. They’re set to dump snow and rain on nearly half the country throughout the week and into next week, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy snow is expected to fall in Kansas on Monday, pushing through Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois until Tuesday. That storm, developing in the Rocky Mountains, will later move into parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Another storm, coming through Northern California on Sunday evening and moving southward, is forecast to bring rainfall to other parts of the state. Snow had already started to accumulate in California's mountain ranges on Sunday, even bringing a dusting to beachy Malibu and hail to Long Beach.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump impeachment, Biden executive orders: 5 things to know Monday