UPDATE: see end of this article for breaking news
Hearing news of rioters fresh from a rally with President Donald Trump storming the United States' Capitol building in Washington, D.C. after being told to go there and give Congress a message by the lame duck POTUS, was hardly the way any of us wanted to start 2021.
The details surrounding the event continue to be more and more appalling.
This includes but is not limited to the involvement of newly-elected West Virginia Republican lawmaker Derrick Evans, who not only took part in the storming of the Capitol, but who livestreamed it on Facebook.
The violent assault and vandalism spree lead to five deaths including a Capitol police officer.
Evans has since taken all of the videos down from his personal account, but the video of him and the other rioters breaking into the building and milling around the lobby is still readily available across social media platforms.
You can watch the video here:
In the video, Evans readily took part in mob-like behavior, chanting Trump's name, chanting "USA," and assisting in the crowd's push into the building past law enforcement.
When the group got the doors open and forced their way in, Evans could be heard yelling:
"We're in! We're in! We're in! Let's go! Keep it moving, baby!"
When Evans crossed the threshold, Evans identified himself:
"Derrick Evans is in the Capitol!"
As the rioters mulled around the lobby of the Capitol, some taking photographs with statues, Evans said:
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe we're in here right now. Who thought this was going to happen today?"
Those watching on social media, however, did not have the same in-awe reaction that Evans expressed.
Those watching on Facebook and Twitter were disgusted at the breach, calling for Evans to be removed from office and potentially imprisoned.
Paula Jean Swearengin/Facebook
Paula Jean Swearengin/Facebook
Paula Jean Swearengin/Facebook
Paula Jean Swearengin/Facebook
Paula Jean Swearengin/Facebook
Paula Jean Swearengin/Facebook
Paula Jean Swearengin/Facebook
Fellow West Virginia leaders, including Republican Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, appeared to have similar thoughts on their minds.
Hanshaw said in a public statement:
"[Lawmaker Derrick Evans] will need to answer to his constituents and colleagues regarding his involvement in what has occurred today."
He elaborated:
"While free speech and peaceful protests are a core value of American society, storming government buildings and participating in a violent intentional disruption of one of our nation's most fundamental political institutions is a crime that should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Fellow Democratic leaders similarly called for Evans to resign and agreed:
"[Derrick Evans should be] prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
An online petition is also circulating among civilians and boasts more than 51,000 signatures, for the new lawmaker to be removed from office.
Evans stated through his lawyer he will not resign. The West Virginia House of Delegates is looking at options for expelling him.
UPDATE:
On Friday, Evans was arrested according to local news correspondent Chad Hedrick of NBC affiliate WSAZ NewsChannel 3 in Huntington-Charleston, West Virginia.
Earlier in the day, WSAZ reported Evans would face federal charges for entering a restricted area when he stormed the Capitol with other Trump supporters.
Initially refusing to resign from the West Virginia House of Delegates, Evans announced his resignation Saturday "effective immediately."
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