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Good afternoon and welcome to the Electoral College count of PBS NewsHour special I'm Judy Ward
It is a momentous day in Washington and all eyes are on the nation's capitol as lawmakers from the
House and Senate are set to meet just 30 minutes from now to put the stamp of approval of Congress
On the presidential election result they do that by formally counting the Electoral College votes submit
Each state those results produced a win for Joe Biden learn 302 Electra
Vote to 232 for President Trump normally this is a brief predictable procedure
The President Trump and many of his allies continue to insist
Falsely that he actually want several Republican Senators and scores of GOP
House members will objective vote counts in individual states their objections will not overturn
Turn Biden's Victory but they expose our growing divide within the Republican Party between the presidents
Loyalists and those who say it's time to accept the election results and move on all this takes
Splice hours after Democrats picked up at least one more senate seat late last night and your
You're just runoff races putting them on the verge of taking majority control of the Senate Democrat Rafael
Warnock defeated Republican senator Kelly Loeffler and the Associated Press says it's still too early
Early to call the race between Democrat Jon ossoff and Republican David Perdue but with most of
The vote in I saw fleas in the remaining votes are from heavily Democratic areas of Georgia
For what is expected to be a historic day in Washington for more now we are joined by our White House cars
Yamiche Alcindor and our Capitol Hill correspondent Lisa Desjardin so good to have you both with us
Throughout this afternoon Lisa I'm going to start with you it is a day pretty much like no other on
He'll tell us what is going on there how are members of the House and Senate preparing
There are barricading low bicycle type fences around the US Capitol right now Sakura
30 is high there are rallies for President Trump currently at a rally closer to the White House but who are expect
To make their way here later already gathering on Capitol Hill grounds some of them already confronted members of the
The US Senate including Republicans for not objecting it is a strange atmosphere there is a lot of
Attention here a lot of
Concern about what could happen later in the day with those protests but right now there is also a lot of tension with
Then the Republican party as you describe Judy there are several Republican camps are those objecting to this
Selection but even within that camp Judy speaking to some of these Republican Senators who are objecting some of them essay
They actually are just trying to raise a debate about the election not necessarily casting doubt on it
Itself and then of course there are many moderate Republicans who think this is a problem for democracy
And yamiche I know you are watching all this from the White House President Trump at this
Sour has been speaking to a crowd of his supporters I here in Washington what's the
The message he's delivering and in particular his message for his vice president Mike Pence
Well this is a day that President Trump has feared most since he started running for office and running for re-election
Officially become a worm term presidents that are not that many of them in fact President Trump is in denial
Do that fact and as a result he went to this rally full of supporters and continued to deny the fact that he had lost here's what he
He said to that crowd
We will never give up we will never concede it doesn't happen you don't concede with his theft
All vice president Pence has to do is send it back to the states to
Recertify and we become president and you are the happiest people
Then I actually
I just spoke to Mike I said Mike that doesn't take care of what takes courage is to do nothing
So there is President Trump angry some would say delusional is critically say delusional
Bryant I'm he's saying that he spoke to vice-president Pence pressuring him to try to disrupt the count that is happening of course
Uncaught in in Congress today sources close to the vice-president say that he's going to follow the Constitution he's going to follow the law
Which means that they are bracing for President Trump to attack him for him to start to really Target him the President also
Said in that speech that he was going to primary any Republican officials who did not stand by him today so that's why you see some
Republicans objected because they want to stay in the good graces of President Trump we even when he becomes a private citizen will have
Getting fluids in the Republican Party many believe and just quickly yumi's what is it what what
Do you understand what what vice president Pence is going to do
I talked to Outsource this morning who said he's going to follow the law he's going to follow the Constitution I took that to mean that he
He is not going to be trying to disrupt this count and then do the president the vice president's office won't confirm on the record that he will do
Do that but all signs point that he will not try to disrupt his he will not do what President Trump is asking to do he will not stand by
By the president and that for vice president Pence was been very loyal to the president who was really not had any sort of disagree
Publicly with the president is going to put him on the bad side of President Trump President Trump said it would be a sad day if
Vice president Pence didn't do what he was asking him to do
And Lisa I want to come back to you because the president was saying to the crowd moments ago we're not going
Forget those Republicans who don't stand by my effort to overturn
These election results and that's pressure on these Republicans
There is tremendous pressure and more than that Judy it's not just coming from the president though I think he's sort of
Leader he's the one stoking this kind of sentiment but many of these Republicans are getting an overwhelming
Show me number of constituent called and some of them Judy I can report are getting some rather
Strong threats against themselves personally or against their staff this depends completely on the state some
Publican states that may be more moderate or may not have those kinds of sentiments are not this way but I have talked to offices in
Both the house and the Senate are Republicans are feeling these very strong sometimes threatening phone calls
Ashley Republican who are not objecting and then on the other hand we seen protesters from the left go to Josh Holly's house
This week to protest the fact that he is objecting think what's amazing is Judy it's such a dramatic day but we will not
See that drama in the picture that house floor will mostly be empty when this joint session start
There could be a few Senators but house leaders have asked most members to try and stay away from the session unless they
They are speaking
And and that is because of covid and the concern the fact that a number of of House and Senate members
I tested positive and the efforts to try to protect as many members as possible
Lisa animation going to be coming back to you throughout the afternoon right now let's go out to down
Downtown Washington where are on and a vahz is following the supporters of President Trump
Tell us what you're hearing from them
Just a little ladder out here gathered outside the capital this is just one of the rally
Allie is taking place today under the banner of what people are calling. The steel many of these supporters of President Trump
They do not believe that Joe Biden was the winner and they say that they're here to send a message and they're listening to the Press
They say today they expect vice president Pence do not open the envelopes of certain states that they believe
The votes were fraudulently cast now I had a chance to speak to a few of them and there was a young man
George from Delaware he drove in it family is here as well he said he does not believe that the bike is the president
He believed the election was stolen President Trump
Open messaging to him out to go to a woman and Callie who came in from st. Petersburg Florida
A lot of people who follow conspiracy theories about what happened during the election she said she thinks the president has an ace up his
Please he will find some way to make some kind of move what she called an epic move and that he will not leave
Office on January 20th among the people who seen here there are some conspiracy theory flag
Nationalist symbols as well most people just wear Trump supporting Maga type gear
And her saying stop this deal that is the chance of repeating over and over again we don't know the full size of a crowd across all
All the rallies we know there was a permit issued by the National Park police were 30.000 people at another location but there are
More and more people screaming on to this location with airexpect they say that President Trump might be speaking it well let's go the word
We're going around the crowd here since the patient about potential for violence and that's because of me
Month ago in another protest that was organized around the election result that did result in some
Some violent so DC mayor Muriel Bowser has already taken steps to mobilize the National Guard they've been posting signs
DC all over the place that remind people about DC strict gun laws and no weapons will be tolerated at the protest
Faster within a thousand feet of those protests and already DC metropolitan police have been arresting people yesterday
Send the message violence will not be tolerated now we know that there are some far-right extremist groups and white nationalist groups are showing up at
Previous rallies for President Trump today and they could be out here again today right now
All eyes are on the capital people are waiting to see what happens inside in just a little while stuck you
And I'm sorry if you said this and I didn't and I didn't hear it but
Are there people there who are who are supporting Joe Biden who are against
These protesters are in favor President Trump supporter
Hours of president-elect Biden no counter-protest as we've called them in the past
Intel people DC residents to stay away we seen a lot of traffic on social media another circle of people who are supporters
I think don't show up don't counter-protest leave the protest to the supporters of President Trump
Let the police and other officials handle it for the most part in this location to seen so far what we're hearing reports from other day
That seems to be free so far
The protesters supporters of President Trump outside the US Capitol here in downtown Washington I'm not out there
Cold and windy January day and now just a quick a correction Joe Biden receive
306 electoral votes earlier I said 302 my apologies for that error
Joining me now as we watch today's events unfold to longtime Congressional Watchers they are Danny
Weiss is a 28-year veteran of Capitol Hill who formerly served as Speaker Nancy Pelosi chief
Danny Weiss is now a senior fellow at the think-tank the century foundation and John Hart
He worked in both the house and the senate for the late Republican Congressman Tom Coburn John Hart
Heart recently launched a group called the conservative Coalition for climate Solutions and we welcome both of you
Back to the NewsHour Danny Weiss I'm going to start with you as someone who has one
This body that the Congress for many years is there anything to come
Compare today to
Well this is good afternoon and thanks for having me on the show this is really an extraordinary. Of time
Of course the Electoral College only certified in Congress or before years
But you have a potentially majority changing election
At the same time it's just extraordinary can you add to that what you've already been covering
With protesters outside many from pledge to bring weapons into the city
Truly extraordinary the significance of today you know cannot be overstated
The challenge what you what you're seeing I think right now is a real contrast
In our democracy
You have a challenge that's about to take place
In Congress to the illegitimate election president-elect Biden
At the same time
You just saw an outpouring of Voters in Georgia in the midst of a pandemic
Freely and fairly exercising their Democratic rights
And it's an extraordinary contrast the challenge of the sticking-place shortly that we expect in Congress is
Highly unusual it will not result in preventing
As we all know
But it is
It is really an undermining of our Democratic process
And John Hart again with all your years of experience working on the hill working
As a republican how do you what is the motivation behind what what the Republican members are
Challenging this electoral vote count today
Call Judy Debbie candidates a very mixed motivation and it's a very troubling motivation
Either today in Eastpointe this is this is unprecedented but Democrats did challenge George Bush's
Certification of
Ohio electricity 2005
And what Republicans will tell you is that look Donald Trump was elected president
There was an immediate resistance movement a coup a coup attempt against them impeachment was essentially coup attempt
And so it's not irrational or unreasonable to think that there may have been election Shenanigans but
The problem is that has to be proven the president has made that argument and he's failed in every in every quarter
Forum he's made that that claim and so Franklin Republicans and conservatives are livid right now because
If it's a good politics look at look at what just happened in Georgia
Those who say the President Trump is uniquely and singularly qualified to win elections
Need to look at the fact that he just lost the election
The logic that Trump applied to John McCain is something Republicans do to apply to Trump which is we like candidates
You don't lose
That the president lost the selection he caused Republicans to lose the Senate and answer
Furious and I think we need to move on we need to tell the president to concede
And start winning on ideas the house the House Republicans to quite well in the election
And that's what we need to go and we need to focus on on Solutions we need to talk about Healthcare slow
Oceans on climate that are conservative
And not Pander to President Trump's fantasies here
As we speak with John Hart and Danny Weiss both of whom is we said Veterans of Capitol Hill we are keep
On the rest of the capital outside the chamber where we will see the House and Senate
Come together in the house the House of Representatives as they begin this formal
Count of the electoral vote and as we wait and Watch Danny Weiss
What is this mean for Democrats because they're assuming they do end up in the majority in this
That they have the majority in the house and yet they are dealing with an opposing reply
Publican party that is very split at this point
/ / President Trump and over his methods and beliefs
Absolutely you're going to we're going to potentially be in one of the most narrowly divided
Congress' in modern history
You asked about other moments in in history that could be compared to this
It was in 2001
As you might recall when the control of the Senate flipped back and forth in the course of the year
Because of deaths or reappointments
And it was a 50-50 split and whoever was president of the time ended up to turn it in
The majority that was a very tense period of time
But you know there's nothing that concentrates the attention of a party like being in the minority
And especially if you believe that
You are alignments together can lead you back into the majority so I think what you're going
Tennessee is
The Republican minority in the house
Which is only four or five you know votes away from being in the majority
Will I believe acting in lockstep
Throughout the next two years to make governing difficult for speaker Pelosi in the Democrats
In the Senate
With so many people running for president in the Republican Party
It will be interesting to see if that same alignment takes place
Do the Republicans it isn't that Republicans are in the minority
Will they coalesce behind an agenda to try to block President Biden and
Will they look for areas to work together
That that remains to be seen but being in the minority does have the effect of aligning people together
One last thing is that the big challenge for Democrats now is if in fact they're going to be in the majority in both houses
And they have the right house
They have to move very quickly
On an agenda but at the same time they can only move forward an agenda that's going to align moderates
And progressives are going to have to find a few places
Where they can work together where they can agree on
Addressing the vaccine and the economy immediately
Interesting and I want to bring it back I will as we keep that in mind I want to bring it back John Hart to what where
Looking at today with Republicans raising objections and other Republicans
Standing by the result how do you think the Dynamics of this are going to play out and again once this session gets under
Play at 1 Eastern or we're going to see an opening session they're going to read They're going to read the names of the sea
States alphabetically starting with Alabama and at some point I certainly by the time we get to Arizona
Republicans will object
And and if there's both a House member and a senator who agree with that objection
The two houses will divide members of the Senate will go back over to the Senate chamber
And they will debate for up to two hours house will debate for after 2 hours but I'm interested in the Dynamics that you
4C between Republicans saying
There was fraud committed and Republican saying no there wasn't
What Judy I think we're going to see if maybe a hundred forty House Republicans maybe a dozen or so senators
Object in some way and I and I think at a minimum they'll say they're there was some fraud in this election
Not because we want to turn the election of Donald Trump but because we think this is our only opportunity
Trinity highlight examples of impropriety
So I understand that strategy is flawed but that's the logic that we're going to hear and but to me the question
What happens on January 17th
Tell the president look we fought the good fight and now it's time for you to concede
And drop these these counterproductive threats of of primary and Senators who didn't vote your way
You think about the logic of Eric Trump is out on Twitter
Threatening to primary GOP Senators OKC going to primary
Tom Cotton
It was a bronze star winner do they have a medal of honor winner lined up and so this this infighting is a little bit like
Saddam Hussein flame Kuwait and lightening oil fields on fire and it's totally counterproductive
Somebody who works in a very conservative office
You know I'm out to leadership challenges I've I've done
