Trump orders US flag at half-mast in respect of fallen Capitol officers
Jan 10, 2021
Washington [US], January 11 : US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) ordered the flag of the United States be flown half-mast at the White House and all federal buildings, grounds, and embassies to honour Capitol Police officers Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, who were both on duty when a mob of Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday.
In a proclamation, Trump said: "As a sign of respect for the service and sacrifice of United States Capitol Police Officers Brian D. Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, and all Capitol Police Officers and law enforcement across this great Nation, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, January 13, 2021."
"I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations," he added.
This comes after the Capitol Police officer Sicknick died on Thursday due to injuries sustained injuries during the mob violence at the Capitol.
Following this, the Capitol Police on Sunday announced the off-duty death of a Capitol police officer Howard Liebengood, who is the son and namesake of a former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, Howard Liebengood Sr.
Chaotic and violent scenes erupted at the Capitol on Wednesday as Trump supporters stormed the building to protest the Electoral College vote, forcing a lockdown and confrontations with the police.
A growing number of Democrats and Republicans have called for Trump's impeachment for his role in inciting his supporters who stormed the Capitol building.
Five people have died in the ensuing scuffle.
