President Joe Biden talks with Washington, NBC anchor Al Roker, as he and first lady Jill Biden walk along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House during Inaugural celebrations, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, after being sworn in as the 46th vice president of the United States. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool) It’s kind of a sequel for TV legend Al Roker. President Joe Biden took a little time during his inaugural walk to the White House along Pennsylvania Avenue to chat and fist bump Roker. “To be honest, guys, I didn’t think it was gonna happen. Because he was literally kind of parallel to me,” Al Roker told WTOP news partner NBC Washington. “And then all of a sudden, he broke away and came over. I was kind of thrown off at first, because I was not expecting it, but he has been always very generous with his time. And it was just really a special moment for me. And I hope it meant a little something to him on a day that I think we were all feeling very celebratory, and feeling kind of special.” Roker has received presidential attention before. During the 2013 inauguration of former President Barack Obama, then-Vice President Biden rushed over to shake Roker’s hand. See video of the Wednesday’s moment below.
A federal judge is considering arguments in four lawsuits against former President Donald Trump, former Attorney General William Barr and local and federal police agencies, each claiming the constitutional rights of protesters were violated on June 1, 2020, at Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House.
The ACLU, representing Black Lives Matter DC, and three individual protesters argued the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and flashbang grenades were part of a coordinated attack on peaceful protesters demonstrating against police brutality after the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis.