A lot of tea party fights and this does not impress me this is worth nothing remotely courageous
About lighting the Republican Party On Fire and calling it. E
I'm just going to interrupt us out here saying they're going to move on tomorrow but just today to even argue yes or no
May have been some irregularities but
Not enough to turn the election
There is no evidence of of irregularities on on any significant scale and
So that fiction is out there
And it's in the minds of millions of people who were supporting President Trump I guess my question
What's the date the damage
Being done just by that argument being made
I would I would I would push back I said there is evidence of something
Perfect collection
Yakum it might my view is unless there's enough fraud to change the outcome
This is not a good way to raise that objection you can raise it a lot a lot of other ways
And etiquette fundamentally this is not about election fraud this is about Donald Trump
Wanting it to soothe his ego and keep his options open for 2024 and that's why Republicans need to send a very
Very strong signal that says look to party's over
You're a one-term president
We had a marriage of convenience with you but now it's over move on
And there's a lot of other talented candidates in 2024 with great ideas
That can take on Nancy Pelosi in the far left it and look Democrats are are very divided on policies
So there's going to be this feeling of euphoria assuming they went into in Georgia which looks likely but
Sometimes that that winning the lottery can destroy somebody's life and
And I think there could be a lot of inciting on the left as we as we move forward of the next
Instant results here
Talking to John Hart and Danny wise as we watch the I believe it's the House of Representatives or maybe
Assistant at the house where we know the members are gathering both house members and senators in
Very unusual joint session as they count as they listen to and approve or
Or challenge the electoral vote count from each of the 50 states and the District of
Columbia and while we're waiting for that to get underway. Anyways I want to pick up on this point though about
Leaving the argument out there that there were irregularities but we're going to move on regardless
Do you see damage being done by that
I do see damage being done by that and I think it will be up to President Biden once he is in office
To really set the tone and the conversation for the country
What President Trump has been doing ever since he lost the election on November 3rd is to
Essentially establish an aggrieved party
He has very successfully I would say establish this
Aggrieved party that
Many many of them would say they truly believe the election was stolen
There's no evidence to back that up
If there's election irregularities in every election
And that's considered a normal part of our election history is John John refer to
The fact that there have been in the past of course there are
And the fact is
Every judge that has looked at this and said that the elections were conducted properly
Every Governor has certified the election from their states
That's what we will see
Certified later today
The the challenge that that nachos Democrats have but that the country has is what is
Is the agreed-upon set of facts that we have
Do we agree that this election was conducted
Barely
And the President Biden was elected barely intent vice president elect
Paris Sterling
Or is this always going to be up for a challenge and I believe that's what parents are present in trunk with seeking to do and in doing so
He obviously has been raising hundreds of millions of dollars
Which will then be available to him and to his family for the next two to four years to spend as they wish
Political partisan purposes
The president can hire his family for media campaigns and things like that
And that is destructive
And again it's it's this normalizing
The abnormal
The President Trump has done throughout his. Of time and we're seeing him carry that out to the very end the refusal
To accept
Results of an election in the United States is abnormal
It's just the latest abnormal thing that this president is trying to normalize
It says you say we're hearing it. Even today in the last few minutes as President Trump is speaking to his
His supporters out in Washington the picture you're seeing now is in the u.s. United States Senate
These are Senators I'm told who are preparing to walk over from their side of the Capitol to the other side of the capitol
Well they will join with members of the House who are will be in session once the Senators are
Rive and we're looking at the many of them have Max on I believe all of them I can't
Get as close to the pictures I'd like to get to see you can see better than I but
They're they're not socially distance but that we see Majority Leader McConnell there
Other group of other Republicans about to walk over we are told when they arrived there they go they're moving now out of the
The Senate chamber I believe all 100 Senators although there may be one
Are two who are not they're going to the house chamber and is Lisa Desjardin who covers Congress Forest reported earlier
House members at Menards not to be there in person because of covid for safety reasons
But we know the number of of the members of the house will be there we we expect hyper tough
Dissipation on the site on the part of the Senate again speaker Pelosi is expected to gavel this session
To order once the members of the Senate arrive in the house chamber for this unusual
And historic joint session and we're watching this take place as you as you
To see right now I want to quickly go back to Lisa who I think is still with us
Lisa remind us what we expect to see once speaker Pelosi gavels us to order
That's right and it actually believe it will be vice president Pence presiding over the joint session
Speaker Pelosi will preside over the house debate and it's important understand when I really have three different
Sessions that will happen today the joint session to count count and finalize the electoral vote
And then any objection that is made by both a senator and a House member as you've been saying
That would then lead to a split debate the house in chamber will separate at that point speaker Pelosi would preside
Over the house session this initial what we will see initially here in the joint session
Could go pretty quickly we will see them we will see for people to house members to Senators for
Call tellers some of them will be familiar faces Roy blunt of Missouri the Republican Amy Klobuchar
Minnesota they will ring once the vice president receives an envelope with a certified results by
Each state vice-president opens the envelope I believe he hands it to the parliamentarian the parliamentarian handed
Which one of these colors they go to the podium they read the results after that an objection can be
He made but that can go very quickly we know that the first date we expect an objection to his Arizona
Begins with the letter A so it will happen very quickly they will be enjoying session we don't expect for very long
Perhaps a half hour or so before they have to then separate into debate over
The Arizona boat itself and as you're saying we sent thank you for the correction it is vice
President Pence will be presiding over over the joint session will be calling out the results
Bob each stage and as we've been reporting all eyes on vice president Pence because present
Trump is urging him an effect demanding today that he
Clear the results wrong need to be sent back to the states in
Enough of these states so that President Trump thinks that he would have a chance to overturn the results
As far as we know is there's no evidence no no idea that that's going to happen
The vice president's office has been telling reporters that the vice president plans to follow the
The tution rather than the urgings of President Trump's but this is what's been going on in the background
But as Lisa says once they get to Arizona you do have an objection by House member and a senator
At that point the two houses will separate members of the Senate will go back to the Senate chamber they will have their own
Debate for up to two hours house members will remain have their own debate then they'll come back together 2
A report on the results
I love that and that's what we're going to be watching very closely our coverage will be both of these joint sessions and will be
Going back and forth as we listen to some of the Senate
And some of the house this is a process depending on how many states are challenged Lisa
Is it could go on for many hours we may be seeing of yours Mabel to see some of the boxes Cary
The Electoral certifications for me today are being brought in as we see some of the Senate leaders now also
Walking into the chamber there you're saying Statuary Hall which is just outside of the Senate where we see some of those
Officials and Senators waiting to go in we're going to hear a lot about the past but it's important terms of procedure that these
These procedures have been locked in going back to the 1880s and end really the law on this Judy including
What the Constitution dictates provides no real legislative role for the vice president
He is there to provide essentially an MC or host he does not have a substance of roll
It under lock he may have some discretion over speaker time perhaps but in general most vice president
Have not really employed that he is really there to keep proceedings moving along and really to read
Script about what's happening and as we listen to that point in his we see my
Mike Pence are there in the well of the house right now let's go quickly to you Niche I'll send or at the
The White House you means you have a letter of the vice-president has just released
That's right in this letter is really cementing that vice-president Pence said that he seizes
Is largely ceremonial he said that he's going to make sure that the Republicans get the ability to
Are there concerns to air their objections but it is very clear that vice president Mike Pence does not see his role as doing anything
Close to what President Trump wanting to do this is Mike Pence say I am not going to be on the side of President Trump on this one in
Instead I'm going to Simply do a ceremonial role I'm going to allow the votes to be counted this is going to anger President Trump
When the vice president's office is bracing for the president to turn his anger onto vice president Pence but vice president
When's here I'm making it very very clear in this pretty lengthy letter that it would be antithetical to the design of the
The US Constitution and our democratic system if he had the power to just stop the votes and tell the state that they
Recertify
Yamiche Alcindor on at the White House reporting on this letter that the vice-president has just released you
You cannot understand the drama that this represents were saying vice president Pence who of course has been very
Loyal to President Trump during his presidency standing there next to house Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Just reelected speaker of the house by the Democratic
Democratic members this is someone again and vice president Pence no one's been more loyal ivibe
Believe the president then he has and yet here at this moment when
And the votes are being at the electoral votes are being
Formally counted he is being asked to do something that is in essence impossible for him to do
Do and President Trump is saying we won't forget
So this is how loyalty is repaid I suppose you could say this is an overhead
Shot of the House of Representatives a house chamber again normally it's just house members who are they
Ver Lisa can fill us in while we wait for the session to be gavel to order but I be
I believe the senators are in the back of the room
Yeah that's correct Cinder movie they can sit in different spot on you see them Associated they can also sit
In the upstairs balcony some of them and it looks like the house speakers Pelosi maybe speaking
The Eastside House and Senate Democrats and Republicans
Each have 11 members allowed to be present on the floor others Maybe
In the gallery this is at the guidance of the official
Attending physician and the sergeant said on the gentleman on
On the Republican side of the aisle please observe the social distancing
And agree to what we have 11 members on each side so that we
Responsibilities to this chamber to this responsibility and to this
House of Representatives please exit the floor if you do not have an assigned role
From your leadership you can share with your staff if you want to have a few more
But you cannot be together
Four of the house with that many people in here and I thank the Senate
And a Democrat
Gardevoir
Speaker Pelosi gaveling this session to order he was vice president Pence
Madam speaker members of Congress pursuant to the
Tution in the laws of the United States the Senate and House of Representatives are meeting a joint session
To verify the certificates and count the votes of the electors of the several States for President and Vice President
None of the United States after ascertainment has been had that the certificates are authentic and corrected
Inform
Tellers will count and make a list of the votes cast by the electors of the several States
The tellers on the part of the two houses have taken their places at the clerk's desk
Without objection the tellers we'll dispense with the reading of the formal portions of the certificates
After ascertaining that the certificates are regular inform and authentic the tellers will announce
Cost of Oats
Cast by the electors for each state beginning with Alabama
Which the parliamentarians advise me is the only certificate of vote
From that state and proportion to be a return from the state
That is annexed to it a certificate from an authority of that state reporting
2.4 ascertain electors
For what
Purpose does the gentleman from Virginia Run Elementary mr. vice president
Figures instructions that only a limited number of people be on the floor may I ask how one would make an objection or makeup
Parliamentary inquiry in the future if you're not on the floor but in the gallery
Title 3 of the United States code
Debate is not permitted in the joint session
Department requirements vice president
I'm trying to find out how a parliamentary inquiry or a parliamentary point of order would be made in following with
The speakers
Request that most of us not be on the floor how do you make one of those points of order when you don't know what
What's going to happen later respectfully yes sir
The gentlemen's parliamentary inquiry constitutes debate
Which is not permitted in the joint session under Section 18 of title 3
United States code
Just Michael
Serious
Mr. president
Cowboy fantano
They appear to be having microphone issues there in the House of Representative Senator Roy blunt
Missouri one of the tellers who will be announcing the state electoral vote
Account I was about to speak we're still waiting to hear from him
Mr. president order in the chamber
President the the certificate of the electoral vote of the state of Alabama seems to be ready
Regular inform and authentic and it appears they're from that Donald J Trump of the state of
Florida received nine votes for president and Michael are Pence of the state of Indiana received nine votes
For vice president
Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the state of Alabama at the teller has verified
It appears to be
Regular in form and authentic
Hearing none
This certificate from Alaska the parliamentarians advise me is the only certificate of vote from that state that
Purports to be a return from the state and that has a next to it a certificate from an authority of the state reporting
Two-point and ascertain electors
Mr. president the certificate of the
The electoral vote of the state of Alaska seems to be regular in form and authentic and it appears they
They're from that Donald J Trump at the State of Florida received three votes for president and Michael are
Are pants the state of Indiana received 3 votes for vice president
Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the state of Alaska that the teller has verify
Appears to be regular informant authentic
Hearing on this certificate from Arizona
The parliamentarians advise me is the only certificate of boat that the state for ports to be a return from the state
That is annexed to it a certificate from an authority of that state
Reporting to a point or ascertain electors
Mr. president the certificate of the electoral vote
Of the State of Arizona seems to be regular Inforum and authentic and it appears
Is there from the Joseph R Biden Jr of the state of Delaware
Received 11 votes for president and Kamala D Harris of the state of
California received 11 votes for vice president
Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the state of
Arizona that the teller is verified appears to be regular informant authentic Mister vice president
What artist has the gentleman from Arizona
Subject to the counting of the Electoral ballots from Arizona
Is the objection in writing and signed by a senator
Yes it is
An ejection presented in writing and signed by both a representative and a senator
Complies with the law
Chapter 1 of title 3 of the United States code
The clerk will report the objection
Objection to counting the Electoral
Revolt of the State of Arizona
We a member of the House of Representatives and a United States Senator
Subject to the counting of the electoral votes of the State of Arizona
On the grounds that they were not under all of the known circumstances
Regularly given
Are there further objections to this
Hippocrates from the state of Arizona
But you're here is none
The two houses will withdraw from joint session
Each house will deliberate separately on the pending objection
And her poor decision back to the Joint session
The Senate will now retire to his chamber
And with that vice president Mike Pence has ended this very short
Session that lasted about 10 or 12 minutes by my calculation whereas you saw
All members of the House and Senate
Unlimited number of them came together enjoyed session and they began to
Read the results they passed there were no objections to Alabama no objections
To Alaska of both States won by President Trump but when it came to Arizona the
Third state there was an objection raised by an Arizona Congressman Paul gosar and
Yeah it was joined by a senator we didn't we didn't have the name but we'll find that out short
At this point of the members of the senate or returning
To the Senate chamber on the other side of the capital where they will debate for up to two hours discuss debate
Of the objections raised by these Republicans to the electoral vote count and all we know
