The joint session of Congress to certify President-elect Joe Biden's electoral victory over outgoing President Donald Trump in the 2020 election was upended on Wednesday after pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol, shattering windows and ransacking offices, forcing the Vice President to evacuate and lawmakers to hide in offices.
The unprecedented siege by American extremists on the Capitol resulted in vandalized offices and tear gas wafting inside the Capitol. Guns were drawn on the House floor and radical Trump supporters paraded freely on the Senate floor.
By the end of the night, four people were dead.
It was the most alarming culmination yet of Trump's repeated lies that the 2020 election was stolen by Democrats who orchestrated widespread election fraud across numerous swing states to deliver a victory for Biden.
Though the House and Senate eventually certified Biden's victory, the nation continues to reel from the domestic terrorism unleashed on its Capitol.
In recent social media posts, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) asked people to come forward with information about the attackers.
The FBI is seeking to identify individuals instigating violence in Washington, D.C. We are accepting tips and digital media depicting rioting or violence in and around the U.S. Capitol on January 6. If you have information, visit https://t.co/buMd8vYXzH.
— FBI (@FBI) January 7, 2021
Just before the siege, Trump supporters gathered near the Capitol at a "Save America" rally, where Trump's lawyer—Rudy Giuliani—encouraged "trial by combat" to decide the election. Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL) told them to begin taking names and "kicking ass." Finally, Trump himself addressed the crowd, repeating his election lies and urging them to walk to the Capitol and "fight" for him.
This was in addition to Trump's years-long capitulation to pro-Trump militias like the Proud Boys.
People soon began informing the FBI who was responsible.
Hey @fbi there's a big white house at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, you can't miss it. Orange haired man inside, 310+ pounds, 5'10 but wears 2 inch lifts, tiny hands, ill fitting suit, bad fake tan. Whines. Answers to “Don" or “John Barron." It's him. 8 billion witnesses. https://t.co/MC8Ti5LHv8
— Dr. Sarah Parcak (@indyfromspace) January 7, 2021
I think this guy was involved. https://t.co/H6xOrhUsWT pic.twitter.com/2c6TD6pFFb
— Jazzmen Watson 👩🏾💻 (@jazzmen_k) January 7, 2021
Found one. https://t.co/WNLkBl9MYI pic.twitter.com/Cx7obp0p61
— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) January 7, 2021
Hummm, let's see 🤔
- Donald J. Trump
- Rudy Giuliani
- Katrina Pierson
- Donald Trump, Jr
- Eric Trump
- Ivanka Trump
- Jared Kushner
- Ted Cruz
- Josh Hawley
- Rick Scott
- Stephen Miller
- Cindy Hyde-Smith
- John Kennedy
- Tummy Tuberville
- Lin Wood
- James Lankford
- ... https://t.co/xyzagWCInv
— Jessika Richard (@UneNobody) January 7, 2021
Let's help out the FBI:
Donald Trump
Rudy Giuliani
Josh Hawley
Ted Cruz
start there. We have a long list for you. https://t.co/CNQgQRA144
— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) January 7, 2021
Only 50 arrests have been made so far, but FBI Director Christopher Wray assured Americans that even though the situation at the Capitol has deescalated, they're still investigating and intend to arrest the attackers, promising that no charges are off the table.
People still saw double standards in the FBI's treatment of pro-Trump extremists and its treatment of other people and groups, such as the Black Lives Matter protestors.
Y'all found a masked BLM protestor from an Etsy review. There should be no issues finding these UNMASKED folks. Pictures are everywhere. https://t.co/8AOlUobqUI
— . (@_onceuponaDIME) January 7, 2021
This y'all? https://t.co/Lv0MyRfDN0 pic.twitter.com/NiGCnXqNWN
— Sweet Safiq Sindha (@safiq5indha) January 7, 2021
Hmm wouldn't it have been easier to identify them if law enforcement had not allowed the rioters to walk out of the Capitol building unmolested? Or politely helped them down the stairs? Or arrested them instead of posing for pictures? https://t.co/AwylBHnequ
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) January 7, 2021
With all due respect, you work for the Department of Justice. The DOJ contacted me within hours of posting an offensive photo of donald trump. Hours.
There is ample evidence all over the Internet clearly identifying thousands of these actual terrorists. https://t.co/66T9IzBdNq
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) January 7, 2021
More arrests are expected soon.
