Top to bottom, left to right: Crowds gathered outside of the Capitol, President Donald Trump speaking to supporters at the "Save America" rally, protesters gathered at Black Lives Matter Plaza
Date
January 6, 2021 (2021-01-06) about 2p.m. – 5:40p.m.[1] (EST)
Following several weeks of fiercely disputed claims by Trump about electoral fraud in the November 2020 election, thousands of his supporters gathered in Washington, D.C. on January 5 and 6 to protest the election results and demand that Vice PresidentMike Pence and Congress reject Biden's victory.[17][18][19] On the morning of January 6, protesters assembled at the "Save America" rally[20][21] on the Ellipse, where President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and several members of Congress addressed the crowd.[22] Trump encouraged his supporters to "fight like hell" to "take back our country" and to march towards the Capitol.[23][24]
Trump's supporters subsequently stormed the Capitol building[25] during the Electoral College vote count. As the rioters entered the Capitol by breaking through windows and doors, Capitol security evacuated the Senate and House of Representatives chambers. Several buildings in the Capitol complex were evacuated, and all of them were subsequently locked down.[26] Rioters broke past security to occupy the evacuated Senate chamber while guards drew handguns to prevent entry to the evacuated House floor.[27][28][29][30][31]
Five people have been confirmed dead from the events and others were seriously injured. One woman attempting to enter the House chamber through a barricaded door was shot by law enforcement and later died.[32][33][34]Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick collapsed after being attacked with a fire extinguisher by rioters and later died.[11][35] Three protesters suffered fatal medical emergencies during the event.
Trump reacted slowly to the storming, eventually praising the rioters as "great patriots" and telling them to "go home in peace" while reiterating false claims of election fraud, one of the primary motivators for the protests and subsequent incursion.[36][37] The crowd was then dispersed out of the U.S. Capitol later that evening. The process to certify Electoral College results resumed shortly after 8 p.m. that evening and continued to its conclusion the following morning. Under pressure from his administration, including many resignations, Trump committed to an "orderly transition" of power in a statement.[38][39][40]
With Congress scheduled to meet on January 6, 2021, to count the results of the Electoral College vote, Trump announced plans for a rally ahead of the event to continue his protest on the validity of several states' election results. On December 18, Trump announced, "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!"[51] Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser requested on December 31, 2020, that District of Columbia National Guard troops be deployed to support local police during the anticipated demonstrations. She wrote in her request that the guards would not be armed, and that they would be primarily responsible for "crowd management" and traffic direction, allowing police to focus on security concerns. Acting Secretary of DefenseChristopher C. Miller approved the request on January 4, 2021. The approval activated 340 troops, with no more than 114 to be deployed at any given time.[52] Three days before the riots, the Pentagon twice offered to send in the National Guard, but were told by the United States Capitol Police that it would not be necessary.[53]
Trump had spent previous days suggesting that Pence should reject Biden's victory, an act that is not within Pence's constitutional powers as vice president, and he repeated this call in his speech on the morning of January 6.[54] The same afternoon, Pence released a letter to Congress in which he said he would not challenge Biden's victory.[54][55]
Planning of storming
Many websites used to plan the events at the Capitol are regarded as "alt-tech" platforms, distinct from larger social media platforms such as Reddit, Twitter, and other sites that have implemented bans to censor violent language and images. Sites like TheDonald.win, founded after its predecessor was banned from Reddit; social networking service Parler; the chat app Telegram; and others were used to discuss previous Trump rallies and make plans for storming the Capitol.[56] At least one group, Stop the Steal, posted on December 23, 2020, their plans to occupy the Capitol with promises to "escalate" if they were met with opposition from law enforcement.[57] Many of the posters planned for potential violence prior to the event, with some individuals discussing how to avoid police on the streets and which tools to bring to help pry open doors.[58]
Events in the District of Columbia
Thousands of attendees gathered in Freedom Plaza on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, in advance of protests planned for the week.[59] On Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, at least ten people were arrested, several on weapons charges.[29]
"Save America March" in Washington, D.C.
