ANNAPOLIS, Md. _ U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes' office confirmed Wednesday that the White House initially declined to act on a request to lower the U.S. flag to half-staff after five people were killed at the Capital-Gazette office last week.
Sarbanes' office said it made the request to the White House seeking half-staff status after being asked by Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley. Sarbanes' office said they did so Saturday, and again Sunday and Monday.
Monday morning, the congressman's office was contacted by the White House saying it would not act on the request.
On Tuesday, the White House reversed itself, with President Donald Trump issuing the order for flags to be flown half-staff nationwide through sundown that day.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders called Buckley Tuesday morning to inform him of the decision.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff from Friday through sunset Monday. Only the governor of a state or the president can order an American flag lowered to half-staff, under the U.S. flag code.
Buckley said the city will keep the Annapolis flags at half-staff until the victims of the attack _ editor and columnist Rob Hiaasen, 59; Wendi Winters, 65, a community correspondent who led special publications; editorial page editor Gerald Fischman, 61; editor and sports writer John McNamara, 56; and Rebecca Smith, 34, a sales assistant _ have been buried.
Jarrod W. Ramos has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder in their killings.
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(Danielle Ohl contributed to this report.)