So far is what the house Clark read she said we she was reading from there note we have
Eject to account of the electoral votes on the grounds that they were not regularly given we don't know anything
Details we don't know what evidence there going to be providing and how much of that we're going to hear we don't know it
Should be several minutes before the Senate
And the house convene in single sessions to carry on these debates
But this is the Crux of what we've been waiting for waiting to see what exactly is it that the
The Republicans who are objecting or basing their objections on and how much of that debate will have to do with
Complaints about the the vote count or get into other issues and and
And areas of discussion which we expect to happen so this is what we expected to Tuesday
States no objections Alabama and Alaska but once I got to Arizona now they're dividing
And I don't go off to debate that's right and the senator Judy was Ted Cruz of Texas who was the senator who join
Find in that objection as you heard there was a clause in the house chamber that is because there are more Republicans wanted to inject
Two more states in the house then there are in the Senate and the House Republicans have been encouraging Senate Republican
To join their objections and I think that that was a measure of that what they're applauding they're saying thank you we think more station
Be objected to by the way we expect three states to be objected to today Arizona the first one then
Georgia we expect Senator Kelly Loeffler to be added to that to be the one making the objection and the Beast
Speaking in the Senate the day after she has been declared the loser and someone who will be vacating her son
The third state will be the state of Pennsylvania one awkward thing for Republicans hear Judaism corset
The states of Arizona and Pennsylvania are states that have Democratic senators so he can't they did not have
Democratic senator who Republican said who could join the Arizona challenge instead they went with Ted
Cruise I think it's important to understand that why we keep hearing these words regular inform and authentic
By law they're the only two things that Congress can object to In-N-Out
Electoral form and that goes back to the election of 1876 if you'll hear a lot about today and I want to make one point
About that election it is very different than today in part because what was happening then was reconstruction
Indy post Confederate South and there was extreme voter fraud
At that point we saw kind of political gangs and there were competing
Dance of electors they were very serious doubt that election fraud on all side and so that's why
Why that they put made this long this way because there were real questions in 1876 as we saw
The South sort of playing different political games and it's got some of that involved
I'm dealing with newly new citizens black voters and and trying to suppress that vote so
Very different situation done today but that's why these were these laws are there regular inform and authentic meaning it's not
How to fix format came from the state and it fits what they expect it's a very low bar it just needs to be a
Official and real
And an accurate which each state the Secretary of State or whoever's in charge of elections in
Any state has declared these results are accurate and this is even in states where Republicans are
Running the state we have a republican Governor as in Georgia Republican Secretary of State even they
I in state after state after State have certify the results are accurate and again the Trump team
Has gone to dozens and dozens scores of Courts with dozens of
Play Sonata not a single significant one has been held or one of any of anymore
Moment Lisa it while I'm I'm listening to you I do want to go back to yamiche shoes hearing all this at the
White House your niece the president I'm told his finished his remarks at that rally of his supporters there was
Some sense that he might himself
Go to the capital is that a real possibility
That's what President Trump said to hundreds of people who were cheering him on as he defiantly said
But he would continue to fight on and not concede this election he said we will be marching to the capital it's unclear if he will
Be walking with security of course to the capital himself maybe he we may be getting in a motorcade and heading to Capitol Hill
Is a core characteristic of a president who has refused to at all except the fact that he lost weeks ago
I'm the president now is is in some ways the really overseeing the Civil War inside the Republican Party
And the Schism of the Republican Party the Schism inside the Republican party got just that much wider today with
Vice president Pence making that historic decision to not do anything that would disrupt
The count that Congress is doing today instead saying that he will defy President Trump of course Mike Pence has been so loyal to
President Trump is dead by him time and time again on so many different occasions and under so many different countries
Commercial occasions including President Trump was impeached when he was also getting a lot of backlash for separating immigrants
Children from their families but today we see a president now standing with other Republicans including senator
Senator Ted Cruz saying that this election is a fraud of course undermine American democracy critics say this is
The moment for President Trump to really double down he says on his stance that he will not give
Right we're talking to you Michel center with the White House as we keep one eye on house Speaker Nancy
Pelosi has the house session there it is she's gaveling the house and accession to hear the debate over
The electoral vote from Arizona Let's listen in
Withdraw from The Joint session to count the electoral vote for separate consideration of an object
A representative may speak to the objection for 5 minutes and not more
Didn't want debate shall not exceed two hours after which the shareable put in the
Question shell the objection be agreed to the clerk will report the objection May
Made in the joint session electoral votes of the State of Arizona
We a member of the House of Representatives and a United States Senator objected the counting of the elect
Votes of the State of Arizona on the ground that they were that they were not under all of the known circumstances
Does regularly given signed Paul gosar representative State of Arizona Ted Cruz senator
State of Texas
Thank you
The charitable Endeavor to alternate recognition between number seeking support of the objection and members
Seeking a position to the objection the chair represents recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana
Mr. scalise for 5 minutes
Thank you madam speaker I rise today to object to a number of states
That did not follow the Constitutional requirement for selecting
Electors
Madam speaker this is something that is clear that our founding fathers
Debated
About as a fundamental
Decision of how we choose our president
There was a lot of back-and-forth if anyone reads
The founding documents of our country
About
The different versions they went through to ultimately come up with a process
Where each state has elections each state
Has a process
For selecting their electors and sending them to Washington and Madam speaker in a number of those
States that constitutional process was not followed and that's why we're here to abject
If you look
At what the requirements says
Nowhere
In Article 2 Section 1 does it give the Secretary of State
August 8th that ability
Nowhere doesn't give the governor that ability nowhere it doesn't give
A quart
That ability it exclusively gives that ability to the legislators and in fact in Most states that's
The process that was followed
But for those States
That this wasn't followed
Unfortunately this is not
No
We've seen over and over again more states where the Democrat Party has gone in and
Is selectively going around this process
That has to end Madam speaker we have to follow the Constitutional process
No there might be reasons
Why some people don't like the process laid out by legislative body
Madam speaker I served on one of those legislative bodies when I was in the state legislature for 12 years
I served on the house and governmental Affairs committee where we wrote the laws
For our states elections
And I can tell you when we had to make changes
Those were extensively negotiated
We would have people on both sides come Republicans and Democrats Madam speaker
What get together to work through those changes any my new change
How appreciate would function
To how a change would be made in the time of an election signature requirements all the many things
That involved a clerk carrying out the duties in each Parish in our case
You would see people come and give testimony
Madam speaker both sides could come Clerks of Court were there in the hearing room it was an open process by
By the way
Met behind closed doors in a smoke-filled room
Where somebody might want to bully a secretary of state to get a different version that might benefit them
Are there party or their talents that's not what our founding fathers said is the process
Maybe it's how some people wanted to carry it out
But they laid out that process
And so when we would have to make those changes they were in public view they were heavily debated
And then ultimately those laws were changed in advance of the election so everybody
Knew what the rules were
People on both sides
Know how to play the rules before the game started not getting somewhere in the process and saying well you don't
Don't think it's going to benefit you so you try to go around the Constitution that's not how our system works
It's gotten out of hand
It's your President Trump is called this out
If President Trump is stood up to it so many of us has stood up to it and in fact
Over a hundred of my colleagues matter speaker asked the Supreme Court
To address this problem
Just a few weeks ago
Unfortunately
The court chose to punt
Didn't answer one way or the other they didn't want to get in the middle of this discussion
We don't have that luxury today
We have to discuss this we have to fix this in fact on our first full day of this Kang
Many of us brought legislation
On to the house floor to start fixing the problems with our elections to restore integrity
To the election process which has been lost by so many millions of Americans and we have a phone
Every single Republican voted to reform the process
Every single Democrat voted against it
They don't want to fix this problem
But the Constitution
Is our God
And it's time we start following the Constitution it's time we get back
To what our founding fathers said is the process for selecting electors that's the legislators
In public View
Not behind closed doors. Smoke-filled rooms
Not bullying somebody that might give you a better ruling let's get back to rule of law and follow the concert
The tution Madam speaker and ideal back the balance of my phone
But what purpose does the gentlewoman
What purpose does the gentlewoman from California seek recognized strike the last word
This day marks a Crossroads for American democracy
Those who objected the counting of the Electoral College votes which reflect the votes of the American people
What's the set what to substitute their preferences for the voters Choice that's not what our constitution requires and it's
At odds with American Democratic Republic of Congo president instead of America
Voters will have no need for an electoral college in fact we have no need for presidential elections at all
We be moving from a government elected by the people still government selected by those already governing
That's not America in the United States we abide by the choices of the people not an elite few
The framers of our Constitution considered whether to have Congress elect the president and specifically rejected it
Instead they would Article 2 and the 12th Amendment Article 2 creates the Electoral College
Midstate appoints electors laws of all 50 states and DC require electors to vote for the winner of the sea
States popular election each state provides for the orderly conduct of Elections including waffle challenges
Recounts and the like the 12th Amendment is what brings us here today it says the electors meet in their states.
That happened December 14th the amendment says the electric show cast their votes sign and certify them trance
Mithun to a seal that's been done the sealed envelopes containing the sign certified Ballas from
Mid-States electric reflecting the boats of the people wearing those mahogany boxes the 12th Amendment
The president and vice president is President of Senate to do only this open the sealed envelope
And then the vote shall be counted simple it doesn't say counted in a manner that some members of Congress
The vice president might prefer no
The boats are simply to be counted as certified and transmitted by the States during Reconstruction
After the Civil War more than one slate of electors were appointed by States
Dueling list for Santa and protracted process these were undertaken in presidential elections and as a result
How to make an orderly process Congress enacted the Electoral count Act of 1887
This law governs our proceedings today
The active Ides
Dispute resolution mechanism under the ECA if a governor certifies a slate of electors and there are
No competing slaves from that state the governor certified slate must be counted
Today every single flavor electors won by Joe Biden or one by Donald Trump got their governors
Certification not a single state submitted a competing slay there's no dispute resolved
The 2020 election was the most secure election conducted in modern history challenge
By lawful recounts and audit now we switch over to the Senate where they are also considering objections
The electoral vote this is majority leader Mitch McConnell
Without objection so ordered
Thestradman
Geordie later
We're debating a step
That has never been taken in American history
Whether Congress should overrule the voters
And overturn
A presidential
Election
After 36 years in the Senate
This will be the most important vote
I've ever cash
President Trump claims the election was stolen
The insertions range from specific
Local allegations
The Constitutional arguments
The sweeping
Conspiracy theories
How supported the president's right
To use the legal system
Lawsuits
Pursued hearings and Court rooms all across our country
But over and over
The court rejected these claims
Including All Star judges
And the president himself has dominated
Every election
We know Fisher Sawmill legality
An irregularity and of course
That's unacceptable
I support strong State lead voting reforms
Last year's Bazaar
Pandemic procedures
Must not become
The new Norm
But my colleagues nothing before us proves
Illegality
Anywhere near
The massive scale
That would have tipped the entire
Norton public doubt alone
Justify a radical break
When the doubt itself
Was incited without any evidence
The Constitution
Gives us here in Congress or limited role
We cannot simply declare ourselves and National
Board of Elections on steroids
The voters
Chords
And the stage
Hello spoke
It all spoken
If we overrule them
It would damage our Republic
Forever
This election actually was not unusually close
Justin recent history 1976
Mm
And 2004 were all closer than this one
Electoral college margin
Is almost identical
The what it was
And 2016
This election were overturned
By mere allegations from the losing side
Our democracy would ever a death spiral
Would never see the whole nation except
Election again
Every four years would be a Scramble for power
At any cost
Electoral college
But most of us on this side of been defending for years
Would cease to exist
Leaving many of our stage
With no real say at all in choosing a present
The effects
Would go even beyond the elections themselves
Self-government my colleagues requires a shared commitment
To the truth
And I shared respect
For the ground rules
Ivar system
We cannot keep drifting apart
And the two separate tribes
With a separate set of facts
And separate reality
With nothing in common except our hostility towards each other and mistrust for the few National institutions
That we all still share
Every time
In the last 30 years that Democrats are lost the presidential race
They try to challenge
Just like this
After 2000
After 2004
After
2016
After 2004 Senator joined and force the same debate
And believe it or not Democrats like Harry Reid Dick Durbin and Hillary Clinton praise
Praise them and applauded the stunts
Republicans condemn those baseless efforts back then
That we just spent 4 years condemning Democrat shameful attacks on the validity of President Trump's re-election
So what that can be no double standard
The media that is outraged today
It's been 4 years aiding and abetting Democrat attacks
On our institutions
Happy lost
But we must not
Imitate
An Escalade
What we repudiate
Our duty is to govern for the public good
United States setup has a higher calling
Been an endless spiral
A partisan
Vengeance
Congress will either override the voters
Overruling
The voters the stage
And the courts
For the first time ever
Or honor the people's decision
We'll need to guarantee Democrats delegitimizing efforts after 2016 to come up permanent
New routine for both sides
Or declare that our nation deserves a lot better than this
Will either hasten down the poisonous path
We're only the winners of election actually accept the results
Or shall we can still muster the Patriotic courage that our forebears showed
Not only in Victory but indeci
The framers built the Senate to stop short-term passions from boiling over
And melting
The foundations of our Republic
So I believe
Protecting our constitutional order
Requires respecting the limits
Tyrone Power
It would be unfair and wrong to disenfranchise disenfranchise American voters and overrule the courts
And Estates
All this extraordinarily
Found
Patience
And I will not pretend such a vote would be a harmless protest gesture
While relying on others
To do the right thing
How about to respect the people decision and defend our system of government
As we know it
Leader
Mr. president
Vice president
As prescribed by the Constitution and the laws of the nation
The purpose of this joint session is foretellers
Appointed on a bipartisan basis by the two houses
To read to the Congress the results of an election that is already happened
We are here to receive an announcement to vote
That is already been certified by every state in the Union
And confirm
By the courts
Many times many times over
We're here to watch the current vice-president open envelopes
And received the news of a verdict
That is already been rendered
It is a solemn
And ogust occasion No Doubt
But it is a formality
