U.S. POLITICAL REACTION TIMELINE
Pandemonium erupted Wednesday on Capitol Hill as an angry wave of Donald Trump supporters overwhelmed police barricades, flooded into the chamber and forced lawmakers to flee as Congress was certifying the results of November's presidential election. The National Post's Tyler Dawson compiled a timeline of the day based on tweets from U.S. political leaders and commentators.
Buckle up!
— Chuck Schumer, Senate Democratic leader, 8:20 a. m.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR COUNTRY, NEEDS THE PRESIDENCY MORE THAN EVER BEFORE - THE POWER OF THE VETO. STAY STRONG! — President Donald Trump,
8:22 a. m.
This is wrong and not who we are. Be peaceful and use your 1st Amendment rights, but don't start acting like the other side. We have a country to save and this doesn't help anyone.
— Donald Trump Jr., 2:17 p. m.
Today, I'm ordering a citywide curfew for the District of Columbia from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7.
— Washington Mayor Muriel
Bowser, 2: 31 p. m.
I am in the House Chambers. We have been instructed to lie down on the floor and put on our gas masks. Chamber security and Capitol Police have their guns drawn as protesters bang on the front door of the chamber. This is not a protest. This is an attack on America.
— Michigan Rep. Dan Kilgee,
2: 52 p. m.
The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the building. — Vice President Mike Pence,
3: 35 p. m.
Let me be very clear: the scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not represent who we are. What we are seeing is a small number of extremists dedicated to lawlessness. This is not dissent, it's disorder. It borders on sedition, and it must end. Now. — President- elect Joe Biden, 4:15 p. m.
I am drawing up Articles of Impeachment. Donald J. Trump should be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate.
We can't allow him to remain in office, it's a matter of preserving our Republic and we need to fulfil our oath. — Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, 4: 38 p. m.
What happened at the U.S. Capitol today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States.