Well then, today went sideways, didn't it? Your regular Slog PM has been replaced by another live blog, due to Trump inspiring his fascist followers to stage a failed Capitol coup. Some of the big updates:Hundreds of MAGA rioters stormed the Capitol building, forcing the House and Senate to suspend election certification activities and go into lockdown. Several lawmakers were trapped in the Capitol's galleries, including Seattle Rep. Pramila Jayapal who said she was "terrified for our democracy the whole time." Rich Smith has the details below. In Olympia, Trump goons breached the gates of Gov. Jay Inslee's mansion. Jon Ossoff won his Senate race against Republican incumbent Sen. David Perdue, ensuring Democratic control of the Senate. One woman shot in the Capitol building died, while at least 13 people were arrested and five guns confiscated. Three of Trump's tweets stoking the mayhem at the Capitol building were taken down by Twitter. The social media site then locked him out of his account for 12 hours, saying his tweets violated their Civil Integrity policy. Facebook did something similar. At 8 pm EST, lawmakers reconvened in a joint session of Congress to confirm the 2020 election results. We have to turn this live blog off for the evening since the staff needs a break. (Help us!) But we'll be back online in the morning with more updates. Make sure to follow the various live blogs as the Senate works to confirm the Biden-Harris victory. Soldier on, Sloggers.
If you're looking for reliable people to follow on Twitter right now, The Stranger's Matt Baume started a list.
5:00 PM
Sen. Mitch McConnell is expected to take the floor momentarily. Let's see if the objections to the election's certification still stand:
4:45 PM
I bet you Vice President Mike Pence has wet his pants thrice during the past several hours hiding out in the Capitol building. In any case, noted cretin Pence made his way back to the Senate chamber after being evacuated during the MAGA mob earlier today. The Guardian notes that Pence seems to have taken over the duties traditionally carried out by the president. No way is Trump going anywhere near the Capitol tonight.
Vice President @Mike_Pence has returned to the Senate. He never left the Capitol.@VP was in regular contact w/ House & Senate leadership, Cap Police, DOJ, & DoD to facilitate efforts to secure the Capitol & reconvene Congress.
And now we will finish the People’s business.
— Devin O’Malley (@VPPressSec) January 7, 2021
In other news, Stephanie Grisham, former White House communications director and press secretary and current chief of staff of the First Lady, submitted her resignation this afternoon effective immediately. Grisham was well-known within the Trump administration and one his longest serving officials. CNN says that many White House aides are disgusted by the president's behavior and believe they can no longer work for him. Grisham's departure could be the first of many resignations in the coming days.
4:15 PM
What took them so fucking long?
This means that the account of @realDonaldTrump will be locked for 12 hours following the removal of these Tweets. If the Tweets are not removed, the account will remain locked.
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 7, 2021
Our public interest policy — which has guided our enforcement action in this area for years — ends where we believe the risk of harm is higher and/or more severe.
https://t.co/ZcbhDEAYjH
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 7, 2021
locked for 12 hours for inciting a coup on main
— Craig Bro Dude (@CraigSJ) January 7, 2021
4 PM
In a letter to her colleagues, House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that leaders of Congress have decided to continue the joint session to certify President-elect Joe Biden's win once it's safe to do so, reports CNN. “Today, a shameful assault was made on our democracy. It was anointed at the highest level of government. It cannot, however, deter us from our responsibility to validate the election of Joe Biden,” she wrote.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that he expects the joint session of Congress will resume around 8 p.m. EST, 5 p.m. PST. Only two states' electoral votes were counted before the mob of MAGA 4 Lyfers stormed the Capitol. Depending on whether or not those Republican congressional fucks decide to proceed with their ungrounded objections, the session could continue late into the night.
