Chaos and Violence on Capitol Hill: Rioters Storm Congress

Congressional debate over the certification of the Electoral College results was delayed for hours as some pro-Trump protestors turned to violence and overwhelmed Capitol Police. Four people died and dozens were arrested as the chaos was condemned by politicians across the political spectrum.

Summary

The certification of the Electoral College results gave way to chaos yesterday as pro-Trump rioters overwhelmed Capitol Police and made their way to the Senate floor, posing for photos, and breaking into several offices.

• After a rally on the National Mall, punctuated by a speech from President Trump, the crowd began marching to the Capitol.
• According to Politico, one woman was shot by Capitol Police and later died when a group of rioters attempted to enter the House chamber while three others died as a result of “medical emergencies.”
• As lawmakers, staff, and journalists were under lockdown and were given a “shelter in place” order, President Trump released a video asking those rioting and protesting “Go home. We love you, you’re very special” an “I know how you feel, but go home and go home in peace.”
• Facebook and Twitter both locked Trump’s accounts and removed the video.
• Axios reported that as the chaos and violence unfolded, Trump “was preoccupied by his anger about Vice President Pence” who followed through on certifying the results of the Electoral College vote.
• In the wake of the violence, GOP operatives are condemning President Trump for stoking the attack and former Trump officials urged “Trump and other Republican leaders” to “be a part of the solution.”
• Several White House aides and administration officials have resigned after Wednesday’s chaos, including the First Lady’s Chief of Staff, the White House Social Secretary, Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews, and former acting Chief of Staff and current envoy to Northern Ireland Mick Mulvaney.
• Hours after the Capitol complex was secured, Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, who chairs the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, is demanding answers on how such a security breach could have occurred.

• The New York Times and Washington Post called for Trump’s removal from office.
• In their coverage of the Electoral College certification, the New York Times said the actions of those rioting had “no parallel in modern American history”, framing it as an unprecedented action.
• NBC News’ Senior Political Analyst Jonathan Allen called the events “one of the ugliest days for democracy in memory” and blamed members of Congress’ actions for the eventual violence.
• Huffington Post gathered reactions from leaders outside America, who called the events “shameful” and “shocking”
• Vox urged everyone who participated to be arrested and prosecuted, yet the same writer defended riots in 2016, saying they “can lead to serious attention and change.”

• Editorial Boards and writers across the conservative media landscape condemned the violence.
• Bob McManus wrote in the New York Post wrote that while political violence must be condemned by all, “the center-left side of the American political spectrum” were largely silent or dismissive of the Antifa and Black Lives Matter riots of 2020.
• While Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley said the day of violence left Trump’s legacy “in tatters”, host Tucker Carlson took an outrageously sympathetic view to those committing acts of violence, saying “In the face of dissent, the first instinct of illegitimate leadership is to crack down on the population, but crackdowns never make it better.”

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© Dallas Gerber, 2021