CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a matter of days, the nation will have a new president. President-Elect Joe Biden will find Washington, D.C. heavily-fortified this week and heavily divided.
This past week, President Donald Trump became the first president to ever be impeached twice. The single article of impeachment accused President Trump of "inciting violence against the government of the United States."
While his party united behind him last time, 10 house Republicans voted to impeach him this time, including South Carolina's Tom Rice, which came as a shock to many.
The vote on impeachment came exactly one week after the riot at the capitol. The fallout continues from that. Not just with impeachment, but almost every social media site has banned the president. And his own party is starting to distance themselves more from the president.
So what happens next?
Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Mark Meadows, Wayne King talked with WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson about the impeachment, the riot, and how Republicans and Democrats can start working together.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is sending officers to Washington to help with security at Joe Biden's inauguration. CMPD wouldn't give specific staffing numbers or other security details. The department did say this assistance will not create any local service interruptions and that there will be enough officers to serve Charlotte.
After the riots at the capitol, many have compared how that was handled to the Black Lives Matter protests from summer 2020. Many on social media have shared images comparing the two.
This month, law enforcement was heavily criticized for not stopping the rioters at the Capitol. However, over the summer, they were on the steps of the Capitol making sure no one could get by.
Former Charlotte City Councilwoman, LaWana Mayfield talks about the contrast seen at the capitol between the Capitol siege and the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer.
This week, the new North Carolina General Assembly opened their session with promises of less partisanship and more cooperation to benefit the state.
Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger was sworn in for his sixth term as Senate leader.
"I intend to work with all to find, develop and expand common ground where it may exist," he said.
Tim Moore was sworn in for his fourth term as House Speaker.
Former State Representative Charles Jeter spoke with Ben Thompson about the new general assembly and how they can work across the aisle to get things done.