Protesters at Union Station in the morning on January 6
On the morning of January 6, protesters surrounded the Washington Monument to rally. Several people gave speeches on the Ellipse, including Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani and Trump himself. Giuliani addressed the crowd, repeating conspiracy theories that voting machines used in the election were "crooked" and calling for "trial by combat".[60] Congressman Mo Brooks told the crowd "Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass" and Congressman Madison Cawthorn said "this crowd has some fight."[61][62]
Trump gave a speech from behind a glass barrier, declaring he would "never concede" the election, criticizing the media and calling for Pence to overturn the election results, something that was not within Pence's constitutional power.[54][63]
Trump urged his supporters to march on the Capitol, where Congress meets:
You'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong. We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard today.[64]
Trump also told his supporters to "fight. We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore." He declared they would be "going to the Capitol and we're going to try and give [Republicans] the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country".[24] Trump's speech, replete with misrepresentations and lies, inflamed the crowd.[38]
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump also spoke, verbally attacking Republican congressmen and senators who were not supporting the effort to challenge the Electoral College vote, and promising to campaign against them in future primary elections.[65]
Rioting in the Capitol building
Police release tear gas outside the United States Capitol
At about 1:00p.m. local time, hundreds of participants of Trump's rally, encouraged by Trump's speech, left the rally and advanced on the Capitol building.[66] Some of the protesters arrived at the Capitol in response to posts on pro-Trump far-rightsocial media websites, including Gab and Parler, which featured calls for violence against Congress, and included adherents to groups such as QAnon and the Proud Boys, among others.[67]
File:Video shot by Congressman Dan Kildee D-Flint - via Michael Moore on Facebook Watch.webmVideo shot inside the House of Representatives chamber with armed security blocking the doorsFile:Persons of interest Washington DC 6 January 2021.pdfPhotographs released by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department of events inside the Capitol
The crowd became violent just after 2 p.m.[2] As rally attendees arrived at the Capitol to meet other protesters already gathered there, at about 2:15p.m. the barricades around the perimeter of the Capitol grounds manned by the District of Columbia police were breached, and Capitol security advised the members of Congress to take cover.[68][69] As rioters began to storm the Capitol and other nearby buildings, some buildings in the complex were evacuated, and rioters broke past security to enter the Capitol itself, including the National Statuary Hall.[29][30] At the time of the disruption, the joint session of Congress had split up so that each chamber could separately debate and then vote on an objection to accepting the certified results of the slate of electors from Arizona that was raised by representative Paul Gosar from Arizona and signed on by Senator Ted Cruz from Texas, with both chambers roughly halfway through their two-hour debate on the motion.[70][71]
After breaching the security perimeter,[72][73] most rioters simply walked into the Capitol on foot; others used ropes and makeshift ladders, and some broke windows to get in.[74] The crowd of pro-Trump extremists swept past barriers and officers, with some members of the mob spraying officers with chemical agents.[2] Some of the rioters carried Confederate flags,[2][75]Nazi emblems,[76] and wore riot gear, including helmets and military-style vests.[2] Outside the building, the mob put up a gallows, punctured a police vehicle's tires, and left a note saying "PELOSI IS SATAN" on the windshield.[2]
People inside the Capitol being evacuated. Staff and reporters inside the building were taken by secure elevators to the basement, and then to an underground bunker constructed following the 2001 attempted attack on the Capitol. Evacuees were redirected after the bunker was also infiltrated by the pro-Trump mob.[77]
All buildings in the complex were subsequently locked down, with no entry or exit from the buildings allowed. Those within the building were asked to move into offices and lock their doors and windows; those outside were advised to "seek cover".[26] At approximately 2:15p.m., an armed police officer entered the Senate chamber, positioned facing the back entrance of the chamber, while debate over the Arizona electoral college votes continued. Moments later, Pence was escorted out by members of the Secret Service, and banging could be heard from outside as people attempted to breach the doors. After Pence left, Arizona's senior senator, Kyrsten Sinema, finished her defense before the Senate was recessed at 2:20p.m., and the chamber was then locked down. At 2:30p.m., it was evacuated.[77][78] After evacuation, the mob briefly took control of the Senate chamber, with some posing with raised fists on the Senate dais that Pence had left minutes earlier.[2]
Members of Congress inside the House were told to put on gas masks after law enforcement began using tear gas within the building.[79] Staff members removed boxes of sealed electoral vote certificates to prevent them from being damaged by rioters.[80][81][69]ABC News reported that shots were fired within the Capitol building.[79][82] After rioters broke into the Capitol, there was an armed standoff at the front door of the House chamber; as the mob attempted to break in, security personnel drew their guns inside the House of Representatives chamber[2] and pointed them towards the doors to the chamber, which were barricaded with furniture.[83] In a stairway, one officer fired a shot at a man coming toward him.[32]
The rioters caused extensive physical damage.[2] Social media photos shared by protesters showed criminal activities such as theft and vandalism.[3] Multiple protesters also documented themselves occupying the Capitol and the offices of various representatives.[84][85][86] Rioters stormed the offices of Speaker of the HouseNancy Pelosi, flipping tables and ripping photos from walls,[87][88] the office of the Senate Parliamentarian was ransacked,[89]art was looted,[2] and Capitol Police officers reported that the building had been "trashed".[90] Glass windows were smashed throughout the building, leaving the floor littered with glass and debris.[2] Rioters destroyed Associated Press recording and broadcasting equipment outside the Capitol after chasing away reporters,[91] and officers were injured in the violence at the Capitol.[92]