The electoral college certificates - ratifying Biden’s win - are being marched back to the Senate chamber. pic.twitter.com/uNte4GcF3S
— Paul Kane (@pkcapitol) January 7, 2021
3:30 PM
Protestors have breached the gates of the governor’s mansion. #OlympiaProtest pic.twitter.com/RCP6ifF1jn
— Shauna Sowersby (@Shauna_Sowersby) January 6, 2021
I guess the word of the WA GOP chair doesn't go as far as it used to! Shauna Sowersby reports that a group of Trump supporters breached the gates at around 3 p.m. It's unclear how many cops were guarding the gate, but I'll check the streams and update when I confirm. Video from Sowersby show Trumpians on the lawn and on the patio attempting to enter as a couple cops guard the front door. Chase has a good question:
has anyone asked about the bad words they spray-painted on the sidewalks https://t.co/JXtX8obDrC
— Chase Burns (@chaseburnsy) January 6, 2021
The Washington State Patrol tweeted that "the Governor and his family are in a safe location."
3:10 PM
In a tweet, President Trump defends the actions of his supporters at the Capitol today. "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long," he wrote, asking everyone to go home "with love & in peace." Fuck this guy—why is he still allowed on this platform? The tweet was removed.
Twitter removed this tweet from @realDonaldTrump. RT! pic.twitter.com/c5qoqdqt0U
— Diana West (@diana_west_) January 6, 2021
3 PM
One woman shot by police inside the Capitol building has died, reports the Washington Post and confirmed by a D.C. police spokesperson. A graphic video posted to Twitter shows a crowd of rioters inside the building, then a gunshot, then the woman draped in a Trump banner being lowered to the ground, her mouth covered in blood. She was later seen loaded into an ambulance.
The New York Times also reports that D.C. Metropolitan Police have seized five guns and arrested at least 13 people during the riots at the Capitol. In a news conference, D.C. Police Chief Robert J. Contee says the firearms included handguns and long guns and that none of the people arrested were D.C. residents. At the same conference, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser pledged that "anyone who has engaged in these activities" will be held accountable, says the Times.
I’m thankful to be safe, but it’s actually unfathomable to me that Capitol Police were this unprepared.
We knew there were going to be mass protests. We knew some people would try to storm the building. There have apparently only been 13 arrests. How did this happen?
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) January 6, 2021
3:00 PM
On a conference call from an undisclosed location in the Capitol building, Seattle Rep. Pramila Jayapal said she and most of her colleagues remain resolved to execute the will of the people by certifying the results of the 2020 Presidential election despite the attempted coup from Very Online Trumpists, and despite attempts from Congressional Republicans to stymie what used to be a largely symbolic procedure.
Jayapal, who has been using a cane to walk down stairs due to recent knee surgery, described her experience on this "very difficult day for our country." She was one among "a dozen" lawmakers in the upper gallery of the House chambers when the floor debate on the certification was taking place. Jayapal and her crew knew something was up after Capitol Police entered the chamber and removed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority leader Steny Hoyer.
When the insurrectionists breached the Capitol and entered Statuary Hall, Jayapal said the police started removing more members on the floor, but they couldn't get to her and her colleagues in the gallery, so they got stuck up there.
She said she heard gunshots "that appeared to be potentially people shooting toward the chamber," and saw officers with their guns drawn and pointed out the chamber doors. She said the cops told her and the group to ready their gas masks, but there was no tear gas fired into the chamber so far as she could tell. She also heard reports that a protester had been shot and killed, though she couldn't confirm.
I haven't read those reports on the shooting, but there's this:
A young woman was just shot in the neck right besides me in the Capitol Building pic.twitter.com/hLQo4IP8J1
— Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) January 6, 2021
As the Congress members waited for the cops to deal with the mob, she joined Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester in prayer. She said she prayed "to whoever was listening that there would peace, that there would be no violence, that no one would be hurt."
Eventually the cops cleared them to exit the chambers and head to the safe location.
In the face of an attempted coup and the sycophantic bit of durational political theater produced by influential members of the Republican party, Jayapal promised "not to let people who are seeking to overturn the election stop us from certifying the election."
"We will prevail. Our democracy is strong. It is resilient. Our job is to make sure we uphold the Constitution and our democracy, and we will do it," she said.
She demanded her Republican colleagues stop messing around with their challenges to the certification process. "They made their little protest. Let's just finish this and certify this. This is dangerous and we should get on with our business," she said.
She blamed the President for "essentially encouraging this behavior," but stopped short of calling for another impeachment. "Look, if I had my way, we would impeach him again right now," Jayapal said. "But that makes no sense. It won't happen with the Republicans. I don't think they would do it now. So I think we will have to find ways—and we are working on that—to hold him accountable. If we don't, then think of what that says to any other President."
