District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has issued a citywide curfew beginning at 6 p.m. ET for the entire city of Washington following multiple and continuing security breaches today at the U.S. Capitol complex.
As of late afternoon on Wednesday, Jan. 6, the curfew extends to 6 a.m. ET on Thursday.
“During the hours of the curfew, no person, other than persons designated by the Mayor, shall walk, bike, run, loiter, stand, or motor by car or other mode of transport upon any street, alley, park, or other public place within the District,” the mayor’s office said. The curfew order does not apply to essential workers who are working or traveling to and from work.
Based on readings of numerous creditable news reports, at least several hundred supporters of President Trump’s unfounded claims of election irregularities approached the Capitol building in the early afternoon, forced their way through security barriers manned by the U.S. Capitol Police force. The mob then entered the Capitol rotunda and both the House and Senate chambers.
The Capitol complex and several House office buildings were put under evacuation orders. Both the House and Senate chambers emptied as a result, interrupting efforts by both legislative bodies to officially tally Electoral College votes in favor of President-elect Joe Biden.
President Trump said via Twitter that he was “asking everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence!”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., responded, “It’s a little late for that. Don’t you think?”
Sen. Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a joint statement, “We are calling on President Trump to demand that all protestors leave the U.S. Capitol and Capitol Grounds immediately.”
President-elect Biden said late this afternoon that the Capitol security breach “borders on sedition and must stop now.” Biden called on President Trump “to go on national television now to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand and end to this siege.”
Here’s a sampling of lawmaker reaction today amid the unprecedented mob invasion of the Capitol complex:
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Mich., “I am safe, but heartbroken about what we are enduring at our nation’s Capitol. Running for our lives as Members of Congress in the United States is really devastating and totally shocking.”
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., “This is a coup attempt.”
Former Texas Republican Rep. Will Hurd, “This isn’t a peaceful protest. This is an attack on our democracy and domestic terrorism to try to stop certifying elections. This should be treated as a coup led by a president that will not be peacefully removed from power.”
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, “This is what the president has caused today, this insurrection.”
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., “The US Capitol is breached and in lockdown. This is the chaos sown by Trump and his enablers. I am seeing this through. Violence and intimidation can not prevail in a democracy.”
Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Pa.,“Some of my former law enforcement colleagues knew what the Trump campaign said about police, law & order was all fake. Now we can all see it. Thank you to these brave officers for doing the hard work of enforcing the law fairly against people who don’t respect the law.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., “Violent Trump supporters have stormed the Capitol. We’re on lockdown right now in the Chamber. Blood will be on the hands of those perpetrating the big lie that Trump won.”
Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., “We are witnessing absolute banana republic crap in the United States Capitol right now. @realdonaldtrump, you need to call this off.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., on MSNBC and calling in from a secure location, said the Senate will eventually get back to certifying Biden’s win. “I will not yield to these protesters who are attempting a coup,” she said.
Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., “Donald Trump is responsible for the coup that is unfolding at the Capitol. He is a fascist and a direct threat to our country.?”