The Congress does not determine the outcome of Elections the people do
The Congress is not endowed with the power to administer elections
Our states are given that power
By the end of the proceedings today
It will be confirmed once again
Something that is well-known
And well settled
The American people
Elected Joe Biden
And Kamala Harris
To be the next president
And vice president of the United States
And yet
The number of our colleagues have organized an effort
To undermine in abject
To that free and fair election
They are in the minority
They will lose
They know that
They have no evidence of widespread voter fraud upon which to base their objections
That's because there is none
There is none
Not brought before any of the Courts
Successfully
They know that President Trump and his allies
Have suffered defeat
A defeat in in court after court
Across the country
Losing no fewer than 62
Legal challenges
And I might add many republican-appointed judges some appointed by President Trump
Rendered those decisions
They know
You all know
At Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Are going to be sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States
On January 20th
But they are going to eject to the counting of the boat anyway
And in the process
They will embarrass themselves
They will embarrass their party
And worst of all
They will embarrass
Their country
This Insurrection with fortunately
Discouraged
By the leadership of the majority party
But it was not quilt
It is a very sad comment on our times
That merely accepting the results of an election
Is considered an act of political courage
Saturn more dangerous still is the fact that nilam into the Republican Party
Believe their political viability hinges on the endorsement of an attempted coup
That anyone
Much less an elected official
Would be willing to tarnish our democracy
In order to burnish their personal political fortunes
Over the course of the afternoon
And however far into the evening this band of Republican objectors wants to take us
Senators of Goodwill from both sides of the aisle
What's playing
Why these challenges must be dismissed
The senators from States whose electoral votes are being challenged
Will explain
Have the allegations of fraud are baseless
Any substantial bipartisan majority
Must vote to put down these objections
And defend the sanctity of our elections and indeed and indeed
Are great and Grand
Democracy
Because that's what we're talking about today
The health of our democracy
His wonderful beautiful Grand democracy
With a peaceful passing of the torch is extolled by schoolchildren the second grade
But not buy some here
As we speak
Half of our voters are being conditioned
By the outgoing president
To believe that when his party loses an election
The results might not be legitimate
As we speak
The eyes of the world are on this chamber questioning whether America is still
The shining example
Of democracy
The Shining City on the hill
What message we send today
What message will we send today
To our people
To the world that has so looked up to us for centuries
What message will we send to fledgling democracies
Who study our constitution mirror our laws and traditions in the hope that they too can build our country
Rule by the consent of the governed
What message will we send to those countries
Core democratic Values around the result
And look to us to see if those values
I still
Worth Fighting For
What message
Will we send to every dark corner the world
What human rights are betrayed
Elections are stolen
Human dignity
Denied
What will they show those people
What we show
Those people that there is a better way
To ensure Liberty
An opportunity of humankind
Sadly
Small band of Republican objectors Madoc in the view of our democracy
Today
But a larger group
Are senators and house members from both sides of the aisle
Can send a message to
The Democracy that democracy beats deep in the hearts of our citizens in our elected representatives
That we are a country of laws and I'm not men
That our Traditions are not so easily discarded
Even by our president
The taxman
The truth matters
They want democracy allows free speech and free expression
Even if that expression is anti-democratic
There will always always be praise God
A far broader and stronger Coalition ready to push back
And defend everything
We hold dear
We can send that message today
By voting in large and overwhelming numbers to defeat these objections
My colleagues
We've sworn oath just three days ago
That we would defend and support the Constitution of the United States
Against all enemies
Foreign and domestic
That we would bear true faith
An allegiance
To the same
We swore that we took this obligation freely
Without any mental reservation
Or purpose of evasion
And that we could well and Faithfully discharge the duties of the office
We were about to enter
So help us God
Precise words of a toe
Will shortly written after the Civil War
When the idea of true faith and allegiance to this country and its Constitution
Define enormous meaning
Let those words
Ringing in the ears of every senator
Today
Let us do our duty
Sport to support
And defend
The Constitution
The United States
So help us God
That is Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer of New York speaking immediately after the
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell while all this is going on inside the capitol outside President Trump support
Borders are gathering massing outside the Capitol Building there were reports about half an hour ago
Or so that they were attempting to breach the building trying to get in they were being held off by capital
Another federal police who were there it's hard to get a handle on exactly what's
Because it's developing as we're as weird as we sit right now we're trying to
To get our reporters they're close enough to see exactly how far they
They have been able to move we know there were several perimeters around the capital and at the very least
At least you can see these are pictures of President Trump supporters moving toward the capitol
From the site where they were standing earlier to listen to President Trump speak he spoke to them
For a long. Of time at one point said he himself was going to the capital but then he did return
To the White House where we believe he is right now but as you can see his supporters moving close
Closer to the Capitol there's been some video on Twitter where they were violently
Why in violent encounters with security outside the Capitol building and we are trying to verify
Are there trying to understand exactly where it happened how far they've gotten and and to what
What extent this is going to carry on so let's go back inside the capitol now where
Both the house and the Senate chamber are debating the objection to the Arizona electoral vote this is Senator
Ted Cruz who was the senator who signed the objection for Arizona
United States
I want to speak to the Republicans or considering voting against these objections
I understand your concern but I urge you to pause and think
What does it say to the nearly half the country that believes this election was rigged if we
Boat
Not even to consider the claims
Abuela gallaty
And fraud in this election
And I believe there's a better way
The leaders just spoke about setting aside the election let me be clear I am not arguing
For setting aside the results of this election
All of us are faced with two choices both of which are lousy one choices vote against the objection
And tens of millions of Americans will see a vote against the objection as a statement that voter fraud doesn't matter
Matter isn't real and shouldn't be taken seriously
A great many of us don't believe that
On the other hand
Most if not all of us believe we should not set aside the results of election just because our candidate may not approve
Prevail
And so I Endeavor to look for door number three a third option and for that I look to history
To the president of the 1876 election
The hayes-tilden election where this Congress
Appointed electoral Commission
To examine claims of voter fraud five house members
Five Senators five Supreme Court Justices
Examine the evidence and rendered a judgment
And what I would argue this body is that we do the same
That we appointed electoral commission to conduct a 10-day emergency audit
Consider the evidence
And resolve the claims for those on the Democratic Iowa who says say there is no evidence they've been rejected
Then you should rest in Comfort if that's the case
An electoral commission would reject those claims
But for those who respect the voters simply telling the voters go jump in a lake the fact
But you have deep concerns is of no moment to us
That jeopardizes I believe
The legitimacy
Abyss and subsequent elections
The Constitution gives to Congress the responsibility this day
To count the votes
The framers knew what they were doing when they gave responsibilities to Congress we have
A responsibility
And I would urge that we follow the precedent of 1877
The Electoral count explicitly allows objection such as this one
Four boats that were not regularly given
And let me be clear this objection is for the State of Arizona but it is broader than that
It is an objection for all six of the contested States
To have a credible objective
Impartial body hear the evidence
And make a conclusive determination
That would benefit
Both sides
That wouldn't prove legitimacy of this election and salemme orange my colleagues
All of us take our responsibilities seriously
I would urge my colleagues don't take
Perhaps the E-ZPass
But instead act together us stanush
The viewer is an act in a bipartisan sense to say we will have a credible and fair Tribunal
Consider the claims consider the facts consider the evidence
And make a conclusive determination whether and to what extent
This election complied with the Constitution and with federal law
Senator for Minnesota
Mr. president I first would like say appreciate of the words of our leader Senator Schumer as
As well as Senator McConnell's call for a higher calling
January 6th is not typically a day of historical significance for a country for centuries
This day is simply the day that we received each state
Certified Electoral votes
And it has come and Gone without much fanfare
In fact this is only the third time in a hundred twenty years that the Senate is gathered to debate and objection and
Senator Cruz well nose
Both times he's objections were resoundingly defeated the last time the vote was 74 to 1
Why
Because Senators have long believed that they should not mess around with the will of the people they have under
Doing the words of our great former calling John McCain from the state of Arizona who once said
But nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself
In this case my colleagues are caught
Despite our political differences is to preserve our American democracy
To preserve our Republic because it's someone once said long ago
It's a republic
If you can keep it
No I appreciate all my Democratic and Republican colleagues
Who have joined our ranks of coup fighters who have stood up for our democracy who stand
Call for our Republic and who believed in an ideal greater than ourselves larger than our political
Parties that idealism Erica
And Senator Cruz he knows of this on January 20th Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Will be sworn in as president vice president United States he knows that president-elect buying one more boats and
When president in history and more than 7 million more votes than President Trump
Despite the unfounded conspiracy theory Senator Cruz how he knows that high-ranking
Officials in President Trump's own Homeland Security Department have concluded that the 2020 election
Was quote the most secure in American history
And if he wants to improve the numbers in his own party that he just mention of people believing in our election
Maybe he should start Consulting with them or maybe he should start Consulting with former Attorney General Barr
Who said that he has found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election
We don't have to go back to 1877 my colleague
Senator Cruz knows that 80 judges including conservative judges including judges confirmed
In this chamber nominated by President Trump has thrown out these lawsuit calling them baseless
Inadequate and Country both to the play meeting of the Constitutional tax and Common Sense
And he knows that all 10 living defense secretaries including both of Trump's defense secretary
Cheney Donald Rumsfeld William Cohen he knows that all these leaders have come together to say that these scurrilous attack
Facts on our democracy must stop and we must allow for a peaceful transition of power
Senator Sinema will fill you in on the specific facts as to why this election was sound and true in
In Arizona what is summary
President Trump received 1661686 votes in the state
President-elect Biden 1-1000000 670 2143 vote meaning
That he won the state
Buy 10457 votes
On November 30th
After Arizona's Republican Governor the Secretary State the attorney general and the conservative Chief just
Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court certified the results of the election the governor actually say
Said we do elections well here in Arizona the system is strong
Each post-election lawsuits brought in Arizona to challenge the results were dismissed by judges nine
Members of the house from Arizona were elected in the same election including four Republicans and call
I did not see Senator Cruz over at their swearing-in in the House of Representative last Sunday asked
King for an audit
He did not stop their swearing-in because there was no fraud
And he did not ask for an audit because we had a fair election
I will end with it
My friend Roy blunt my fellows rules committee leader
Many years ago found a statue
A bust of a man at the top of a bookcase he did research he went to the historians and all he
You could find out was that no one knew who this guy was except that he was a cleric
Hence the statue is called the unknown cleric
Not at the time our leaders thought this man important now
But they would warrant a statue for him
But today no one knows who he is
Senator wants message to school kids and Senators alike that visit his office when he shows them the statue
What we do here is more important
Then Who We Are
Senators what matters is not our Future's not our own short-term destinies
What matters is democracies Destiny because I think many of us know that people will not know who
We are a hundred years from now or 200 years from now
But what they will know is this
They will know what we did today
How we voted today
And that
Is more important than Who We Are
It's a republic
If we can keep it
Thank you mr. president I heal before
I think
Charlie later than 5 minutes to the senator from Pennsylvania
Senator from Pennsylvania are watching for the debate in the Senate over the objection to the
Electoral vote count from the state of Arizona going back and forth in the Senate between
Republicans and Democrats we just heard from senator Amy Klobuchar ranking Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee
She's been appointed to teller and important role during today's ceremony
Ceremonial goings-on and just now the Senate we heard the majority leader recognized senator
Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania what is going on outside the capital they want to share with you there
And growing numbers of President Trump supporters who have descended on the capital standing nearby
By there been some video we've seen where they've clashed with the Capitol Police with Federal
Police over there guarding of the building and we are watching it very closely to see what's going on
Apologies for the shaky picture but all this happening right now outside the Capitol building
As of the house and the Senate debate these objections to the counting of the old
Electoral vote
From at least three states where Joe Biden one and one by relatively narrow margins
Cesar States among the states that does the president's supporters
Are challenging this is another picture of President Trump supporters making their way from another location
In downtown Washington to the capital what we've been what was it
Watching this protest outside while we're hearing about the protest on the inside
Is fairly unprecedented in Washington I want to go to one of our one of our gas Danny Weiss
Capitol Hill veteran he worked for a speaker Pelosi worked in the Congress for
Almost three decades Danny Weiss you been talking to people about what's going on I know that just in the last hour or so the
The Cannon House Office Building had to be evacuated it's now I gather it's they've now have
Had the all-clear and they're back in but there's a lot of unrest here that we're not used to seeing you
Washington
But you're absolutely right Judy this is really disturbing the the visuals of Racine and the information that I
And others are getting from what's taking place inside
The capital of the House Office Buildings
On the course of my time working on the hill there were three times when I was
Order to evacuate
And I can assure you it is an extremely frightening experience to have arms Capitol Police
Banging on your office door running down the hallways
Yelling at people to get out
And you don't know what's going on it was during 911
And after 9/11 there was an errant play from the governor of Kentucky at the time
Approached Capital airspace
And then during the anthrax scare prior to that
And it'll all those times
It was thought that this was an attack from a from a foreign enemy
Or some type of terrorist organization now you're saying being American citizen
You are again going back to the point I made earlier
Feeling aggrieved that their president didn't win
And have been fueled by President Trump and frankly fueled
By this organized challenge this illegitimate organized challenge to the election
They've been fuel to come to the capital and not just protest protest is an American Democratic Institution
And that one is free to do it and it's been done throughout our history obviously
To violently attacked to attempt to break into buildings
To attempt to bring weapons into Washington DC is the DC police
Found from having monitor to Communications with proud boys and others this is really really
Disturbing turn
And again this was invited
By President Trump
And it's in fueled
It's not invited
By those who have supported
This a legitimate challenge to the election
John Hart is also joining us at watching all of this a listening to the debate on the floor of the house
House and Senate John Hart you worked for the late Republican senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
For number of years both when he was in the house and the Senate can you compare this anything you saw.
