Lawmakers reconvene after violent protests at Capitol
Jan 6, 2021, 11:06 AM | Updated: 10:36 pm
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A member of a pro-Trump mob shatters a window with his fist from inside the Capitol Building after breaking into it on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
Four people died as supporters of President Donald Trump violently occupied the U.S. Capitol.
Washington, D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee said the dead on Wednesday included a woman who was shot by the U.S. Capitol Police, as well as three others who died in “medical emergencies.”
Police said both law enforcement and Trump supporters deployed chemical irritants during the hourslong occupation of the Capitol building before it was cleared Wednesday evening by law enforcement.
The Senate quickly killed Republican objections to Pennsylvania’s electoral vote for President-elect Joe Biden.
Senators voted 92-7 after midnight to derail the GOP attempt to overturn Pennsylvania’s support for the Democrat.
In a long day dominated by pro-Trump rioters’ deadly storming of the Capitol, it’s the second state for which a group of Republicans tried and failed to reverse the will of voters. Some GOP lawmakers have backed President Donald Trump’s bogus claims that the election was fraudulent.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he believes no other states’ votes will be challenged. That means Congress’ formal certification of Biden’s victory could finish quickly once the House votes on the Pennsylvania challenge.
The Senate rejected the effort to cancel Pennsylvania’s votes without any debate.
Those objecting to Pennsylvania’s votes included 80 House Republicans and Missouri GOP Sen. Josh Hawley, who is considered a potential 2024 presidential contender.
The House voted overwhelmingly to reject an objection to Biden’s win in Arizona, joining the Senate in upholding the results of the election there.
The objection failed 303-121 on Wednesday night, with only Republicans voting in support.
A curfew went into effect in Washington D.C. at 6 p.m. and will remain until 6 a.m. local time.
Relive Wednesday’s events in our timeline below:
5:11pm – Vice President Pence spoke Wednesday evening after lawmakers were escorted back into the chambers to resume counting the Electoral College votes.
“May God Bless all who serve here and who protect this place,” Pence said. “Maybe God Bless the United States of America. And let’s get back to work.”
Senator Mitch McConnell said, “This institution is resilient, the Democratic Republic is strong. The American people deserve nothing less.”
Minority Speaker Chuck Schumer said that Jan. 6 will also live on America’s short list of days that’ll live in infamy.
“Today’s events did not happen spontaneously,” Schumer said, adding that the mob was incited by the president. “Today’s events would not have happened without him.”
5:01pm – Former President Obama released a statement on Wednesday. In part, he said, “History will rightly remember today’s violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation. But we’d be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise.”
4:32pm – Twitter has locked President Trump’s account for 12 hours.
“As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington DC, we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy,” Twitter posted at 4:02 p.m. PST. “This means that the account of @realDonaldTrump will be locked for 12 hours following the removal of these Tweets. If the Tweets are not removed, the account will remain blocked. Future violations of the Twitter Rules, including our Civic Integrity or Violent Threats policies, will result in permanent suspension of the @realDonaldTrump account.”
4:02pm – Lawmakers will resume counting Electoral College votes this evening. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the beach on Wednesday would not “deter us from our responsibility to validate the election of Joe Biden,” according to The New York Times.
3:21pm – Riot police are moving crowds away from the UW Capitol. A curfew is in effect in Washington DC..
3:16pm – Former President George W. Bush issued a statement on Wednesday calling the scenes from Washington D.C. sickening and heartbreaking. “This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic – not our democratic republic. I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement.”
3:00pm – A curfew has taken effect in Washington D.C. Maryland is sending 500 National Guard members to the city and Delaware is sending 200 state troopers, according to CBS.
2:53pm – NBC News reports a woman who was shot this afternoon inside the US Capitol building has died, according to several law enforcement officials.
2:36pm – Washington DC Police Chief Robert Contee provided an update on how protesters breached security lines at the Capitol. He called the event a riot.
1.6.21 Chief Contee and @MayorBowser provide situational updates https://t.co/bEN8FnXTru
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 6, 2021
2:26pm – The sun has set on Washington DC. The mayor has set a 6 p.m. curfew, leaving those gathered outside the capitol about 30 minutes to get home.
2:09pm – Congress plans to resume its certification of the 2020 election results “tonight, definitely,” says Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
1:57pm – The Associated Press reports that “chemical irritants” were deployed on police by members of a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol as a means to gaining entry.
1:43pm – Rep. Ilhan Omar says she is now drafting articles of impeachment.
