There are no plans for President Joe Biden to visit Waukesha, Wis., after the Christmas parade attack earlier this month that killed six people, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
‘Obviously any president going to visit a community requires a lot of assets … requires taking their resources,’ she said after being asked during her regular briefing on Monday why he had not yet visited.
‘And it’s not something that I have a trip to preview at this point in time, but we remain in touch with local officials.’
A vigil was held in Waukesha on Sunday afternoon to mark a week since an S.U.V. plowed into a Christmas parade.
Darrell Brooks, 39, has been charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, a charge that carries a mandatory life sentence if convicted.
More charges are expected to follow.
Investigators have yet to reveal a motive.
White House Press Secretary said she had nothing to announce about any trips when asked why President Joe Biden had not visited Waukesha, Wisconsin
‘Obviously any president going to visit a community requires a lot of assets … requires taking their resources,’ said Psaki when asked about Biden’s travel plans
Darrell Brooks, 39, has been charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, a charge that carries a mandatory life sentence if convicted. He is likely to face more charges
‘As you saw the president convey last week, our hearts go out to this community, to the people in Waukesha that we’ve been in touch, obviously, with officials there,’ said Psaki.
‘We’re all watching as people are recovering, and this is such a difficult time of year for this to happen – it’s difficult any time.’
Brooks, who has a lengthy rap sheet allegedly used a red Ford Escape to drive into the crowd.
He was out on bail after having allegedly run over his girlfriend with the SUV earlier in November.
Brooks is now being held in jail ahead of his next court appearance.
On Sunday afternoon, a vigil was held at a memorial in the town as residents gathered to share their thoughts and support one another through grief.
A pair of clergy solemnly read the names of those who died: Wilhelm Hospel, 81; Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich and Jackson Sparks, 8.
Volunteers handed out sandwiches, hot chocolate and candles at the vigil, which was attended by interfaith leaders and elected officials.
‘These families are going through a really hard time. Everybody that was here a week ago, through the tragedy, just went through such trauma and to see the community come together tonight was absolutely beautiful,’ said Krys Crawley to TMJ4.
Wisconsin’s two US senators, one Republican and one Democrat, came together in a rare bipartisan plea, urging outside groups not to politicize the attack so that the community can heal.
Senators Ron Johnson (R) and Tammy Baldwin (D) urged those who ‘may attempt to exploit the tragedy that occurred last Sunday in Waukesha for their own political purposes’ to ‘cease and desist’ in their Saturday statement.
‘[Local officials’] top priority is to begin the healing process within Waukesha by providing comfort and support to surviving family members of the deceased, and those injured both in body and spirit,’ they wrote.
‘They must also conduct a thorough investigation and afford the accused full due process. These will not be easy tasks, and will be made even more difficult if conducted within a politically charged atmosphere.’
The invocation comes a week after Darrell Brooks, 39, plowed his SUV into a local holiday parade on November 21, killing six and injuring 60.
The statement did not call on any specific individuals or groups.