During your time working at the Capitol
No Jay this is a very sad moment for me like I was on the Capitol Hill. On 911
I'll never forget clean the building we were walking towards the Washington Monument
I heard an explosion and it ended up being one of the teams that broke the sound barrier
Pennsylvania
Waited and what Republicans have to realize right now is that this is the defy
Finding image of today
The defining image is people trying to break into the capitol
And abandoning the American tradition of resolving differences peacefully
And that is going to overshadow the entire debate we're going to hear both Chambers this is this is a sad moment
Then I take Republicans to their credit are in the chamber urging protesters to be peaceful
Tabac downtown
But the votes that are cast today are going to legitimize this behavior and I hope that Republicans
That decided it isn't worth it to avoid the political pain of crossing the president
And that they find other ways to express their legitimate concerns about elections
Other than legitimizing deeply anti-American
Action
I hear what you're saying Jon Hart at the same time we know that most Republicans even even
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who just now spoke out against the presidents
Opposition to the electoral vote count and said he's going to support the
Yeah the counting that leads to Victory by Joe Biden he didn't recognize Joe Biden
Victory for many weeks I think it was at least a month
After the election and most
Republicans
In the house and certainly a large number most of those in the Senate
Essentially went along with the president questioning election results for week after week
During which time Americans who support the president
Felt that their suspicions were being backed up
So these doubts that have led these individuals people who come from all over the country
To descend on the capital
Have been fed by the president's supporters
What you think they've surely been fat and exacerbated but again just didn't this didn't happen just in a vacuum that the to try
Tribes of Senator Mitch McConnell talked about
And and he just delivered a very powerful speech on the senate floor I think it would have been more effective
For Senator Schumer to not speak after McConnell to let McConnell's word syncing with other Republicans
But against these protesters feel like
The last decided in 2016 Donald Trump was not legitimately elected president
The last about resistance from the very beginning they claim falsely that there was Russian collusion
Impeachment was viewed as a coup attempt
And Anaya post-impeachment but I oppose what I see happening right now
And so I think Jenny went the back up and realized that there's a deeper issue
In our American political culture
That is Way Beyond partisanship
And that's what we have to address if we're going to heal and move forward after today
Well that's clearly part of what is going on no question about it
On hard and when I do want to come back to that right now again we are looking at live pictures outside the United States capitol
We're supporters of President Trump have descended on the Capitol Building as a debate is taking place inside
By members of the senate members of the House on a Jackson's raised to the electoral vote count let's go
Quickly to our Amna Nawaz who's been there watching a lot of this Amna what are you saying
Today we mentioned earlier the. the mostly the crowded been very calm that has changed dramatically
The last 15 or 20 minutes or so small group
To break through some of the barriers and come up closer to the Capitol DC police try to hold them back but that's
Quickly search and next thing we knew about 200 people started screaming up the hill closer to the Capitol Building
Marking down in front of the Capitol building and what that's resulted in now is a remarkable scene
Group of hundreds of people basically storm the front steps of the Capitol position themselves pasta
Police were working hard to try to keep them back right now and are panting and waving flags and trying to get
Heading to the Capitol building right now as you mention while that debate unfold this has been building over the course of this morning
Bring every single person that we talked to said that they were here because they couldn't stand to see this election stolen
Listening if you mentioned earlier to what President Trump has been saying they believe the election was stolen and it was red
And showed remain president many people can we talk to you when we asked where they're getting their information
Do they listen to why they believe this even though States and certified the votes they solicited conspiracy theories
A lot of far-right extremist net worth and right now with your seeing if there was
Of all of that people have been listening to this they have been fertilized they believe that their democracy is being stolen
And this is what they see is the only way for them to get that message across the right now
Hundreds of people gathered on the steps of the Capitol you can hear them chanting USA
And it doesn't really look like
If you hear that again
Having deploying flashbangs to trying to move some of the crowd but right now the proudest positions there
Seven more people are still standing back hairline as I look around you still seeing from all sides of the Capitol building
People from other parts other parts of the city and other rallies now moving here as well so we'll remain
Sitting here with keeping a safe distance will continue to let you know as things change here but tensions have been rising
In this year 2021 we've never seen anything
Sing like it I'm going to bother you can see right outside the capitol under before I let you go are you able to find out
Shout from the people you've been able to talk to where they are from
Don't forget even talked to a number of people who traveled a great distance
Important thing to point out is that people came here because they so deeply believed in the message that they were here and they
Driven in from up and down the east coast and flown in from a number of states be spoken to from Florida and
Alabama Laura Candela where those are spoken to so far
Has been relatively calm
Still say fake News Wisconsin cursing at us as well a number of people have been written killing us for
Wearing masks and telling us to take them off there is really not a mass to be found in this crowd soompi
Blower and scarves really for the cold but this is a proud that really doesn't believe that the pandemic is real they don't believe
Israel and so down. Here and most of whom are unmask and that gathered is very very tight
Tight quarters right behind us and up on the steps of the capitol
Fathers you say a remarkable scene there at the United States capital we've never seen at least in my 40-plus years
Covering Washington I've never seen anything like this certainly there have been protests have been peaceful protest there been
Small incidents of violence but I've never seen a situation where a large group of American citizens
Are trying to breach of the capital to get in in a protest to
Do we don't know what as this debate goes on inside
In the house chamber at one end of the Capitol in the Senate chamber at the other end over objections
Is it have been raised
To the electoral vote count the Congress is going through the process right now is called
All four in the constitution for the conga for the Congress to
Count formula
What the results are from each state and bus tally those totals
And say yes we the Congress acknowledge we see we believe this is the truth
Do an accurate accounting of the electoral vote of the Electoral College one more step
On the way to affirming certifying that Joe Biden Kamala Harris have been
Elected President and Vice President of the United States it's already taken place in the Electoral College is happening
State scores of Courts of Knocked Down the challenges that are posed by support
Orders of the president and we it remains to be seen what evidence there is
Of of breaches of the election process of the irregularities
Better significant we heard the Senate Majority Leader himself Mitch McConnell
Supporter the president he's a republican is not a not a fan of Joe Biden he himself said just a few moments ago
On the floor of the Senate if we pursue this if we overturn the will of the American people
Of the Courts of the states
Then our democracy is going into a death spiral I mean he use
The Stark Stark language to describe what is going on by other members of his own political play
Party the Republican party let me turn quickly back to Lisa desert
Are you able to hear me are you at a place where you can talk I'd like to know
No Lisa okay she's not available right now she's listening to the debates on the floor of the Senate and on the
Floor of the house let me go to Danny Weiss who
Who is whether who worked for almost three decades at the Capitol work for a time is
Chief of Staff to house Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Danny from your perspective how to members in a situation like this
How can they deal with us how do they how can they function in a Safeway with a
With a crowd that is some of whom were bent on violence
All right outside
Well it's it's it's difficult but the members of Congress rely on the Capitol Police
For their protection and they follow their guidance in looking at the image that you have on the screen right now
I want
My office is over the years was just to the left of the crowd that you're looking at one of those windows right there that's the
Those are the offices to the left there of the minority leader so those would not be minority leader McCarthy's offices
Extremely unusual to have people up on the balcony there
Very rare
And it's it is a frightening situation
But you do members rely on the Capitol Police for their security
And they also of course you know use their own common sense
There was another period of time
That I thought was a
Frightening in German
Politics and legislations within 2010
When the Tea Party had a large rally on the capitol grounds
On a Saturday when the house was passing reportable Cara
Affordable Care Act otherwise known as Obamacare of course became a lightning rod for
For the Tea Party and resulted in the house I was one of the causes of the house flipping from Democrat to Republican
Publicans at the end of 2010
But the rage the rage among the protesters
Towards Congress in a particular towards Democrat
On that day
You might recall that members of Congress March from the cannon building that was
Evacuated
Across Independence Avenue to the Capitol
And Congressman John Lewis
Speaker Pelosi Congressman Hoyer they were holding the gavel
It was a very very historic moment
Marching to go and cast a vote on the Affordable Care Act and the Tea Party protesters
We're spitting
On the members of Congress
That moment and this moment is we've lost all perspective
On what is it to mean what does it mean to disagree with each other over policy in the direction of Arc
Country you know when when President Trump was elected
The people who voted against them and didn't support them of course they were disappointed they were dejected depressed
And what did they do in January 2017
They led the women's March in Washington and a women's march across the world
The largest gathering maybe in history of people protesting and it wasn't violent people didn't bring gum
Sporadic
Antifa craziness of breaking windows to try to take advantage of it but it was by and large and extreme
Greenlee peaceful day
To express the disappointment of the change of direction of the country
But it was not an unacceptable of that change
And what we're seeing now is this unwillingness
To accept
The will of the people
Which is a contradiction I believe a very conservative philosophy that I've ever heard of spouse
And an unwillingness and a Defiance determine Defiance we're looking at pictures live pictures from the
The capital these are supporters of President Trump who opposed the election result who are
Climbing the stairs and climbing the balcony areas are around the capitol
Are Lisa Desjardin who covers Congress for us is on the phone right now Lisa where are you tell us what you're saying
Hide you did I am on a balcony inside the capitol
Overlooking the front entry Lisa do we have you
Patrick can you hear me
Now I can hi Lisa
I'm overlooking the grass
Doors
Which are the front entrance to the capital
I see a crowd of protesters
Now I thought your
They are banging on the door they're pushing against the door
They are trying to get in half of the police there
They are moving the door there now hitting the window of the door
Trying to help broken the glass
To the door
US Capitol
I can't tell what I'm stuck this person is using
It is some kind of hard physical object
The glass shattering
I am in a safe place because I'm one level above
These boards are supposed to be very secure
But they're focusing on one side of the glass and they are not look like a double pane of glass
One side has shattered
The other side is now shattering
This is a
Very dense group of protesters
They are packed
Side to side
Capitol Police
You hear that knocking that is them trying to shatter the glass
Office store
You can hear the
So you can hear the metal
Of the door
Being tested
Capitol Police were guarding this door
They were standing in front of it now it's stuck in glass
It's being broken
As protesters enter
So we don't know what the protesters are not
They seem to be giving them more space
They have stopped trying to open the glass
There's no more Banyan
But I don't see Capitol Police year
At this location there are
Recorders
A few of the Senate doorkeeper
The Capitol Police have asked others to exit but there's no Capital position at this time they seem to have
Away from this area
It now looks like
The crowd is again
Raising and hostility
CareMore pushes at the door Judy
This is a real test
Literally a test
Of the security of the front door of the US Capitol
We're so far is holding
Protesters continued to push your science break into this building
Just extraordinary what Lisa Desjardin is describing she is located right above as she
She says on a balcony inside the Capitol building on the house side looking down at protesters breaking the glass
Attempting to break into the Capitol building and Lisa if you can still hear me is there you say though
Capitol Police are moving away does that mean there's no security on the inside I know you
You're trying to get stay close enough to see what's going on but we want you to stay safe
There is not security Within
The first
20 feet of this door but that is the only part that I can see
There may be security underneath me underneath the balcony I'm standing on
There is no police
On this level
Wish there was a staircase immediately next to the store
Pertussis could obviously come up the staircase right away I see a pair of police handcuffs on the ground
That were abandoned
Protesters now are using
The end of a
Stop holding an American flag
Youscience breakthrough
One of these windows
It's hard I don't know if this last one pane windows
That has shattered
II pain seems to be holding up I assume that it
Some kind of Highly secure may be full of proof glass
Protesters
Continue to try and break it open
Lisa we are listening to you and we want you to against a safe as you report on what's going on I am told it be
Both the house and the Senate have now adjourned temporarily because of these protests
No doubt out of a concern for safety of the members of the house and the Senate and this is
Statutory Hall there at the Capitol you can see it's empty members of Congress we presume have found
A place to go to keep them safe while we know the vice president regularly has Secret Service
With him but we don't know that we know that the members of the House and Senate typically do not other than
Speaker of the House perhaps go ahead Lisa
Student protesters have now broken into the US Capitol
Not for the store I'm told by a side door panel
Protesters at this location
I am not removing to a different location for the moment I will come back here if I can
I thought one protester who has gotten into the building
It looks like the protesters are now
Perhaps you're the protester who is trying to open this door from the inside
For those on the outside he's unable to do at the door obviously has been locked by capital
Sarah's us of a doorkeeper
Was unarmed
Is yelling
At the protesters
Kellymom
Opening the front door of the capitol
Celexa
What symbol Capitol police officer
Trying to stop this
On his own
Trying to get in between the crowd
Trying to enter the US Capitol police officers trying to stop a crowd of dozen
No way inside
Unable to stop them
Arendelle
Slowly making their way through what does The Following
A small opening
Ms Capitol tour
I mean because you can hear the shouting
I'm carefully watching the situation to keep myself safe
Turn down some
Also answering the door
Trying to get around the protesters
It is a chaotic
The only thing helping the situation is that the door
It's just barely open wide enough for a single person
You answer at one time
There is a trunk
Flag
On the top of protesters trying to enter
Serpost
Physically contacting police
So far has not come to blows
But there is pushing and shoving I try to bring in there
Telluride police numbers and stop
Galaxy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Valdosta
Protesters are now arriving in larger numbers
Unable to stop them
It looks like a dozen or so
Nothing more
This is an ongoing
Battle with police are losing
It looks like princesses or entering the castle as well
A stunning set of developments are Lisa Desjardins at the Capitol describing the Trump
Supporters who are gathered protesting the results of the election the
The what is supposed to be the formal count of the electoral vote today they are gathered outside the
Capital they have now pushed their way into the capital we've heard Lisa Desjardin Lisa we're trying to urge we are
Urging you to stay as safe as possible but it but they've pushed their way in they broke glass
Broken glass on a door or window you can now see video of protesters inside statutory Hall
This is normally an area where people there are Capitol Police who
Monitor you have to have a show on ID of some sword you have to be there for a reason the public is normally
Welcome but but in order and with identification and this is clearly a breach of that these
Other people coming through we don't know what their intention is I believe they'd be walking from the house
Side to the Senate side but
I can't tell maybe Lisa is there on the house side of the Capitol and I'm Lisa
I'm prepared to go to you whenever you have some additional reporting go ahead
Can you hear me
Yes go ahead
And I'm going to do an interview over the phone
PBS
Thank you for talking with me can you tell me your name
Tell me I know that you just broke into the US Capitol just tell me why you just took it
This is obviously
Did the police shoot at you today are you personally saying you saw the police
Okay
Do not think this is violet breaking into the US Capitol
What 1776 violin
You're saying this is on the same level as the American Revolution
What are what is your goal here what are you going to do after you stop talking with me
I'm going to keep Desplaines building
Do you understand that this is this is something
You're telling people of America that there's just aired on public buildings is that a message that you want to send
If the time comes where you feel like that's necessary in our Constitution that we can
Raise up against the government
What is it exactly
Messi did not win the election
Thank you for talking to me
So that is
You can tell it as I mix
Of anger and also frankly just being Cavalier
About himself perhaps not understanding
Pictures taken
Lisa Desjardin are there at the Capitol forest reporting I she's been talkin with the protesters who broken
Into the building we have to say broken in because that they've not gone through normal channels of they've been
They came to Washington to protest to support President Trump and now they have gone into the
The capital which is normally a place which is where entrance is regulated for safety reasons
This is all happening while the house is Senate have been in session to consider the count
Of the electoral votes both of those sessions have now gone into recess or temporarily adjourned
Safety reasons we don't know where the Senators and the members in the members of the House have gone we assume they've been
Escorted somewhere to stay safe as safe as paz
Possible we also don't know the intent of these visitors protesters we don't
No we heard the gentleman say when the time comes to rise up against the government
Nelson sing that's what they're doing so we don't know what that means what they're in goal here is today
Whether they plan to add her
The House and Senate chambers right now we see them walking across statutory Hall this is a part of
Are the capital losses basically the center Statuary Hall it's it's the center of the Capitol building is
The place normally people walk
Through their across there to get from one side of the capital to the other I think most of these people have been walking from
The house side to the Senate side but we're continuing to watch that and while we do
I want I want to turn back to our White House correspondent yamiche Alcindor
Who image we know President Trump spoke to these protesters earlier
Here today for quite some time I guess about an hour or longer he's now back at the White House
Do you think is he aware of what he's Unleashed year
It's unclear exactly whether or not President Trump understands just how bad the situation is but it's clear
That the situation of course has deteriorated the security of the federal government has been breached and
Incredible reporting from Lisa with people breaking into the US Capitol and instead of talking about that instead of putting out of state
Or putting out people at the White House to say that this is not something that they should be doing condemning this the present is instead
Tweeting attacking the vice president of the United States in this historic moment he's lashing out saying that vice-president Pence
Did not stand up for what was right these are people of course that but I believe the president conspiracy theories
Weeks and months now the president has been egging people on saying that they that the election was stolen from him saying that the election
And now we see the consequence of those conspiracy theories this is the definition of words having
Consequences and now what the president is doing is continuing to add these people on there is no condemnation as of now at the White House
We just went back our producer just went back to the we're all of the White House communications people sit she said doors are closed
So right now as all of this is happening the federal government the headquarters of the United States is not saying anything about what
Tapani it is it is simply extraordinary and you Misha's I'm listening to you I'm reading the toy
Tweet by the president criticizing his own vice president Mike Pence has probably been more loyal
I also this President than anyone else standing by him through every controversy since he took office and even
Before but what the president tweeted and I'm reading Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect
Our country and our constitution giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts not the Frog
Fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to personally certify USA demands the truth of course that is a
Say false statement election results have been certified a repeatedly
I've been held up by numerous courts including by judges who were appointed by Republicans including
Judges who were appointed by President Trump himself none of these allegations of fraud
Of abuse in the counting of the election results have been up here
So this is where we are the house and the Senate have both now adjourned
For the time being while we see
Protesters here in Washington called come here by President Trump who have broken in
Into the Capitol Building broken windows broken into push doors open making the
Their way freely through the capital we don't know for what purpose to express their strong
Disappointment disapproval but beyond that we don't know we know there been there's been some violin
Once there were physical skirmishes we did hear the protester who was interviewed by arlissa day Showdown or Congressional correspondent
He did say to her that a policeman it fired rubber bullets we don't know any we don't have any information of
About that but we do know that the
Security what security guards
Our security exists at the Capitol has been overwhelmed
By these hundreds and it looks like even thousands of protesters who come here from
Different parts of the country different parts of the United States in in support of the presidents
False
Theory statement
That the election was stolen there's no evidence of that
No evidence at all of that now I'm told I'm asking our producer Sarah
Just to tell me again what you just said
Okay I'm told that the house has just now
Come back into session we don't know what's going on there we don't have a picture of the house just yet Butler
Let's go back to to our on the navase our correspondent whose out on the grounds of the Capitol watching all
All of this I'm not from your perspective what are you what are you hearing and seeing
All the crowds out here only continue to grow everything you heard from Lisa inside he's proud
Something to do the same thing on this I just to bring everyone up to speed about half an hour ago vehicle barriers that advanced
Set up about a hundred yards away or so from the capital were first breached by a group of protesters Capitol Hill Police
Created a little bit more hundreds more protesters started to scream at this walkway in front of the Capitol you can see
Continuing to grow and I have to tell you people still arriving here at this location from every corner
Around that I can see you now see people who hasn't reached all the way up to the entrance of the Capitol on this
Decide on one set of stairs on another Capitol Hill Foods has also retreated further back another 20 or 30
And the protesters continued to gain ground it is a remarkable restraint
People holding Trump flag and Maga flag and don't tread on me flag and a number of other messages
Waving those flags and chanting stop the steel and USA on the steps of the US Capitol
Unclear exactly what they intend to do we know that there isn't a single but it's where everything seems to kind of ramp-up
Make a run for some of the doors are stopped by a few members of the Capitol Police nothing has gotten violent yet
I say yes because I have to say open the last few minutes tension of really increase I'm very
Easy it's very hard to see what's going to happen next but also it's very clear to Safe Capitol Hill Police are
There's a very small presence outside the capitol
Here as well but the crowds continue to arrive unabated and their streaming closer and closer up to the Capitol
What to say now is a massive crowd of trump supporters that have taken over the steps of the capitol
And it's unclear what if anything could move these loud bang sounds
Flashbangs which police will sometimes deploy to try to break up a Carter get them to disperse they don't seem to be one
Working the crowds only get bigger and bigger mostly. the moment but Judy I have to say.