At approximately 3:45p.m., Miller spoke with Pence, Pelosi, McConnell and Schumer, and directed the National Guard and other "additional support" to respond to the riot.[100][101] The order to send in the National Guard, which Trump initially resisted, was approved by Vice President Pence.[102][103] This bypassing of the chain of command has not been explained.[104]
It took more than three hours for police to retake control of the Capitol, using riot gear, shields, and batons.[2] Capitol Police were assisted by the local D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.[2]Smoke grenades were deployed on the Senate side of the Capitol by Capitol Police working to clear rioters from the building.[90] FBI and Department of Homeland Security agents wearing riot gear entered the Dirksen Senate Office Building around 4:30p.m.[105]
Governor of New JerseyPhil Murphy announced at 4:57p.m. that elements of the New Jersey State Police were being deployed to the District of Columbia at the request of D.C. officials, and that the New Jersey National Guard was prepared for deployment if necessary.[106]
Shortly before 5:00p.m., congressional leaders were reportedly being evacuated from the Capitol complex to Fort McNair, a nearby Army base.[107] At around 5:40p.m., the Sergeant at Arms announced that the Capitol had been secured.[108]
As police continued to try to push rioters away from the Capitol, protests continued, some moving out of the Capitol Hill area. Some verbal and physical attacks on reporters were reported, with attackers denigrating media outlets as providing "fake news".[80]
Riot police and protesters outside the United States Capitol in the evening
By 6:08p.m., police had arrested at least thirteen people and seized five firearms during the day's events.[109] Although Mayor Bowser had ordered a 6:00p.m. curfew, it went largely ignored, and hundreds of pro-Trump demonstrators remained in the Capitol Hill area.[110]
It was reported that 2,700 troops of the Washington, D.C. National Guard and 650 troops of the Virginia National Guard would be sent to Washington, D.C., on the night of January 6.[111]Governor of New YorkAndrew Cuomo pledged to deploy a thousand members of the New York National Guard to D.C., in addition to the resources promised by other states.[112] On the night of January 6, Mayor Bowser issued an order extending the public emergency in Washington, D.C., for 15 days, writing in the order that she expected some people would "continue their violent protests through the inauguration".[113][114] The following day, Secretary of the ArmyRyan D. McCarthy announced that a fence would be built around the Capitol building, and remain in place for at least 30 days; construction of the fence began that same day. McCarthy also stated that New Jersey National Guard troops would be mobilized, as would as troops from the Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania National Guards.[6]
Giuliani voicemail
Congressional staffers removed the Electoral College certificates from the Capitol as it was evacuated.
Shortly after the Capitol was secured, Giuliani continued efforts on Trump's behalf to block the certification of electoral votes for Biden.[115] Giuliani left a voicemail message around 7:00p.m. that was intended for Senator Tommy Tuberville, but was mistakenly left for a different senator after Giuliani called the wrong number. He urged Tuberville to further delay the certification process.[116][117]TheWrap wrote that Giuliani "it seemed, tried to call one of Trump's Senate allies to beg for more help pulling off what amounts to a coup".[118]
I'm calling you because I want to discuss with you how they're trying to rush this hearing, and how we need you, our Republican friends, to try to just slow it down so we can get these legislatures to get more information to you. And I know they're reconvening at 8:00[p.m.] tonight, but it... the only strategy we can follow is to object to numerous states and raise issues so that we get ourselves into tomorrow—ideally until the end of tomorrow.
Giuliani also shared displeasure with the decisions of Mitch McConnell, saying: "McConnell is doing everything he can to rush it, which is kind of a kick in the head because it's one thing to oppose us, it's another thing not to give us a fair opportunity to contest it" and asking Tuberville to "object to every state and, along with a congressman, get a hearing for every state, I know we would delay you a lot, but it would give us the opportunity to get the legislators who are very, very close to pulling their vote, particularly after what McConnell did today".[118]
Congress reconvened after the Capitol was cleared of trespassers, with the Senate resuming its session at around 8:00 p.m. on January 6 to finish debating the objection to the Arizona electors. At 9:58 p.m., the Senate rejected the objection 93–6, with only six Republicans voting in favor: Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Neely Kennedy, Roger Marshall and Tommy Tuberville.[119] At 11:08 p.m., the House of Representatives also rejected the motion by a margin of 303–121. All of the "yeas" came from Republicans while the "nays" were from 83 Republicans and 220 Democrats.[120]
Another objection was raised by Republican Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri to the Pennsylvania slate of electors, triggering another two-hour split in the joint session to debate the objection.[121] At 12:30 a.m. on January 7, the Senate rejected this objection as well by a 92–7 vote, with the same people voting the same way as before with the exceptions of Senators Cynthia Lummis and Rick Scott voting in favor and John Kennedy voting against.[122] At 3:08 a.m., the House of Representatives similarly rejected the motion to sustain the objection by a margin of 282–138. Again, all of the votes in favor were Republican, while this time, only 64 Republicans voted against and 218 Democrats voted against.[123]
At 3:41a.m., Congress confirmed the outcome of the Electoral College vote, Biden's 306 votes to Trump's 232, with Pence declaring that Biden and Harris would take office on January 20.[124][125][126][127]
Events outside the District of Columbia
State capitols
Multiple U.S. state capitols closed for safety reasons after the storming of the U.S. Capitol.[128][129] Several states also experienced protests and riots.
