Win McNamee / Getty Images
Updated 0721 GMT (1521 HKT) January 7, 2021
Win McNamee / Getty Images
In a shocking display of revolution, supporters of President Donald Trump broke the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as Congress met to confirm the College of Election votes for president and vice president.
The Capitol was locked and the certification vote was stopped after the protesters stormed the building. It took several hours to secure the Capitol. Vice President Mike Pence was evacuated to a safe place, as was transportation leadership.
This was the first U.S. Capitol to be dismantled since the British invaded and burned the building in August 1814, during the War of 1812, according to Samuel Holliday, director of scholarship and operations with the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. Congress returned to the Capitol in the afternoon to resume the certification process.
The Congress count of election votes is usually a little more than an afterthought. But Wednesday’s joint session was expected to be a contentious issue. Some Republicans oppose the count and delay confirmation of President Joe Biden’s victory.
His push is about to fail. Democrats and a large number of Republicans plan to vote down all the objections, saying it is a hopeless attempt to reverse the election result. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made a strong petition about Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread election fraud, warning his fellow Republicans that the results could be confirmed. choose “to harm our republic forever.”