Easy and every few minutes someone else seems to make a run for the capital tension seemed to rise again someone else
Starting to get it again and again it's very hard to see how a situation like this gets diffused Duty
Very hard to see I'm not we have learned in the last few minutes that the mayor of
The District of Columbia mayor Muriel Bowser has called for a curfew in Washington DC
To start at 6 tonight through 6 tomorrow morning we are still it's just a little after 2:30 in the
Eastern time so we were little more than three hours away from that curfew but that is an effort
By the district government to clear the streets to I guess 2 inches
We know that things can sometimes take a take a worst turn after sunset
Dark but so it does appear to be an effort by the leaders of the district took to calm things down but at this point
Point that crowd from the looks of what on the was describing of the pictures we've been seeing and certainly from the
Description we heard from Lisa Desjardin what's going on inside the capitol people break breaking glass breaking
In coming in streaming in through the doors making their way through the capital no sign of
When or how that is going to calm down how it how it comes to an end what it is that they are asking
About to have happened obviously they want the results of the election overturned they want as present
President Trump has been calling for he wants the results return in his words to be returned to
The states so that there would presumably be some sort of re counting or ring
Verification that would lead to a completely different result it it it requires a leap of the imagination
Imagination to understand what that would look like and there's no indication at all that that's going to happen there
There's no no one in any official position who says that that could happen other than President Trump
Himself his own vice president has said today that he will abide by the Constitution in that his
His role today is simply to to recite what the results are from
Each state on not to take part in the challenge even the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who is also been very
Loyal to this President saying today it would it would damage our democracy for
Forever he said if this Congress were to overturn the will of the American people of the voter
Of the Courts of the states and take a basically the election end of their own
Hands and decide that that that this is what should be in but that is exactly what president
Trump is asking for we're watching a remarkable scene outside the capitol we knew there would be protests
Today we had no idea it was going to reach this level that they would be climbing the walls climbing
The perimeter of the Capitol breaching the perimeter of the Capitol going inside the building breaking glass
And so it is true that we don't see widespread Acts
Of violence outside but clearly there was violence for them to get into the building and they have overwhelmed
The security at the Capitol Lisa Desjardin describing how the Capitol Police made
Room for them to come in because they were simply outnumber their were not in not anywhere near enough Capital please
I should also say that it appears that vice-president Pence has been escorted away
To a safe place from the Senate chamber as has the Senate President Pro Temp
Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa who would be the ranking Republican presiding over
For the Senate if if the vice-president were not there I believe what we're seeing
Different report is it the two of them I have been have been safely taken away
What we don't know is what has happened to other members of the Senate other members of the House it does appear from
This picture want pictures of the capital that these protesters are able to just freely move in and around the cap
Capitol building that doesn't seem to be anything stopping them at least from this perspective
From this entrance of the capital so
We are continuing to watch what happen this is put a halt to the process that this day
Today was supposed to be all about it was a counting of formal counting of the electoral vote
From the 50 states and the District of Columbia that count was starting with Alabama was going
And with Wyoming but it's been stopped at stop with Arizona when there was a rejection raise
And there was a debate in the Senate debate going on the floor of the house let's go back
Believe I'm that are on in auxvasse there on the ground testing reporting for a sauna can you hear me
Yesterday I can yes I'm still here we're still outside the capital is still growing in
And numbers this crowd easily a few thousand people here now and I just as you were saying before
Lisa Whispering about what she saw inside about the Capital Hilton he's being overwhelmed we seen the same thing happen here
Again and again as you said it does remain largely called or haven't been real acts of violence
Although I guess some would argue that some of the runs people have made protesters of maids Harlingen physically challenging
How to get to the door so they had to be stopped those were acts of violence as well but people continue to stream some of them
Very very angry to hear people screaming profanities at the Capitol they're aiming those at the members of Congress
The people that they believe should not be counting his electoral vote and Judy everything we've been talking about in terms of the message
Everything has been reporting about in terms of what the president has been saying or failing to say today this is a message
It resonates big people out here they do not believe that your garden won the election they do believe
This election was stolen that continuing to tant he may be able to hear USA USA
Looks like the crowd is moving closer around us right now
Different protest groups across the city and looks like one of those large groups is making noise
I'm here right now but so far it's 80 I have to say most keep
Say a little further back you can't sing for an even with me and behind that there are still many
Many more people who have gathered here in a walking the protesters who have been dreaming up to the capital trying to breach
Entryways to get in on this side and we're keeping an eye on it I mean it's it's just we can't
It is an extraordinary scene this is not how this day usually unfolds this is not
Santa seen any of us has ever witnessed before and yet here we are hundreds of people have taken to the steps of the
Believe has been stolen
You're exactly right and as you say unsettled unpredictable
We don't know where this is headed I do want to report that President Trump tweeted just about 5 minutes ago
An appeal for calm I'm just going to read his very brief tweet he said please support our capital
Police and law enforcement they are truly on the side of our country stay peaceful
Oceanpoint interesting the president tweeted this since he was the one who called for
I his supporters and to show up in Washington to protest the results
So the election Lisa Desjardin inside the capitol to you
There you are Lisa can you hear me
I can see Lisa I don't know if I can if we can hear her
She's seems to be at a at a window near an opening the capital
And we're going to go to Lisa as soon as we have that that picture stabilize you can imagine there in a in a chaotic and a
Constantly changing situation there we've been trying to to to get to Lisa with a cam
Ever since she started reporting there a few minutes ago her reporting it which was about
20 minutes ago was live as the protesters breach the Capitol Building she described the break
King of the glass she said they were pushing it with a hard
Heavy objects you couldn't see what it was but they eventually broke glass then they broke in the door
Started streaming into the capital
Capital Guard Security made way for them Lisa are you there
There you go Lisa can you hear me can you hear us now go ahead
Idea I hear you Judy I am again on the third floor the capital and I will pay you behind you can see
Some of the protesters next to me
This is the House Appropriations Committee meeting room
As a life I am standing in the police what is usually where police stand but the police
Azaria
Here's the thing from inside
US Capitol
Her pictures Frozen for a minute we're going to get back to Lisa just as soon as I get stabilizer there she is
On the other side of the house Chambers
Short time ago witness some house members of being exported out of the area
Protoss first access
Appointment is
Colonias well
No security and it's unclear how this situation resolved
The capital people are our station and place and I will probably do that shortly as well
Looks like inside their capital
Looks like we've lost a signal from Lisa at least for the moment and we're hearing some sort of alarm
Go off Eliza If you're there will stay with you we do want you to stay safe
Can you tell whether they've been able to get close to go ahead Lisa
Are now _ they are now working
We're going to
She's being asked
Alright we're hearing show
It's in the background Lisa wants you to stay safe we're going to
Come away for just a moment until we can understand a little more about what's going on
Trying to understand whether they've been able to get into the House and Senate chambers and of course
Knowing whether the go-ahead Lisa go ahead
Gillian and the capital is an area that is usually
From sew-in video that's why I've been selected and shooting video not it
The police do think the police have games control for the moment of this Porter the capital
I no longer here protesters chanting beneath me in Statuary Hall
Were they have them but I do hear shouting us-321 by one be taken down
Down the protesters tell him to get on the ground trying to control the situation
Alright we're going to let you get to a safe place and the police
Attempt to clear the protesters out and will come back to you as soon as we can we see police armed
We saw an armed law enforcement officer there we know
Others so they are trying to they are trying to
Condor store Cervantes
Where is active with members of Congress
Evacuating at this point
You see that
Perhaps
Everyone sentence install
WWE forced to take right now hard to believe
Believe we want you to stay safe while you're coming down the stairs Lisa we do see house members we saw one as you said with the
Gas mask on as you described it and we're watching other members trying to get to
A place of safety while the police try to evacuate apparent apparently trying to evacuate these protesters who are trying
Who are moving into and in taking over some parts of the capital
Basement sometimes Sakura space
As I can
Well more than anything we want you to stay safe
Course we went all over you know everyone there to stay safe as safe as possible looks like Lisa's now been
Been required to move to another another location we are
This is our eyes and ears at the capital Lisa Desjardins
On the debate inside the Senate and the house is now joining members of Congress and
Waiting
The capital ordered by police to leave so that they can try to get the pro
Protesters out of the building apparently that's what we believe is going on Lisa's keeping that camera with
With her that's what's giving us access
To what you see in the underground or at least in the lower floor lower levels of the Kappa
But you see people moving quickly and we did see uniformed officer
Earlier armed as they were shouting and attempting to get the protesters
To move unprecedented historic
I think you know when we when we think about the United States Capitol we think about the debates that go
Go on in the committee rooms and on the floor this is not what we are used to sing at the United States capitol
But here we are January 6th 2021 we have a president protesting in election result
And and his millions of followers thousands of whom has shown up in Washington today
To breach the US Capitol to go inside
2
To what end were not clear other than they want a different result
They don't want Joe Biden elected president they want President Trump re-elected
And they are not accepting
The legitimate
Certified legally
Sworn results of the election they believe that something has happened to Riggs
The election
A completely
Baseless
Okay I'm told my Sam been given some information Sarah you want to repeat that
2 things to report that they are called in more armed
All officers to the capital to try to restore peace there that is happening right now and also
Also we are told that a protester is in the well of the House of Representatives at the speakers
What turn I believe it is there's a protester in other words or protesters inside
The house
Chamber normally this is a very restricted area only members of Congress are allowed to go there
Obvious reasons for the government can function
Oh and for safety reasons so
We've gone way well beyond that protesters inside the building not only inside the capitol
Building but inside
The chamber let's go back quickly now to the White House where President Trump has a few
Minutes ago you Miche tweeted two people to stay calm to respect the police and yet
This is a protest that he himself has called for
Image are you there
Didn't hear you essentially yes we are seeing the really the consequences of the president
Of the United States lying and telling millions and millions of Americans that election was stolen from him this is happening
Any other country critics say we would call this a coup we would call it an attempt to take over the government that protesters said
Do you think about 1776 when he told Lisa that he broke into the capital and the president now it's saying support our police
Support the Capitol Police but it it really is obvious here that the president had been urged by fellow Republicans
Set time to condemn violence to condemn people Gathering today in in Washington DC and he chose not to do that instead
Daddy chose to give an hour-long sleeps more than an hour-long speech saying again false claims and really dead
Getting people riled up getting people angrier and angrier and as a result you saw this now burst into the capitol
Images that we're seeing today with armed guards at with with officers with their guns drawn in the US Capitol
It is a result directly of the president of the United States telling American things are simply are not true the disinformation
Haitian Campaign Headquarters at the white house right now we don't see any other White House officials coming to cameras to say urgent
Calling to say something about what they want to see next other always see right now is the president tweeting but this is
You really are a situation that of course is unprecedented this is a situation that also goes directly to President Trump and all of this
I think that fellow Republicans were telling him to stop doing including of course Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who gave that speech today saying that they would
Simply be harmful to our democracy if we overthrew the selection
That's right you may show but number of leading Republicans are disagreeing with what the president's doing but that is
After we should say after weeks and months of supporting the president's belief in these