“Donald J. Trump should be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate,” she Tweeted. “We can’t allow him to remain in office, it’s a matter of preserving our Republic and we need to fulfill our oath.”
1:39pm – An FBI SWAT team is now moving through the U.S. Capitol building.
1:31pm – The Associated Press reports that “at least one explosive device” was found near the U.S. Capitol. Law enforcement says it is no longer a threat.
1:21pm – Shortly after, President Trump released, via Twitter, a message to his supporters. In part, “I know your pain, I know you’re hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021
1:06pm – President-elect Joe Biden is now delivering remarks live here.
1:01pm – CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins says that the president is “being encouraged by staff to put out a stronger statement … but has so far declined to do so or tell people to leave the building.”
Trump is reportedly watching Wednesday’s events unfold from the West Wing.
12:55pm – Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal says she is “safe and sheltering in place.”
12:52pm – “Multiple officers” have reportedly been injured stemming from violence at the Capitol, with one sent to the hospital, according to CNN.
12:50pm – Washington Sen. Patty Murray says she and her staff are both safe, while condemning “in the strongest terms the hate fueled violence we are seeing in our nation’s Capitol today.”
In response to questions about my safety: I'm safe and so is my staff, but I condemn in the strongest terms the hate-fueled violence we are seeing in our nation's Capitol today, as should every leader committed to the peaceful transfer of power in our country.
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) January 6, 2021
12:41pm – The Associated Press reports that Virginia’s governor is sending 200 state troopers and National Guardsmen to the U.S. Capitol.
12:39pm – Washington State Republican Chairman Caleb Heimlich labeled the storming of the Capitol “unfathomable.”
“I never thought I would see something like this in the greatest country in the history of the world,” he Tweeted. “Violence, intimidation, and disruption of the business of the People’s House is unacceptable.”
12:36pm – Vice President Pence is calling on “violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol” to stop immediately.
Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) January 6, 2021
12:35pm – Speaking to CBS News, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy labeled Wednesday’s actions from protesters “unacceptable.”
“This is not who we are,” he said. “I condemn any of this activity … this has got to stop.”
12:26pm – CNN is reporting that one woman is in critical condition, after being shot in the chest at the Capitol.
12:21pm – Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse “wholeheartedly” condemned Wednesday’s violence, saying that “this is not who we are, and this needs to stop immediately.”
12:19pm – The National Guard is now on its way to the U.S. Capitol building, according to CBS News.
12:13pm – President Trump is again urging protesters inside the Capitol “to remain peaceful.”
I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021
12:05pm – KING 5’s Chris Daniels is reporting that Washington Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse has had his office evacuated from the Capitol.
12:00pm – Sen. Ted Cruz is calling for “anyone engaged in violence” to be fully prosecuted.
Violence is always unacceptable. Even when passions run high.
Anyone engaged in violence—especially against law enforcement—should be fully prosecuted.
God bless the Capitol Police and the honorable men & women of law enforcement who show great courage keeping all of us safe.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 6, 2021
11:58am – A source tells Washington Post reporter Aaron Davis that a request by D.C. officials to deploy the National Guard to the Capitol has been denied by the Defense Department.
11:50am – Protesters have now broken into the U.S. Senate chamber.
They’re in the chamber. One is up on the dais yelling “Trump won that election!” This is insane pic.twitter.com/p6CXhBDSFT
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 6, 2021
11:45am – Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is urging protesters in the Capitol building to “stop this now.”
Stop these attacks on Capitol Police who serve to protect the People's House. Protesting peacefully is your right. Violence, aggression, and breaching security perimeters are not. Stop this now.
— CathyMcMorrisRodgers (@cathymcmorris) January 6, 2021
11:42am – With Vice President Pence now evacuated from the Capitol, President Trump has Tweeted again, urging protesters to “stay peaceful” and cooperate with law enforcement.
Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021
11:39am – Debate on the House floor has been halted, with members of Congress and staff being instructed to “get under their tables and stay calm,” says CBS News reporter Steven Portnoy.
11:36am – Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has instituted a citywide 6 p.m. curfew, excepting essential workers and credentialed members of the media working in association with their respective outlets.
11:30am – President Trump Tweeted around 11:25 a.m., criticizing Vice President Mike Pence for not having “the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution,” stopping short of decrying violence from protesters at the Capitol.
11:12am – Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy pleaded with protesters to “remain peaceful” on Twitter, shortly before they breached the Capitol building.
Thank you to Capitol Police for protecting the People's House.
Protesters have a Constitutionally-protected right to be heard, but I urge them to remain peaceful.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) January 6, 2021