Eleven people were arrested in Sacramento, California, for illegal possession of pepper spray. No injuries were reported, but there was at least one reported assault. Several roads were closed in downtown Sacramento and some bus lines were stopped, with over 200 police assigned to the demonstration. Some members of the crowd wore t-shirts supporting the far-right Proud Boys.[130][131]Militia members in Georgia also attempted to storm the Georgia State Capitol, leading to the evacuation of Georgia Secretary of StateBrad Raffensperger and other officials.[132] By about 3:15p.m on January 6, 2021, it was reported that the majority of the demonstration had disbanded outside of the Georgia Capitol.[133] Protests took place inside the Kansas State Capitol.[134] A capitol security guard stated that protesters were allowed in the rotunda, as they had a permit to protest there.[135][136]
A peaceful "Storm the Capitol" rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, was met by about 30 Minnesota State Patrol troopers and did not breach the state capitol. Demonstrators then marched to the governor's residence.[137] The protesters cheered upon learning that rioters in Washington had entered the U.S. Capitol.[138] Protesters in Lincoln, Nebraska, gathered outside the state capitol during the opening of the new session of the Nebraska Legislature.[139] Protesters and counter-protesters demonstrated at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. One brief violent incident was reported.[140] The Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City was the site of another protest. One arrest was made on charges of attempted arson as well as assault and battery for attempting to light other people's flags on fire.[141] The protest numbered in the hundreds and was otherwise peaceful.[142] A crowd also formed in Carson City, Nevada.[143]
Donald Trump's statement during the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The video was originally posted on Twitter and shared on other social media before being removed from all platforms for violating various policies.
On January 6, Trump tweeted at 2:38p.m., "Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!".[157]
He had spent previous weeks promoting the Saving America rally.[158]
Trump later tweeted at 3:13p.m., "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!".[159]
At 4:22p.m., Trump issued a video message on social media. In it, he said to his supporters, in part, "This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You're very special. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But go home and go home in peace."[36] Trump was "initially pleased" when his supporters breached the Capitol and refused to intercede.[160]
These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!
Trump later tweeted: "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long". He then issued a call: "Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!".[37][162][163] A White House adviser said that Trump did not want to do more to calm the riots, and added "If we could throw him to the angry mob, we'd throw him to the angry mob now".[164][161]
Shortly after upload, Trump's video message was removed by Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for violating site policies on "civil integrity" and election misinformation.[165]
Facebook executive Guy Rosen stated that the video was removed because "it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence."[166] That evening, Twitter locked Trump's account for twelve hours and threatened a permanent suspension for "repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy". Twitter also required him to remove three of his tweets.[167][168] The following day, Facebook and its platforms, including Instagram, announced they had banned Trump indefinitely, at least until he steps down from the presidency. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote, "The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor".[169]Twitch later announced it had disabled Trump's channel on the platform.[170]
Shortly after Congress certified Biden's victory, Trump's spokesman Dan Scavino issued a statement from Trump saying, "Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th. I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it's only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!"[171]
In a video statement released on January7, Trump condemned the violence at the Capitol, said "a new administration will be inaugurated", widely seen as a concession, and that his "focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly, and seamless transition of power" to the Biden administration.[172] White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany had attempted to distance the administration from the rioters' behavior in a televised statement earlier in the day.[173]
The Guardian newspaper stated, "The assault on the citadel of American democracy fueled a sense of foreboding about what the president, who possesses the nuclear codes, is capable of before he makes way for Joe Biden on 20 January. He could, for example, encourage his followers to march on government buildings and other state capitols again."[174]
Mike Pence
Pence tweeted at 3:35p.m. on January 6, "This attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law".[175] He later spoke to the Senate when they reconvened on the night of January 6, saying, "Today was a dark day in the United States Capitol... To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins. And this is still the People's House."[176][177]
On January 6 at 4:06p.m., President-electJoe Biden addressed the nation from Wilmington, Delaware, calling the events an insurrection and borderline sedition, and said that "our democracy is under unprecedented assault".[178][179]
He called upon Trump to go on national television and demand an end to the protests.[180][181]
Minutes afterward, Vice president-elect Kamala Harris reiterated Biden's comments, writing that the protests were an "assault on the Capitol and our nation's public servants".[182] The following day Biden said the attack constituted domestic terrorism.[183]
Congress
Schumer's speech following the riot, during the reconvening of Congress later that evening.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell broke rank with the President and called the storming of the Capitol a "failed insurrection" and said "we are back at our posts, we will discharge our duty under the Constitution and for our nation. And we're going to do it tonight."[184] Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called upon Trump to "demand that all protesters leave the U.S. Capitol and Capitol Grounds immediately".[185] Schumer, in his speech following the resuming of Senate business, labelled those participating in the storming of the Capitol as "domestic terrorists" whose actions will be a "stain on our country not so easily washed away".[186]