Faricy theory is not standing up to the president many of them Lisa Desjardin I think are you at a place where we
We can go back to you inside the capitol
Yes I know making my way this is the underground tunnel that connects the US capital to Office Buildings
Were the actors actually underground trailer
Most of the members of Congress that I expect have been evacuated from the house chamber there was a large group
As you saw that I was walking out with anxiety
Group I saw some tears to someone who is looking a little fearful
I also spoke to representative Norma Torres of California
I said how are you
I know you're telling people you're safe I said what do you think of how far out of the realm of reality
Feel like for you and she said
I came here to get away from this kind of threat
The government
And she just shook her head
Been trying to tackle the first of which clearly was against members of Congress and people inside the
And it looks like that is happening now Lisa have you seen any
Members who are embracing these protesters supporting them because we know a number of them are supporting the idea of a
Injecting to the Electoral results
You know I am looking
I do not see any members who I know to be objectors
In This Crowd I did stay earlier today
Carolina the first building
People are being sold Brothers
You told me he just hadn't heard about it yet he had he had no comment on it at all but I am
Members of Congress
Say about this August
It'll be very interesting to see what their reaction is whether they are
Embracing what these protesters are doing or whether they're going to speak up and say they've gone too far because the center
Their actions are what brought these protesters to Washington and to the capital
So it will be interesting to see the explanations that we hear but what the protesters have done
Is they've managed to put a halt to what was supposed to be of the Constitutional
A requirement that the Congress of the United States count the electoral votes
One more step on the way to certifying other Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will
Become president and vice president on the day of inauguration it's it was one
A reasonably routine day there have been objections raised at different points but it's never gone this far
I in American history where you had protesters come in and
Actually break into the capital to express their strong
Strong views Lisa we are seeing history being made
Members I have been escorted back to their offices with my fellow members of the press for he sorted out
I was just trying to find a place to work at this point
All right now it says elevator bag between the Longworth and Cannon office building Underground
There's no sign of protesters here and it does we'll take the areas on either side of this have been secured
Who knows how long we're going to have to
And I and I think that a lot of us left obviously without
Provisions for staying anywhere very long but
I moved to stabilize areas of the capital
And to get people to safety so that is progress
That is progress and we know as we reported a few moments ago they're there now been more arms
Law enforcement have been called into the Capital Area so there will be we presume attempts May
To clear the capital of the protesters we saw some of that Lisa was right there inside the capital of few minutes ago when
We saw law enforcement armed law enforcement trying to get protesters out
But that's going to take some time to do we don't know the course that this is going to take this
Is all unfolded in a very unplanned at least to us unplanned
No matter and we are following it just as you are as you're watching this we weren't sure where we knew they were
Protest we did not know it was going to leave this and so we continue to watch butts
For the time being the business of the Congress called for in the Constitution to count
The electoral votes has stopped that's going to have to continue at some point after
The capital is made safe and Lisa as far as we know they haven't even been able to move
Move on past the State of Arizona so they've got another 47 states to go plus the District of Columbia
That's right we we were expecting today
Something like
12 hours devoted to the electoral process and to
Finishing the 2020 election right now
Could possibly continue today
Obviously those pictures to see the pictures that you're showing up the front steps because he
We're very blind as to how many protesters were talking about where are they are they
Capsule that's very good information for me and for those of us who are still there
I'm assuming perhaps able to get into the capital in some form so this tells me
Very long time on ahead before bringing back this electoral process
I want also say a quick word about Capitol Police and you know I've been a Capitol Hill reporter had the privilege to be here for
And there's the hardest-working people completely devoted their crafts and and they have lately
Because of the protesters the last year
American politics
Unsung on talked about Capitol Police have been working long hours
Actor at their stance
Afford this building obviously there'll be a lot to talk about
Culpeper police handle this incident why does happened
But I just want to put in a word for that because I know these guys and women
I'm glad you did that Lisa because you're right now they work long hours they I'm sure don't get
Are the appreciation they deserve day-in-and-day-out while we're listening talking with Lisa I do one
Want to turn to our to Capitol Hill veterans were joining us then joined us in essence to provide
Commentary and perspective while we reported on the debate in the house in the Senate today on the
The electoral vote count but now that we've had all this unfold I want to turn to them it's John Harris who work for
For many years for the late Republican I'm sorry Jon Hart
Floating around in my head right now John Hart apologies he work for a number of years for the late Republican senator
Informant formerly Republican congressman John Tom Coburn and
And John let me just just come to you and Danny Weiss is also with him who also work for several
Decades are on Capitol Hill including his chief of staff to speaker Pelosi but John
I have to ask both of you have you seen anything like this have you seen this kind of
Security challenge at the Capitol
No Jay this is this is unprecedented and it's disgraceful are Danny and I are actually
Compare notes and we've never seen anything like this happen I think the
Just got to be studied and looked at for a long time and but
Yeah well I'm frankly tracking right now is power Republicans as you asked how Republicans going
Respond
And yeah I've seen reports some Republicans want to see the president impeached over this you know this is
Potentially crossing the line into treason you know he just told Mike Pence has the power to
To not ratify the election so I think there's
This is there are no words to describe how disturbing this is I was
I was an election observer in postwar Yugoslavia
Yeah in 2001 of the comments that people on the ground said was look we never fought
Thought there would be a war in our country when they never thought
Civilization would unravels quickly as a dead
And these are the steps that that should be unimaginable
To any American
And I think Republicans are going to have a very difficult time
Navigating the next few hours and
It'll be interesting to see where they where they come down
John are there are there Republicans you can name who are critical of the president right now
Erik Erikson for example yeah I was just I was scrolling through Erik Erikson well-known commentator
Very respected tea party conservative he's calling for the president to be impeached
He thinks this is cross the line into treason
Thought you have a lot of numbers calling for the protesters to to calm down
The president as you read his tweet has said that
But this is put this is completely changed this is Way Beyond politics right now but
This is change the political dynamic in calculation
In the mind and heart of every Republican
Who came into into today thinking they could cast a vote
To get the president off their back essentially that's really what this was about
And is Danny would probably agree to there are moments where you have members
Sometimes a lot of members voting for a particular
And a challenging position means there's actually weakness there so another words
I don't know that there are more than two or three Republicans said if the election really depended on their boat they would
Boat
To overturn the election
But if 140 members can do it and they feel like there's no consequence to doing so
And they can do that and that happens a lot in Congress that's just how members make political calculations
We're Way Beyond that normal type of calculation right now
And
Reflector
Alright we're talking to John Hardin and Danny Weiss I'm going to come back to you but right now I'm told that you Michel
Tender at the White House has some information you Miche
President Trump is sitting still at the White House watching this all unfold on TV and
The scene at the White House is relatively calm we can hear the sirens we can hear the protesters what is it is a star
Split screen from that President Trump is really enjoying in some of this calm while so much has happened with Sean
Oh my God I'm sorry there I just saw a report about someone being shot and that's not confirm
I'm so I want to make that clear but it was startling to see
Just now give me slap me why don't you go ahead and finish and then we'll go back to the Capitol
Would you do that to disturbing it if if true and in what what you hear here is the president is watching all this time
If old allies of the president are condemning this violence but the present is not at this point having to read some of the chaos
That he stoled he is sitting here armed in a bubble of security while the capital is now
I'm completely breech while the capitals having to deal with the consequences of the things that the present
Said and did four months and weeks as it relates to the election so I just wanted to point out that
The president here is doing what he does which is he's looking at the fall on TV but in this moment where this nature
Really needs a leader there are critical of the president who are saying he is really having the dereliction of Duty while he is able
To stay secure while Americans now are are being put in unsafe situations with the Capitol Police and so
So many others now having the fear for their lives I'm Aziz protesters continued to go on I'm the president and saying that he
He wants people to continue to protest in some ways but that he is condemning the violence but it really is something to behold at the
President United States someone who understands communication to understand how to talk to the American people is in this moment
Choosing not to do that
Well the condemning the violence and asking people to respect at the police but as you say only after
Weeks and weeks days and days once in months
Of questioning the election result and calling on people to protest in any form
I want to say I we now I know and seeing a report a DC paramedic source is saying that
One person was shot inside the capitol we don't have that confirmed but we are
Certainly looking into it there other news reports right now this one from NBCSN there's video
The protesters inside the Senate chamber rummaging through Senators desks so we
These are all things we are going to be following up on in our attempt to to understand what's going on in
Killer whether someone has been shot we didn't see when Lisa Desjardin was reporting from inside the capitol where
She was following the protesters trying to understand
Where they were and where they were going
You could see that police were armed we didn't hear any shots while Lisa
It was reporting but this latest information is it
Someone has been shot so again not confirmed but we are attempting to find out
Where things stand let's go to where I'm going to Vaz who has been reporting from just outside the capitol
Hershey's on the capitol grounds Amna
This is here it's still a remarkable thing but basically a standoff you have thousands of supporters who have taken
The capital and remain in basically a standoff with a very limited Capital pulley
Capital City Sports right now
Bike metropolitan DC police arrived on the scene between a few minutes and take position
Closer to the Capitol here and they have tactical gear on they seem to be more heavily helmets and
Face shield emergency response police written on the back of their testicles
So far we don't have any bigger picture of how many of a ride but it does look like some additional force is now arrived
I didn't hear maybe it has been mentioned to try to clear some of this child before that has now been announced
DC mayor Muriel Bowser it's unclear if word of that curfew has made it to the protesters here they're Sturtevant
Floated across doesn't leave a few dozen more arrived at the crowd seemed to be holding state
Animal right now but it is very cold conditions for people to be spending a lot of time outside comfortably
No one will be so far says it have any intention of leaving they say that they came here because they believe that the election
It was stolen and they don't want to see those electoral votes counted and that's that's why they're here to see this standoff through
I also want to share some of the other folks we've seen arriving there's all kinds of flags
About Joe Biden being a criminal there is some supporting Flags stairs of state by state flag
We hear again and again from people saying this is our house you work for us and this is
Is one of the messages that they were very intent on getting out to those members of Congress into those Senators as witches
This is not something that they want to see happened they believe that those members work for them this is their house
And if they want to see the election stop in its tracks right now so right now we're keeping an eye on this crowd
I said story that the standoff in this moment it's also unclear I should say if President Trump's tweet calling for calm
Has made it to the crowd decanting continues the yelling continues a x music playing continue
It's a very surreal scene in cannot say just off to my left there's a Preston with a few dozen
Members of the Press International press Corps so these are people from around the world who have come here to report
On this part of the American electoral process earlier as well as someone who
Covered elections around the world for years has to be a very surreal seeing that here in America
At the end of this presidential election for the end of this presidential election this is where we find ourselves
This kind of seeing thousands of protesters calling for the process to start that messages being a broadcast
That's out to the rest of the world which is watching very closely to see how this ends Judy
Pause at the Capitol and you're absolutely right sir real & Beyond disturbing weekend report
That Kevin McCarthy who's the ranking Republican in the House of Representatives is saying that someone was
What shot the NewsHour is able to report from a source we find Reliable.
