Former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf says President Donald Trump bears some responsibility for a mob deciding to storm the U.S. Capitol.
In an interview with CNN days after stepping down from his post, Wolf said, “He’s the President. What he says matters.”
“People listen to him — particularly supporters of his, I would say, really listen to him — so there is responsibility there,” he continued.
However, he told the network that it is up to Congress to decide whether Trump’s actions leading up to the moment rioters breached the Capitol constitutes an impeachable offense.
The House made history on Wednesday when it voted to impeach Trump a second time in a 232-197 vote — the first time a U.S. president has been impeached twice.
Shortly after the incident, Wolf urged Trump and “all elected officials to strongly condemn the violence that took place yesterday.”
While Trump released a video message as rioters rampaged through the halls of the Capitol urging them to “go home in peace,” his response was not sufficient for Wolf.
“I was disappointed that the President didn’t speak out sooner on that. I think he had a role to do that. I think, unfortunately, the administration lost a little bit of the moral high ground on this issue by not coming out sooner on it,” he said.
Wolf also said he would like to see Trump call for peaceful protests, “[I]f you’re going to protest, you do that in a very nonviolent way. I’d like to have him speak, have him say that and just that.”
Earlier in the day, Trump released a brief statement that read, “In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind.”
“That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers,” he added.
Wolf’s comments come as Congressional Republicans have also said that Trump bears responsibility for the violence.
Wolf also told CNN his decision to step down was in part in response to a court case that challenged his authority to lead the agency.