Pelosi later stated, following her announcement that the electoral vote count would proceed during the evening of January 6, "let us pray that this instigation to violence will provide an epiphany for our country to heal".[187]
Representative Cori Bush tweeted her intent to introduce a resolution calling for the expulsion of "Republican members of Congress who have incited this domestic terror attack through their attempts to overturn the election".[188][189] Almost one hundred Democratic Members of Congress called for Trump's removal from office, either through impeachment or the 25th Amendment.[190]
Republican U.S. RepresentativeAdam Kinzinger condemned the violence and described the events as a "coup attempt".[48] Congresswoman Liz Cheney, the Chair of the House Republican Conference, said "No question the President formed the mob, the President incited the mob, the President addressed the mob. He lit the flame."[191] Newly-sworn-in Representative Nancy Mace, who had worked for the President's 2016 campaign, stated that "everything that he's worked for ... all of that—his entire legacy—was wiped out" by the violence.[192] Representative Mike Gallagher remarked of the riots that he had "not seen anything like this since I deployed to Iraq".[193] Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who had planned to oppose the certification of the electoral vote, announced that she would no longer object to the Electoral College results after witnessing the "disgraceful and un-American" events of January 6.[194] She was joined by senators Kelly Loeffler, Steve Daines, James Lankford, Marsha Blackburn, and Mike Braun, all of whom reversed course on the issue of contesting the electoral vote after witnessing the violence of the mob.[195]
Senator Mitt Romney of Utah stated, "What happened at the U.S. Capitol today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States" and part of "an unprecedented attack on our democracy".[196] Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska said, "This violence was the inevitable and ugly outcome of the president's addiction to constantly stoking division."[197] Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania took to the Senate floor to say, "We saw bloodshed because a demagogue chose to spread falsehoods and sow distrust of his own fellow Americans."[198] Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina said, "The President bears responsibility for today's events by promoting the unfounded conspiracy theories that have led to this point."[199] Senator Ted Cruz condemned the protest and said, "Violence is always unacceptable. Even when passions run high. Anyone engaged in violence—especially against law enforcement—should be fully prosecuted."[200] Cruz himself was urged to resign by Democratic politicians, who criticized him for helping to instigate the riots.[201]
Other domestic reactions
Against rioters
All four living former presidents—Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter—denounced the storming of the Capitol, with Obama and Clinton condemning Trump for inciting the violence.[202] Bush, who had before this infrequently commented on national matters since leaving office in 2009, released a statement saying "this is how election results are disputed in a banana republic – not our democratic republic." Furthermore, he was "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."[203] Obama wrote that "History will rightly remember today's violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president, who has continued to lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation" but that the violence was unsurprising given the two-month campaign by "a political party and its accompanying media ecosystem" to promote a "fantasy narrative" that "has spiraled further and further from reality ... whipped up into a violent crescendo."[204]
Ivanka Trump, the president's eldest daughter, was criticized for addressing the rioters as "American patriots" in a now-deleted tweet publicly urging the cessation of violence.[211]Terry Gainer, a former chief of the U.S. Capitol Police and former Senate sergeant-at arms, described the protests as unprecedented in law enforcement, declaring that "this is a much more hateful crowd incited by the president himself. It's definitely something new in our business."[212]
Former acting CIA director Michael Morell (2010–2013) said, "We should be calling what happened [on January 6] domestic terrorism."[215]
Many news outlets, including CNN,[216]USA Today,[217]The Guardian,[218]The Washington Post,[219] and CBS News,[220] criticized the police response to the storming of the Capitol in contrast to the police response to the Black Lives Matter protests earlier in the year. In June 2020, 5,000 National Guard members guarded the White House during Black Lives Matter demonstrations,[218] however in an attempt to avoid inflaming tensions since those protests, Mayor Muriel Bowser opted not to call National Guard members from other states for the January 6, 2021 demonstrations, causing the law enforcement presence to be "relatively small" and "not prepared for rioters".[221][222]
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote that "Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden."[223]
Chuck Schumer stated, "What happened at the US Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president. This president should not hold office one day longer," Schumer called on Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment that enables power to be transferred from the president to the vice-president.[224]
Support for rioters
At least six Republican state legislators, including West Virginia Delegate Derrick Evans, Tennessee Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, Virginia State Senator Amanda Chase, Missouri State Representative Justin Hill, Pennsylvania State Senator Doug Mastriano, and Michigan State Representative Matt Maddock, were present at the event. Representative Weaver claimed to have been "in the thick of it," while Delegate Evans filmed himself entering the Capitol Building alongside rioters. All denied participating in acts of violence.[225]
The sergeant-at-arms of the Republican Party of Texas was removed after expressing support for the rioters on Facebook.[226]
