Vermont governor calls for Trump's removal

Vermont's governor was one of the voices calling for the removal of President Donald Trump today, after thousands of the president's supporters attempted to take control of the Capitol building and stoked chaos in Washington D.C. The disorder Wednesday afternoon interrupted Congressional proceedings to count the presidential Electoral College votes.

At least one person died from the resulting violence, CNN confirmed. By early evening, rioters had been cleared from the Capitol grounds and a curfew was in place in Washington, D.C., from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Congress planned to resume the electoral vote count Wednesday night, as the D.C. National Guard and other law enforcement provided security.

Due to the unrest, several Congressional Democrats demanded Trump's removal either by impeachment or through invoking the Constitution's 25th Amendment. Trump later released a statement telling the crowd of supporters to "go home", but also sympathizing with their views on the election. Twitter also locked Trump’s account for 12 hours, with a warning to stop posting information that could lead to violence, or risk being banned, according to The Washington Post.

At 5:45 p.m., Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican and longtime critic of Trump, added his voice and said U.S. democracy was "under attack" by the president.

"President Trump has orchestrated a campaign to cause an insurrection that overturns the results of a free, fair and legal election," Scott said in a statement.

In an NPR interview shared by Vermont Public Radio, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) recalled hearing the results of that campaign, as the crowd tried to force its way into the House chambers. As he and other lawmakers were being evacuated, Welch told NPR he heard a "crashing sound" as people tried to force their way inside.

"And then I saw our Capitol police, guns drawn, trying to find things that they could put against the door to hold back the incoming mob," Welch said. "And then the urgency that they displayed on their faces, again all the guns drawn, telling us to stay low, be on the floor."

In his statement, Scott noted that the presidential election results have long been confirmed.

"The fact is the results of this election have been validated by Republican governors, conservative judges and non-partisan election officials across the country,” Scott said. “There is no doubt that the president’s delusion, fabrication, self-interest, and ego have led us — step by step — to this very low, and very dangerous, moment in American history."

He added, "Enough is enough. President Trump should resign or be removed from office by his Cabinet, or by the Congress."

— Gareth Henderson

U.S. Capitol breached as police struggle to control crowd

The U.S. Capitol building was breached today, as Congress was in the process of counting the Electoral College votes certifying Democrat Joe Biden as the next president. 

The news came amid the backdrop of President Donald Trump (R) and his supporters opposing the confirmed election results for weeks, and promulgating conspiracy theories that have been widely debunked.

The Congressional proceedings were recessed on Wednesday afternoon, as the pro-Trump demonstration escalated, and all lawmakers and media in the Capitol were told to shelter in place. Shortly before 3 p.m., U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), from the locked-down Capitol, tweeted that there was tear gas in the Rotunda, and police told them to put on the gas masks which were under their seats. Some lawmakers were evacuated, and some were hunkered down in their offices nearby. 

By 3:23 p.m., House members had reportedly been removed to an undisclosed part of the Capitol building, and the Senate wing had been cleared of demonstrators. At the same time, CNN released video showing a protest turned to mob, with people seen breaking a window of the Capitol building and climbing through it. A woman was being treated for a gunshot wound on the Capitol grounds, CNN also reported. Multiple officers were reportedly injured in the violence outside the building.

Well after this chaos began, Trump via Twitter called for peaceful protest, but multiple lawmakers from both parties urged the president to speak out more forcefully. U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican, said he hadn’t seen anything like this since his military service in Iraq. He said the president should tell his followers the election “is over.”

“Call it off, Mr. President, we need you to call it off,” Gallagher told CNN. 

The entire D.C. National Guard and the Virginia State Police were both ordered to the Capitol to restore order. As of 4 p.m., a man with a bullhorn was heard by media outlets telling the crowd to attack national news organizations. 

In nationally televised remarks, President-elect Biden addressed the American people, including Trump, who he urged to get on national television and “put an end to this siege.” 

“This is not dissent, it's disorder. It borders on sedition, and it must end,” Biden said. “I call on this mob to pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward.” 

He also called for, over the next four years, a “renewal of a politics that’s about solving problems.”

“Through war and strife, America has endured much, and we will endure here, and we will prevail again, and we will prevail now,” Biden said.

— Gareth Henderson