Supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, forcing Congress to evacuate as lawmakers counted electoral votes to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the November election. The chaos erupted shortly after Mr. Trump gave a speech once again falsely claiming to have won a second term and vowing “we will never concede.”
The angry mob clashed with police, climbed walls and broke windows and doors at the Capitol Building. Some breached the Senate Chamber as police officers drew their guns. The nation’s capital is under curfew tonight as a result of the violence. One woman died after she was shot at the Capitol and several others were hospitalized with injuries, officials said.
Troops from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. National Guard were deployed to help quell the violence. Several hours after the initial breach, law enforcement announced the Capitol had been secured.
The Senate reconvened around 8 p.m. ET and the House reconvened at 9 p.m. ET to continue the counting of electoral votes.
“The United States and the United States Congress have faced down much greater threats than the unhinged crowd we saw today,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel. “We’ve never been deterred before. And we’ll not be deterred today.”
Mr. Trump told his supporters to go home but repeated the false, inflammatory claim that the election had been stolen. “We have to have peace, we have to have law and order,” the president said.