Coverage of the event on Fox News was mixed to positive. Lou Dobbs criticized Capitol police for drawing guns "on American citizens, most of whom are patriots."[227] Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum initially supported the rioters after they breached the Capitol grounds, remarking on-air that "This is a huge victory for these protesters. They have disrupted the system in an enormous way!"[228] She later contradicted herself, calling the images "stark and so disturbing," but without disavowing her previous statements.[229] Host Pete Hegseth defended rioters, stating "They just love freedom", and that "people feel like the entire system is rigged against them."[230]
The Proud Boys posted messages boasting and taking credit for causing "absolute terror".[233]
False flag conspiracies
Some Trump loyalists falsely claimed that the incident was a false flag operation staged by antifa to implicate Trump supporters. A facial recognition company denied a report by Rowan Scarborough published in The Washington Times that its products had identified participants in the incursion as antifa members, which was promoted by Fox News host Laura Ingraham and congressman Matt Gaetz and went viral among Trump supporters. The Times removed the story from its website hours later and issued a correction. Similar baseless accusations of antifa false flag operations had circulated among Trump supporters since 2017.[234]
Opinion polling
A YouGov poll of registered voters found that overall, 71% opposed the storming of the Capitol (while 21% supported it), and 62% believed that the storming should be considered a threat to democracy. Among Republicans, 45% of Republicans supported the storming, with 43% opposed. In contrast, 96% of Democrats and 67% of independents were opposed.[235]
Over 70 other countries and international organizations have all expressed their concerns over the protests and condemned the violence, with some specifically condemning Trump's own role in inciting the attack.[236][237] Multiple world leaders have made a call for peace, describing the riots as "an attack on democracy".[238]
Aftermath
Investigations
Capitol security lapses
Pro-Trump protesters around the Capitol on the evening of January 6
Law enforcement's failure to prevent the mob from breaching the Capitol attracted scrutiny to the 1,700-member Capitol Police and other police agencies involved.[239] Prior to the storming of the Capitol, the barriers erected were low and most officers were in regular uniforms rather than riot gear, aimed at managing a protest rather than deterring an attack.[239] Policing experts criticized the Capitol Police's preparation and initial response, stating that the agency had underestimated the potential threat from the Trump supporters; unwisely allowed rioters to gather on the Capitol steps; and failed to immediately arrest the rioters, or otherwise respond to the disorder, after the forced entry.[239]TheWashington Post reported that the Capitol Police was caught off guard by an overwhelming crowd, and did not have the personnel to immediately detain all the intruders; the Post further noted that "some officers were captured on video appearing to stand back as rioters streamed inside."[239] Some of the shortfall in staffing was attributable the COVID-19 pandemic, with officers who were quarantined after being infected with or exposed to SARS-CoV-2.[239]
Footage emerged on social media of police allowing rioters through barricades into the Capitol, and one officer was filmed taking a "selfie" with a rioter inside the building.[240][241][242] Representative Jim Cooper was concerned that Capitol Police could have been complicit in the breach, saying "At worst, [Capitol Police] let this protest proceed unlike any other".[243] U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren, who chairs a committee responsible for Capitol security, said Capitol Police chief Steven Sund lied to her before the event about the preparations he had made and the readiness of the National Guard.[244] Multiple European security officials, including two intelligence officials from NATO member countries, in interviews with Business Insider suggested the breach may have been abetted by "tacit support" of the attackers among members of Capitol Police and other federal agencies assisting with Capitol complex security.[245]Politico reported some rioters briefly showing their police badges or military identification to law enforcement as they approached the Capitol.[246] A laptop owned by Senator Jeff Merkley was stolen, and the Justice Department noted in a briefing that "national security equities" may have been stolen. Representative Ruben Gallego noted that "we have to do a full review of what was taken, or copied, or even left behind in terms of bugs and listening devices".[246]
Representative Tim Ryan, the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch (which has budgetary authority over the Capitol Police), announced that he would begin an inquiry into security lapses that allowed the violent mob to overrun the Capitol and breach into the legislative chambers. Ryan indicated that he expected some officers in the Capitol Police to be fired, and cited a "lack of professional planning and dealing" and "strategic mistakes" ahead of "the insurrection and the attempted coup."[247]
The law enforcement failures that allowed the storming of the Capitol led the U.S. Secret Service to initiate a review of its security plans for the inauguration of Joe Biden on January 20, 2021.[239]
Accusations of differential treatment
Police officers before the storming
Civil rights organizers and political commentators pointed out that groups involved with racial injustice protests in D.C. during the prior summer had been subjected to much harsher tactics and treatment than what had been used towards the protesters who stormed the Capitol.[248][249] Multiple media outlets covered posts from users on social media which made claims that due to white privilege and male privilege, the police treated the protesters with more leniency than they would people of color or disabled individuals,[250] with many citing a moment where a police officer took a "selfie" with a protester.[251] U.S. Representative Tim Ryan commented "If Black people were storming the Capitol, they would have been treated so much differently than they were today. I don’t think there's any question that communities of color would have been handled much, much differently."[247]
Resignations