2:45 PM
As the 6 pm curfew is set to begin in D.C., the Capitol is far from being cleared of the Trump supporters, although the Sergeant at Arms just announced that the Capitol building is now secured. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois told CBS that a "quick-thinking" Senate aide seized copies of Electoral College certificates to ensure that lawmakers could return to the process once given the all-clear. Duckworth went on to say that Democratic senators are pushing to reconvene tonight to continue their work certifying the election results. Other Congress members have been tweeting from safety that they intend to get back to it as well. This will be a long night.
As soon as the House floor is clear, we WILL continue the business of democracy. We will certify Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next President and Vice-President.
— Mike Quigley (@RepMikeQuigley) January 6, 2021
We cannot allow the actions of domestic terrorists to undermine the peaceful transition of power in our country. Americans picked a new president who wants to save lives, save our economy, and save our democracy. The certification of this election must resume immediately.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 6, 2021
1:40 PM
Taking the tone of a teacher speaking to a class who behaved poorly with a sub, President-elect Joe Biden gave remarks from Wilmington, Delaware about the chaos at the Capitol. He demanded that Trump go on national television to call for an end to the siege of Trump supporters interrupting the democratic process. "This is not dissent, it's disorder. It's chaos, it borders on sedition, and it must end now," said Biden. He then called on the "mob" to go home and for Trump to "step up." As he exited the stage, Biden told reporters, "Enough is enough is enough."
"This is not dissent, it's disorder. It's chaos, it borders on sedition, and it must end now"
President-elect Joe Biden called for the "mob" to leave the Capitol peacefully
Latest: https://t.co/w9EaSCRs5B pic.twitter.com/3xcO5l0IEK
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 6, 2021
While it's not national television, Trump has released a prerecorded video statement. And, yes, it's batshit. In the just-over-a-minute-long video addressing his supporters directly (are they checking their phones?), Trump acknowledged the "pain" of a "stolen" "landslide" election but that it's "time to go home now." "There's never been a time like this where such a thing happened, where they could take it away from all of us. From me, from you, from our country." He falsely reiterated that this was a "fraudulent election," but that "we" can't play into the hands of "these people." Trump ended the video with a call to "go home and go home in peace." Not exactly a resounding plea to go home.
pic.twitter.com/Pm2PKV0Fp3
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021
1:20
NBC News, ABC News, and AP have called the regular Senate election in Georgia for our favorite straight twink, Jon Ossoff. He has cleared the 0.5% threshold, ensuring that Republican opponent Sen. David Perdue canNOT request a recount. Suck on THAT. The Democrats now have control of the Senate, the House, and the White House. They better do fucking SOMETHING about everything that's going on today.
BREAKING: Jon Ossoff wins U.S. Senate runoff in Georgia, NBC News projects. pic.twitter.com/Aw7iivnOfB
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 6, 2021
1:15 PM
Soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are asking the President to demand all of his supporters leave the Capitol and Capitol grounds immediately. That call is echoed by other senators; Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy asked the President to "appear on TV, condemn the violence and tell people to disband."
As for our representatives from the other Washington:
Newly elected Democratic Rep. Marylin Strickland did not mince words about the insurrection at the Capitol building:
The Capitol has been breached. Both chambers have been evacuated. This is not peaceful protest, this is domestic terrorism. This violence is direct result of Trump undermining our democratic process simply because he didn't like the results. Shameful and completely reckless. https://t.co/X6F181i2sh
— Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (@RepStricklandWA) January 6, 2021
Seattle Rep. Pramila Jayapal is safe and doing some fine reporting on the ground:
I am safe and sheltering in place.
I was one of a dozen Representatives in the gallery above the House floor. We pulled out gas masks and had to get down on the ground. Capitol police barricaded the doors and had guns drawn. We were eventually told that we had to quickly exit.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 6, 2021
Democratic Rep. Adam Smith's spokesperson said staff are safe and working from home, and that Rep. Smith is safe as well. Smith just tweeted as much and said, "This attempted coup and domestic terrorist attack needs to end immediately."
