January 06, 2021
After a mob of extremists interrupted the congressional proceedings in Washington, D.C., to certify Joe Biden's win as the next president, Biden warned the nation Wednesday in a televised speech, "Our democracy is under unprecedented assault, unlike anything we've seen in modern times."
He then called on President Donald Trump to intervene and convince his supporters to end the stand off in the Capitol.
"So President Trump, step up," Biden said shortly before ending his speech.
Shortly after, Trump released a recorded video, asking for peace, but sticking to his baseless claims that he won the November election.
"We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side," Trump said. "But you have to go home now. We have to have peace."
Trump's video tweet immediately was flagged by Twitter because, "This claim of election fraud is disputed, and this Tweet can’t be replied to, Retweeted, or liked due to a risk of violence." Then on Wednesday evening, Twitter hid the this tweet from view, along with two others. Once Trump deleted the tweets, Twitter locked down the president's account for 12 hours.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021
Biden had strong words for the demonstrators who entered the Capitol building, saying their action "borders on sedition"
"Let me be very clear," the president-elect said. "The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America, do not represent who we are."
President-elect Biden addresses the nation: https://t.co/BXM3SZK25R
— Biden-Harris Presidential Transition (@Transition46) January 6, 2021
The U.S. Capitol building was locked down before being overrun Wednesday afternoon by hundreds of protesters who support President Donald Trump's unfounded claim of voter fraud in the November presidential election.
The U.S. Senate and U.S. House had begun proceedings to certify the Electoral College vote, confirming Joe Biden's victory, when the rioters disrupted the joint session.
Both chambers of Congress went into recess and lawmakers were evacuated from the building after the Capitol was breached. Vice President Mike Pence also was taken from the building after protesters made entry, as was Sen. Kamala Harris, who is the vice president-elect.
The National Guard reportedly deploy 1,100 guardsman to the Capitol, while the Department of Homeland security also is expected to send personnel to help quell the violence.
BREAKING: The entire D.C. National Guard will be activated today, putting about 1,100 guardsmen on duty tonight, defense official tells me. Comes after breach of Capitol by pro-Trump protesters.
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) January 6, 2021
Theses are videos posted to social media as the insurrectionists reached the capital, including footage of what appears to be police opening the gates for one group of Trump supporters.
the police opened the fucking gates. pic.twitter.com/HyDURXfoaB
— katie (@cevansavenger) January 6, 2021
Trump supporters break into the U.S. Capitol Building after storming the police line here in Washington #DC #Trump #DCRally #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/Q8jdQjqNla
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 6, 2021
Trump supporters storm the Capitol in DC as hundreds enter the building #DC #January6 #January6thDC #DCRally pic.twitter.com/8tsAtPxyjt
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 6, 2021
They breached the Capitol pic.twitter.com/tWKxojW2Hr
— Matt Laslo (@MattLaslo) January 6, 2021
Electoral college ballots rescued from the Senate floor. If our capable floor staff hadn’t grabbed them, they would have been burned by the mob. pic.twitter.com/2JCauUIlvg
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) January 6, 2021
The pro-Trump mob, emboldened by the president's refusal to accept the election results, toppled barricades and clashed with police as lawmakers debated the outcome of the November contest.
Capitol Police pushed the Trump supporters back and used a lot of pepper spray. pic.twitter.com/9bnYLbhWxR
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 6, 2021
One person, a woman, was shot Wednesday afternoon inside the Capitol, as seen in graphic footage tweeted from the scene by an independent reporter. She died from her injuries Wednesday evening, the Washington Post reported. She has since been identified as Ashli Babbit, an Air Force veteran from San Diego who was a Trump supporter. Babbit was shot by Capitol police during after refusing orders to stand back during a tense standoff with Capitol police.
BREAKING: One person was shot inside the US Capitol by a member of law enforcement, NBC News reports.
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 6, 2021
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is sending National Guard to Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/gd4Q2h3SB2
Live footage from outside the Capitol can be viewed on the YouTube stream below.
The confirmation vote scheduled Wednesday usually is a formality accompanied by little fanfare, but Trump's supporters have latched onto the president's ceaseless claims of election improprieties, which have been thoroughly dismissed and debunked by election officials and courts across the country.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew that will be in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Thursday.
Congress may reconvene the joint session at an alternate location, according to reports that surfaced shortly after 3 p.m.
Pending the vote on Biden's victory, the President-Elect's inauguration is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
Biden said Wednesday that he is "not concerned" about the security and safety of his inauguration.
Political leaders from Pennsylvania responded to the incident in Washington, confirming they are safe and condemning the actions of the protesters who stormed the Capitol.
What we're seeing today is not democracy—it's an attempted coup.
— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) January 6, 2021
We had a free and fair election. The results were clear.
Republicans from Pres. Trump to PA legislative leaders need to stop the disinformation and tell their supporters the truth before there's further violence.
Update from Casey staff: Senator Casey was the only member of our team in the Capitol complex today. He is safe and taking direction from the United States Capitol Police.
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) January 6, 2021
This is an absolute disgrace. I appreciate the work of the United States Capitol Police under difficult circumstances. I am currently safe as are the few members of my staff that are currently at the Capitol complex.
— Senator Pat Toomey (@SenToomey) January 6, 2021
I wanted to let you know that I am safe. My heart is broken for our country.
— Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (@RepMGS) January 6, 2021
C-SPAN's live coverage of the unfolding events can be viewed below.