The day after the attack, Pelosi called upon Capitol Police chief Steven Sund to resign, citing a failure of leadership, and stated she had been unable to reach Sund since the attacks.[252] Sund announced his resignation that day, effective January 16.[253][244] On the same day, the resignation of Paul D. Irving, Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives, was announced. Chuck Schumer stated that he would fire Michael C. Stenger, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, upon becoming majority leader later in January.[244] Shortly thereafter, outgoing Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked for and received Stenger's resignation, effective immediately.[244]
Identification of rioters
The day after the storming of the Capitol, the FBI and D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department requested the public for assistance to identify any of the rioters.[254][255] Journalists from CNN separately identified a few of the participants, including Jake Angeli, a QAnon conspiracy theorist; Tim Gionet (also known as Baked Alaska), a neo-Nazi social media personality; and Nick Ochs, founder of the Proud BoysHawaii chapter.[256]Bloomberg News journalists stated that far-rightradio show host and conspiracy theoristAlex Jones was a leader of the march to the Capitol that preceded the riots;[257] a Vice journalist reported that members of the Nationalist Social Club, a neo-Nazi street gang, were also present at the Capitol.[258]
At least six Republican state legislators were identified at the rally and its chaotic aftermath, including West Virginia Delegate Derrick Evans; Tennessee Representative Terri Lynn Weaver; Virginia State Senator Amanda Chase; Missouri State Representative Justin Hill; Pennsylvania State Senator Doug Mastriano; and Michigan State Representative Matt Maddock. While Representative Weaver claimed to have been "in the thick of it" and Delegate Evans filmed himself entering the Capitol Building, all denied participating in violence.[225]
Improvised explosive devices were found in several locations in Washington, D.C. A device suspected to be a pipe bomb was discovered adjacent to a building containing Republican National Committee (RNC) offices. A search of the nearby area found another suspected pipe bomb under a bush at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters.[4] These devices were believed to have been planted prior to the riots.[260] Another suspected pipe bomb was also found on the grounds of the Capitol complex.[261] Both the RNC building and the DNC headquarters are a few blocks from the Capitol.[262] The RNC and DNC devices were safely detonated by bomb squads, and police later said they were "hazardous" and could have caused "great harm".[4] The FBI distributed a photo of the person who they believe planted the devices and issued a reward of up to $50,000 for information.[260]
A vehicle containing a semi-automatic rifle and a cooler full of eleven Molotov cocktails was also found nearby.[263][264] The driver has since been arrested.[citation needed]
Casualties
Fifteen police officers were hospitalized,[265] and over 50 injured.[71]
Deaths
Five people died, at least three from medical emergencies.
Among the protesters, Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, died after being shot by law enforcement inside the Capitol.[266] As the rioters tried to break through the barricaded doors separating the hallway from the Speaker's Lobby outside the chamber of the House of Representatives shortly before 15:00 p.m., Babbitt, who was wearing a Trump flag, climbed through a smashed portion of the door and was shot by a US Capitol Police officer.[267][266] The incident was recorded on several cameras.[267] A law enforcement official told The Washington Post that the police believe she had been unarmed, but the officer who fired the fatal shot did not know that at the time, and officers were aware that many of the intruders were carrying concealed weapons.[32] The officer who shot her was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.[268] The DC Metropolitan Police Department launched an investigation into the death.[269] Babbitt was a follower of the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory, and had tweeted the previous day "the storm is here," a reference to a QAnon prediction that Trump will expose and defeat a global cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles.[270][271][272]
Three other protesters, identified as Rosanne Boyland, Kevin Greeson, and Benjamin Phillips, died as a result of medical emergencies.[273][274][275] Greeson, 55, died of a heart attack and Philips, 50, died of a stroke.[276]
Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick, himself a Trump supporter, was injured by rioters while engaging with them. Officials told The New York Times that the officer had been struck by a fire extinguisher, although it was later reported that the cause was unclear.[277][278] Sicknick later collapsed after returning to his division office. He was taken to a hospital and placed on life support, but subsequently died.[11][279][280] Sicknick was a fifteen-year veteran of the Capitol Police Force and had been on two tours in the Middle East while in the National Guard. He left the National Guard saying "I am no longer going to risk my life in hostile environments around the globe for a government that does not care about the troops. I feel that I had a simple problem the government could have easily solved."[277] Mayor Muriel Bowser offered her thoughts and prayers[281] and Congressman Madison Cawthorn expressed similar sentiments, adding that those responsible should be prosecuted.[281]
There were calls for Trump to be prosecuted for inciting the violence that led to the five deaths,[282][283] although it is not clear that the medical emergencies were due to violence. An article on Law & Crime discussed whether felony murder charges could be brought against others, either protesters, those who invaded the capital, or instigators of the rally, as suggested on "legal Twitter". It concluded that such charges were very unlikely.[284]
Resignation letter of Education secretary Betsy DeVos
Representative Adam Kinzinger (Illinois' 16th district) became the first Republican lawmaker to call for Trump to be removed via 25th Amendment.[294]
