Members of the Scioto Valley’s federal delegation is safe after the United States Capitol came under siege on Wednesday night.
Congressman Steve Stivers spoke to the Guardian and said he was in his office when he got an alert that protesters had breached the Capitol building and that he needed to shelter in a safe location. The protesters were part of a rally that took place in D.C. today to oppose the certifying of the November 2020 Presidential election.
When the protesters reached the Capitol, they attacked law enforcement and broke windows to gain access to the building. Congress was in session and was told to evacuate. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was ushered to safety by her protective detail, while the Secret Service rushed Vice President Mike Pence to an undisclosed location. Moments later, the protesters turned violent and started to rush the doors to the House chambers. Inside, security had their guns drawn ready to fire upon those who were trying to violently enter.
“This isn’t the way democracy works. This isn’t the way our republic functions. It’s un-American. The rioters who’ve destroyed federal property & harmed law enforcement officers must be brought to justice,” Stivers said.
After about 15 minutes, the protesters managed to make their way to the floor of the chambers, with one man standing at the podium where Speaker Pelosi and Vice President Pence were just moments before, shouting that President Donald Trump won the election in November.
At least one woman was shot and killed by law enforcement; it is unknown what her role was in the attack of the nation’s Capitol.
The National Guard was deployed from nearby Virginia and Maryland to restore order in the building. The FBI and DC police mobilized personnel, as well to assist. Just before 7:30 p.m., order was restored after heavily-armed military and police officers swept the building.
Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman were okay and have since joined their fellow Senators back on the floor of the chambers at around 8 p.m., where the process of certifying the election resumed. Congressman Mike Turner is also listed as okay, his office said.
Governor Mike DeWine said that the violence was saddening.
“The situation at the U.S. Capitol is an embarrassment to our country. This must stop immediately. The President should call for the demonstrators to leave our Capitol Building. The final step in the constitutional process of electing our president has been disrupted,” the Governor said. The stopping of the count of the Electoral College votes has occurred because the security of the U.S. Capitol has been breached by a violent mob. As a nation of laws, this is simply not acceptable. Lawlessness is not acceptable.”
President Donald Trump did not reply to a message by the Guardian asking him if he would decry the riots, but moments later he tweeted a video telling the crowd that it was “time to go home.”
Congress will continue with their session tonight to certify Joe Biden as the next President of the United States.
Comments are closed.