Trump supporters break into Capitol Building, disrupt Electoral College vote count
AP News captures Trump supporters rioting through the Capitol Building.
January 12, 2021
A significant contingent of the Trump supporters who showed up on Jan. 6 to protest in favor of contesting the results of the 2020 Presidential election marched from the ellipse of the White House and surrounded the United States Capitol building where Congress meets, disrupting a joint session of Congress led by Vice President Mike Pence as the electoral college vote was being counted (AP).
The rioters pushed past police barriers, smashed windows, and stormed the Capitol building, trashing offices, and entering the chambers of the House and Senate. The members of Congress and Pence were forced to evacuate and ordered to shelter-in-place before the crowd was dispersed hours later. During the riot, a pro-Trump individual named Ashi Babbitt was shot and killed by police. In addition, a police officer named Brian Sicknick died from injuries while physically engaging with protesters (National File).
The protest, originally organized by the President and several other pro-Trump organizations, came with the purpose of encouraging Pence to refuse to count electoral college votes which would have certified former Vice President Joe Biden’s election win. Many of Trump’s supporters contend that irregularities during the vote-counting process may have unfairly cost Trump the election. During Trump’s speech at the protest, Pence published a letter stating that he would not take any action to contest the results of the election (PBS).
“Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country (sic). Stay peaceful!” Trump tweeted during the riot.
Trump’s personal Twitter and multiple other social media pages to which the President has access were permanently suspended after the riot.
In an address from his home in Delaware, Biden urged Trump to demand an “end to the siege.”
The day after the riot, Trump conceded the election and called for the arrest of those who stormed the Capitol. The FBI is looking to identify participants in the riot.