Senate Minority Leader Democrat Chuck Schumer called for Trump's immediate removal from office, by 25th Amendment or impeachment.[295] Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Vice President Pence should immediately invoke the 25th Amendment, and that the House will look to impeach him for a second time if Pence does not.[296] Pelosi said Trump "incited an armed insurrection against America" and instigated "the gleeful desecration of the U.S. Capitol [and] violence targeting Congress".[297] More than three dozen Democratic politicians, mostly members of the House,[a] have called for Trump's impeachment and removal by Congress, citing his role in inciting the riot; those calling for Trump's impeachment spanned the party's ideological spectrum.[298] Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Governor J. B. Pritzker of Illinois, both Democrats, also called for Trump to be impeached,[298][302] while Maryland Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford, a Republican, also described Trump's conduct as impeachable.[303] One Republican governor, Phil Scott of Vermont, called for Trump's removal.[298][304][298] The next day, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, also a Republican, called on Trump to step aside.[305]
Representatives Ted Lieu, Charlie Crist, and Doris Matsui called on Vice President Mike Pence to strip Trump of his presidential powers and duties via a never-before-invoked provision of the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution that allows the vice president, with a majority of Cabinet secretaries, to declare Trump "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office" by written declaration.[306][307][308] The National Association of Manufacturers also requested Pence to "seriously consider" invoking the 25th Amendment.[309] On the evening of January 6, some Cabinet members began preliminary discussions about the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump, although it was unclear whether Pence would support such a step.[310][311][312]
Yoni Appelbaum of The Atlantic called for the impeachment of Trump a second time.[313]
Several conservative commentators, including Rod Dreher, Daniel Larison, and John Podhoretz, expressed their support for the impeachment and removal of Trump.[314][315][316]
Calling the armed storming of the Capitol an "act of sedition", the Washington Post editorial board wrote that Trump's "continued tenure in office poses a grave threat to U.S. democracy" as well as to public order and national security, and called for Pence to immediately begin the 25th Amendment process to declare Trump "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office" so that Pence could serve until Biden's inauguration on January 20.[317]
Calls for Trump to be prosecuted for inciting the crowd to storm the Capitol building also were made in the rebellion's aftermath.[318] D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser stated: "We saw an unprecedented attack on our American democracy incited by the United States president. He must be held accountable. His constant and divisive rhetoric led to the abhorrent actions we saw today."[283]
The conservative editorial board of The Wall Street Journal wrote that Trump's behavior in the incident "crosses a constitutional line that Mr. Trump hasn't previously crossed. It is impeachable."[319]
^Thrush, Glenn; Dewan, Shaila; Eligon, John; MacFarquhar, Neil (January 7, 2020). "Questions mount over law enforcement's failure to protect the Capitol". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Mr. Sund said more than 50 Capitol Police and Washington Metro Police officers had been injured, and several Capitol Police officers were hospitalized with serious injuries.
^Wagner, Meg; Macaya, Melissa; Hayes, Mike; Mahtani, Melissa; Rocha, Veronica; Alfonso III, Fernando (January 6, 2021). "Armed standoff taking place at House front door". CNN. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
^Matthews, Dylan (January 6, 2021). "Watch a tearful Trump supporter ask C-SPAN if her president lied to her". Vox. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021. At least one of the group storming the Capitol, Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, was killed by an unknown shooter after she had made it inside the Capitol building.
^Lofton, Justine (January 6, 2021). "Last U.S. Capitol breach was by British during War of 1812". MLive. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021. In 1814, the Capitol was burned down in an attack by the British during the War of 1812 – until today, that was the last time the Capitol was breached.
^Dreier, Natalie (January 6, 2021). "Capitol violence: What is sedition?". Cox Media Group National Content Desk. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via KIRO.
Jacobson, Louis (January 6, 2021). "PolitiFact – Is this a coup? Here's some history and context to help you decide". PolitiFact. Retrieved January 7, 2021. A good case can be made that the storming of the Capitol qualifies as a coup. It's especially so because the rioters entered at precisely the moment when the incumbent's loss was to be formally sealed, and they succeeded in stopping the count.((cite web)): CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Dewan, Shaila (January 7, 2021). "Capitol Breach Draws Sharp Condemnation of Law Enforcement". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021. And protesters on the left saw a stark double standard, saying they had been hit with rubber bullets, manhandled, surrounded and arrested while behaving peacefully during demonstrations against racial injustice over the summer.
^"Loss of USCP Officer Brian D. Sicknick" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: United States Capitol Police. January 7, 2021. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021. At approximately 9:30 p.m. this evening (January 7, 2021), United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick passed away due to injuries sustained while on-duty. Officer Sicknick was responding to the riots on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol and was injured while physically engaging with protesters. He returned to his division office and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The death of Officer Sicknick will be investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch, the USCP, and our federal partners. Officer Sicknick joined the USCP in July 2008, and most recently served in the Department's First Responder's Unit.
^Larison, Daniel (January 6, 2021). "Remove Trump from Office". The American Conservative. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
^Selcke, Dan (January 7, 2021). "George R.R. Martin: "The Republic [is] Under Attack"". winteriscoming.net. Retrieved January 8, 2021. This is an attempted coup. Make no mistake. I am still hopeful that it will end as a failed coup, a Beer Hall Putsch, but we shall see. The inaction of law enforcement thus far has been shocking.
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