Democratic Rep. Kim Schrier (and her staff) is safe, and Schrier's staff said she is sheltering in place. In a tweet she thanked all for asking about her safety. "I am safe. I am VERY worried about the state of our country, and flabbergasted that our president has not put a stop to this. I am also worried about the health and safety of the Capitol Police, and thank them for their service."
In a tweet, Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers said: "Stop these attacks on Capitol Police who serve to protect the People's House. Protesting peacefully is your right. Violence, aggression, and breaching security perimeters are not. Stop this now."
King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay said in a tweet: “The way they’re treating capitol police right now shows us it was never about “blue lives” “Blue lives” only matter to them if advancing white supremacy and helping them maintain power.”
Washington state GOP chair Caleb Heimlich is somehow shocked that Trump supporters would go this far.
This is unfathomable. I never thought I would see something like this in the greatest country in the history of the world. Violence, intimidation, and disruption of the business of the People’s House is unacceptable, and it flies in the face of our nation’s foundational values.
— Caleb Heimlich (@CalebHeimlich) January 6, 2021
Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse, who said he wouldn’t side with the insane Republican Senators trying to overturn the election, said in a tweet, “I wholeheartedly condemn this violence. This is not who we are, and this needs to stop immediately.”
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, who watched the Seattle Police Department respond to Black Lives Matter protests with massive deployments of chemical weapons said in a statement, “We are seeing the dangerous and terrifying result of a president that has instigated division since the beginning of his presidency and refuses to relinquish his power. This is what happens when the President and his enablers urge armed rebellions and sow deep distrust in the election.... Seattle will continue monitoring the situation closely. After the election, Seattle was peaceful, and we know our shared values of peace will prevail. We will not tolerate any violence or destruction to our businesses and government.”
1 PM
The Army has announced that they will activate all 1,100 troops of the District of Columbia National Guard at DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's request. According to the New York Times, the troops are being sent to the DC Armory and will deploy to the Capitol and to other points around Washington. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said the response would be led by the Justice Department. More context from the Times:
"Mr. Hoffman noted that the troops were deploying in 'support' of federal law enforcement in the district, reflecting Defense officials’ reluctance to deploy military troops at the Capitol. Defense officials want the authorities in Washington to use the local police and other law enforcement agencies to confront the protestors at the Capitol, with the National Guard troops in support, but not in the lead, to avoid the specter of a military battling election protests."
12:15 PM
Police have guns drawn at the Capitol as people break into the House chambers. People in MAGA hats stormed the offices of lawmakers and keep taking photos. The mayor of D.C. issued a 6 p.m. curfew. Someone's on Trump's Twitter account is suddenly asking people to stay peaceful, after encouraging the opposite earlier this morning. Nancy Pelosi requested the National Guard to deal with the insurgency, seeing as the Capitol police failed.
I've seen a larger police response to 30 protesters marching around Seattle on a rainy Monday night than what I am seeing right now in DC...
— Mike Scaturo (@mikescaturo) January 6, 2021
Meanwhile, in Seattle:
A mini horn-honk parade going through the U District—signs that read "TRUMP LOST! FASCISTS GET OUT!" (I assume it means to leave, not to get out and storm the Capitol.) About four cars. pic.twitter.com/SdokzudF8b
— Chase Burns (@chaseburnsy) January 6, 2021
12 PM
I need 15 monitors to keep up. The House and Senate had hardly split to hear objections regarding baseless claims of voter fraud in Arizona—McConnell did get in a speech where he scolded Republicans and told them that "Democracy would enter a death spiral" if Cruz, Hawley, and the other freaks got their way—before Democracy entered a death spiral as Trump's terrorists stormed the Capitol.
They breached the Capitol pic.twitter.com/tWKxojW2Hr
— Matt Laslo (@MattLaslo) January 6, 2021
Both the House and Senate suspended their activities, and now we're here:
Police have asked us to get gas masks out as there has been tear gas used in the rotunda.
— Jim Himes (@jahimes) January 6, 2021
Washington DC's former police chief Charles Ramsey just said this is "as close to a coup attempt that this country has ever seen."
They’re in the chamber. One is up on the dais yelling “Trump won that election!” This is insane pic.twitter.com/p6CXhBDSFT
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 6, 2021