But someone was shot in the chest inside the capitol it was not a uniformed officer
So we can assume it was a protester but we don't know there is another report that I read that CPR
Was being administered to this person we're waiting for more information but the clearly of
Events have taken a very very dark turn at the United States Capitol where supporters of press
President Trump have broken into the capital have basically now have their run of the Builder
From one end to the other end
Are being pursued by security and ask
To leave and we now know as we say and I'll repeat it that it is confirmed that someone
Rashad Kevin McCarthy the Senate Republican leader I'm sorry the house Republican leaders saying yes
Someone was shot and our own information at the NewsHour someone was shot in the chest and another report that
It was the CPR is being is being administered I should say that president
Trump has tweeted again after all this again urging calm I don't have the the text
Of exactly here it is this is another tweet from the president just in the last minute or so
The president asked quote everyone at the Capitol to quote remain peaceful quote no violence
! remember we are the party of Law & Order
And quote and again these are supporters of the president
Who are behind the what you're saying in all these pictures
And and this is the president asking his own people
To be called Lisa Desjardins at the Capitol what are you learning Lisa
Yeah you know I just was speaking to another member of Congress representative mark desaulnier
Watch her and I think this just speaks to the very strange
Mood that were in as I told you I saw some people with tears in their I fear
On their face
Sonia said I love your cat
I wanted I just want to convey the inside the capitol there is some calm there are some people who are
Trying to
Keep Spirits high like he is
Obviously my cat is way more famous than I am so that was inappropriate remark
But it's just more of the music I think we are in an in-between time where people don't know what to feel
People are mostly texting their loved ones and am fine everything's okay
Some alarming things on television
And then I see them texts and turn to each other and say
What's happening I can't believe what is happening right now so it is a moment of disbelief
Animal Network people are trying to stay stay steady
Nobody nobody Lisa wants to believe that this has happened but obviously it has happened we now have reports
Set a person was shot inside the capitol presumably a protester were told it's not law enforcement
So we're trying to get more information and I know you Lisa and there and the rest of our team will be trying to
Get that information as soon as we can but even before we heard that someone had been shot the pictures of
The scene from inside the building very disturbing people breaking into the capital breaking glass
Glass breaking doors making their way through the building and as I mentioned a minute ago one of them
That works I believe it was in BC reporting that protesters were inside the Senate chamber rummaging
Through the Senator's desk looking through what is obviously private
Material on the floor of the Senate where the public is typically not allowed to go yes it is the
People's house from the standpoint of this is our government's and it's where it's Adam
Democracy to this is the people's house but at the same time business has to be conducted
People's lives and and Affairs have to be respected and and security has to be
Respected and that's not happened that's not what happened today this is been an over running of security
Way Beyond what anyone expected this the level of security at the Capitol was not
Sufficient to meet the the level of protest protesters who showed up
Determined to get in they were clearly just not not prepared
Perhaps didn't want to believe that people would would take the steps that they
I have taken today by the way I should say that I'm told there is another report a spokesperson for speaker Nancy
Pelosi reports that she is safe somewhere in or around the capitol that's one repair
Port we are saying and we know that vice-president Pence was escorted to a safe location as was Senator Chuck
Grassley of Iowa he's the Senate President Pro Tem highest-ranking
Member of the Senate by virtue of seniority you're watching live picture
Pictures of the capital in the hour or so it's now 3:22 in the afternoon Eastern Time
It's been at least an hour or so since more than that since
Protesters broke into the Capitol Building walkthrough ran through
In an effort to do we don't know what other than occupy the building to be there to express their anger
For their disappointment
The President Trump was not
Re-elected we've seen people unhappy over election results before but not
To the level of
Essentially tearing down or or rampaging through
The United States capital which is the the building that is supposed to bring us all together
Republicans Democrats come together to hash out the Great
Issues of our time to reach agreement or not to argue to debate
The issues that matter in the lives of all Americans and instead what we seen is
Is Mob rule Mass protests
Taking over and we're just thankful that there haven't been more incidents of violence eyewear weight
Waiting to find out more about the individual who was shot inside the capitol I want to go back to the to Jen
Anyone who are veterans of working on Capitol Hill John Hart Who work for a Republican
Tom Coburn Democrat Danny Weiss work for house Speaker Nancy Pelosi is her chief of staff
I didn't get a chance to come to you a few minutes ago but I have to keep asking the two of you
What do you make of this as someone who knows that building and knows
The work that goes on inside their day after day
Extremely disheartening and it ended and it's scary
You know one of the other a few things I've been thinking about one is its
Really unbelievable that the Capitol Police
Appear to have been
Unprepared
There have been a number of occasions where the Capitol Police have been significantly dress down
Or failing to have proper procedures and then they take better procedures
And again members of Congress are dependent on the Capitol Police
Sergeant-at-arms for their security
It's difficult to second-guess the police
However after 9/11
There was a significant dressing-down of the police because there was no way back
Equation
Process in place there were as I said earlier
Police with guns running down the hallway knocking on your door yelling at you
To run
And that was considered to be extremely inappropriate way to get people safely evacuated
The next thing that's going to happen is that you know first of all we don't know how the rest of the day is going to
End
In order for Congress to resume its work the entire Capitol Building will have to be cleared
And sweep do you don't know what anyone is brought into the building at this point you don't know if anyone has found a place to hide in the
Building and the police know that and they know that it's going to take some time to restore the building
And make sure that it's completely secure
If the vice president cannot be in the house chamber of it has not been sweet to head of time
And now you have people who have not gone through security that around the house floor
So when we get past this day and then perhaps this week not knowing how it's going to unfold
You're going to see a much tighter security
Apparatus at the Capitol on top of the tight security that's already there an average person can't just walk into the
Rebuilding
When I first came to Washington
I remember going to to see former Congressman Claude pepper
Lay in state in the Rotunda right up the steps that you're showing in in your screen right now and I could just walk
Light up steps and go right into the Rotunda
And
We've had a lot more security at it since then and regrettably we're going to have a lot more at it now
Danny Weiss I worked as a chief of staff to house Speaker Nancy Pelosi up until 2020 19
Couple things I'm seeing right now speaker Pelosi has asked for the National Guard to help clear
You're the capital so some of the law-enforcement we saw in the building earlier and now going to be reinforced if they have a
Already by the National Guard we know that mayor Muriel Bowser the mayor of Washington DC had
Ask the National Guard to reinforce
DC police anticipating these protests today that the President Trump had called for
He called for his supporters to show up and Washington but clearly there was no
Anticipation that this would happen or surely there would have been more security that would have prevented
The protesters from from getting this close in from doing the kind of the kind of damage that we're hearing
Describe couple of other things to share with you it is we can now say that I lawn forcement
Source is is is where we got our
Our information that a person was shot inside the capitol hit in the chest and we don't know the
Addition of the person we don't know the identity but we know that that it was not someone
And law enforcement so we are waiting for more information about that and about whether that's the only
Shooting incident that's the only one we've seen reported so far the other thing we want to share with
Who is the Joe Biden who had been scheduled to make a statement today about the American economy
Because here we are now just 15 days away from his becoming
President of the United States
And you can see this is the picture and Wilmington Delaware aware he has been speaking to the American people
To the press in recent days he'll be speaking just in a matter of minutes it's just maybe three
30 Eastern time we're going to go to that as soon as it gets underway he is now expected to address
The events at the capital as well as the economy and of course will carry that
Live and bring it to you all of this unfolding completely in an unpredictable way
We've been following the story following what's going on through the day it started out as a day when we were going to be
Covering a debate in the Congress the house and the Senate coming together and these are live pictures
From the capital right now these are protesters climbing the walls to get up on the balcony area of the capitol
Just heard Danny Weiss telling us he was worked at the capital for almost three decades was speakerphone
Melissa chief of staff for several years he was telling us that they're now going to have to completely sweep the capitol
For security reasons because we don't know of course what has been left there or what
In what way is the security that capital is been breached these individuals we are watching or just
Outside the capitol we don't know how many people were able to get in and what they did once they were inside we know that one
One person was shot and we don't know the condition of the person they were shot in the chest
And we're waiting for more information on that but the situation has taken a dark turn
Very dark turn and we are following it as closely as we can we know the speaker is
Has been taken to a safe location vice president Mike Pence taken to a safe location but president
Trump has been very critical has been calling out vice president Mike Pence just within the hour
Are so accusing him of not standing up not not having courage because he didn't have in the Press
President's words the courage to
Dispute to refute the actual and factual election result
Your data is still inside the capitol complex somewhere I'm going to go to yulisa tell us where you
You are and what are you saying this is the Longworth cafeteria you know you can see
Sign for Dunkin Donuts usually a gathering point for people that make contacts and have lunch
And what you see behind me and said this is where people are Sheltering several journalists are here and staffers
Are you can see if you walk over here with me a lot of folks have been watching as a single television
Here a lot of folks here in the basement of the Capitol either for news on the outside
Because we can't go outside right now with the situation is
They have separated the rooms you can also see
Also
Unable to leave the Dunkin Donuts area and I think these are more people than most
What's happening all across the capital
People in offices not leaving their face not sure when they can leave their space
Unfair how long is it going to last
Our remarkable that they're staying calm Lisa under under the circumstances and no doubt members
Congress are assuming that once the situation or once the building is cleared
But at some point there's going to be a resumption of the counting of the electoral votes we don't know whether that can take
Place today tonight whenever but presumably they want to stay close by
Form for the time for the moment when that can resume so we're waiting
From where we are told that speaker Pelosi called for the National Guard to reinforce security at the Capitol and
I'm reading a message from our colleague Nick schifrin who covers National Security in the Pentagon
For us he tells he's he is reporting that the joint staff that's the the the
Military the uniformed head of the military telling him off the Record sorry about those report this is
But since we are waiting to find out more about
Whether the National Guard will be called in at the Capitol
And so we we wait we're looking at two different reports from different
Media if that if a National Guard is going to come in
Are the protesters going to go willingly
Or are they going to be safely and peacefully escorted out of the building or are they going to
Put up
A protest of fuss
And say I'm not going what will happen we know that at least one of them
Has been shot in the chest waiting to find out the the
Are the outcomes are in a what is what's the condition of that person
Now I'm the I'm reading by one of this is from one of our colleagues Courtney
Norris who says
That a supporter of President Trump one of the protesters is sitting inside the office of speaker Pelosi
Carrying on his protest
Inside the capitol that may very well be an area
Very well be an area that the public can be invited into people do our route
Received in the offices of the members of Congress I'm seeing another report now
In a sense that a woman is being is seeing receiving first aid due to a gunshot in
Injury to her neck after being shot inside the capital this is another news source
We will try to again confirm exactly what happened that may well be the
The individual who was we reported earlier it was believed to have been shot in the chest so we don't have any
At this point we don't have any reason to believe that more than one person was shot we that's all we can we can confirm
At this at this point now I'm reading from the governor of Virginia and I'm quoting Governor Ralph
Northern Virginia he is saying the mayor's request referring to Mayor Muriel Bowser of the disc
I am sending members of the Virginia National Guard along with 200 Virginia state
State troopers into the district so that's presumably is an effort to try to help
Clear the capital he said into to respond to the situation in Washington on my team
And I are working closely with mayor Bowser with speaker Pelosi and was Senator Schumer to respond to what is going on
We're looking at live pictures of the United States capital in the aftermath of a shooting
One of these protesters inside the building after they breached the perimeter
Al Bridge the building broke glass. Inside it now looks as if there's some movement
On the park
Of these protesters some of them seem to be Milling around
Walking In One Direction or another we can't really tell if that's something that's organized
Orifice ad-hoc
But we are trying to follow it at the same time we're trying to follow what's going on outside the capitol at the same time we've
Follow what is going on inside but it's very clear that after the incidents of the last
Do hours that there are now attempts to step up security at the Kappa
And an attempt to clear the Capitol building itself of protesters who have gone in
Decide who occupied the speaker's office who occupied the senate floor walk
Through the the hallways of the Capitol building there's now a very serious and organized.
Count to try to clear them out the National Guard has been called in other security
Officials have been called in in an effort to try to restore calm and peace
To this building where the nation's business was being conducted the Constitution calls for on Jan
January 6th for members of Congress to gather
2 count formerly the electoral votes one more step in the process of certifying
The election result the election took place on November 3rd on November 7th Joe Biden
Biden and Kamala Harris were declared the winners by virtue of count the count that was done at that point
And state-by-state every state has certified its results the electoral votes of
Been certified by the states today was a mere to be a mere formality but then there were Pro
Protests and there were objections raised by a handful of Republican Senators bio
Over 100 around 100 Republican house members at the behest of present
They were asked to object to the Electoral count with no factual basis
Is whatsoever the of any irregularity simply an allegation that something
Went wrong we heard Congressman Steve scalise of Louisiana speaking about
Governors and secretaries of State in various States overriding the will of
State legislatures but we don't have any details about what he was referring to because we know
Know that state after state after State all 50 states and the district have certify the election results
So we still don't know what exactly is it that the objection is based on
What is it that they're referring to that they claim would call for a ria
Examination or in the words of Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and auditing
Of the election results we've seen what is it 90 quartz court cases where an every
McKay's Democratic appointed an republican-appointed judges including judges appointed by President Trump
Have call for those results I'm sorry have called those
Allegations unfounded if said we don't see any evidence here we don't see any legal basis
For what you're doing there's been nothing that's been upheld in any single quart in the United States
That would lead to factual evidence that would
Undermine the result of this election
So what we're seeing
Is
Anger
And disappointment and a determination
To overturn the results of the election but based on
Nothing
Of of of any legitimate or legal consequences
So and yet President Trump continues to push this just an hour ago he tweeted another
Criticism of his own vice president
Mike Pence who is we've been saying all day long Mike Pence
Probably no one more loyal to this president but what
The president wrote this was just an hour ago he said Mike Pence didn't have the courage
To do what should have been done to protect our country and our constitution giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of
Facts
Mike Pence put out a statement today saying that he
He simply
Did not see a foundation for his being able to do what the present was asking him to do so
Remarkable isn't overused word I'm going to use it again and remarkable
Turn of events here in Washington the likes of which
We have not seen I and my 40-plus years covering Washington never seen anything like this
Where people come and break into the capitol because they don't like the results of the election certainly peep
People have been unhappy about election results there have been
Peaceful protest there been people raising objections
But not to this degree and not to this degree where weapons were used where the capital was broken into
It's it's a simply
Stunning
Turn of events
In what was supposed to be a routine and orderly and constitutionally
Bakkt
Set of procedures at the Capitol today all of which has now been put on hold
Wow security forces the National Guard is called in in an attempt to clear the capital and
ReStore in an attempt
To restore order let's see I want to see if Lisa or or yamiche
If either one of you is available if there's anything new to report
Either from the White House or from inside the capitol or on on the capitol grounds whether we see any
Stepped up
Security around there
I'm going to
Try to throw it to whoever is listening and if if you're all tied up then
What I'd like to do is
Oh here we go this is a comment from vice president
Pants
He has tweeted
Just in the last moment
He said
This attack on our capital
Will not be tolerated and he said the protesters quote will be prosecuted to the full
Fullest extent of the law
Soyumi shime looking to you this is Vice President Pence
Loyal to President Trump
Who call these protesters out
But now you have the
Vice president saying
That they will be they will be prosecuted
That's right in the vice president's statement at this point is more biting more pointed than president
Trump statements now President Trump is someone who is a Communications present reality TV president gets called in
Then any other president in history and right now we have not actually heard from the president he is
Watching this from from what I'm told from The West Wing of the White House in this security bubble of the White House things are very very
Very calm here a complete different from what we're seeing happen on Capitol Hill or thing happened in cities and states across
The country the president here is is being urged by both people inside the White House as well as peep
People who have left the White House who used to work for him to stay more to be more fighting in this group to really condemned
People in tell people to go home for the president hasn't done that the White House Press Secretary is tweeting much like the president
Again both of them not coming to the camera not saying in person what should do what they want to say but the White House Press Secretary
To say that the president has pushed for the National Guard to come and help out there were reports that one point
There was some hedging on whether or not that would be something that the president would want to do what we see here is the president
Taking a social media in a moment where Americans are simply terrified and I have to say Judy on the false information
Have consequences the the the conspiracy theories has consequences and that is what we're seeing today weird
Consequences of the president's actions as Democrats and Republicans told him over and over and
Over again to stop doing this I'm thinking about a Georgia Republican official who said someone might get killed
Mr. president please condemn this is weeks ago the president chose not to do this and we are now here in this moment
Absolutely amazing I mean the president has been told repeatedly and yet he has persisted
And elected members of the Senate and the house and federal officials
At every level under in in President Trump's Administration
Have supported
What the president has said and in saying that this election was rigged that it's an election that was
Stolen and therefore they are justified in challenging the results on the navase is there on the ground
The capital I'm not going to go to you yeah I just want to bring everybody up to speed on what's been done for
Holding here because it is as you say and we say this a lot a remarkable scene but over the last 10 minutes or so
Predicting the arrival of a dozen members of
Law enforcement it was hard to see what their badges said some of the BET interagency bad this is on some of them
Camouflage head-to-toe but they all had heavy protective gear you wear on the outside
Much more substantial Weaponry they all have helmets and riot shield and face shields on and they
Mark Sapp information across the grounds here through the protesters and then it's unclear what happened
Position somewhere else but the protesters have not yet been so they remain here in forest
Basically having the run of the place I mean if you look around you right now there's protesters Milling about in the front their up-and-down the
They're completely taken over the front stairwell here as well and we should
Disappear a little bit because protesters continue to do everything they can to try to disrupt a lot of the reporting there's a lot of
Profanity being yelled soundproofing signs being waved around so we're trying to be a little careful.
But this is very much still the same here it's unclear if I message of the curfew has got enough to people because they're saying
No signs of anyone dissipating it does seem to be though that the longer people stay out here and
Nothing seems to be changing in terms of what they wanted to see happen today people are increasingly getting frustrated
A few more angry people a lot more yelling
The people who were part of the protest calls on different sides of the capital and they said that there was some debate
Among the protest crowd about whether or not to try to break it and some people were saying no we could stay back and be peaceful
Smaller contingent we were told by some protesters who said
Try to break through the barrier another piece of information I want to share and we only have this for one protest
After he said he was part of the group that was able to breach the doors and dead inside the capital he said that though
Those protesters witness one protester being shot he couldn't provide many more details didn't know the purse
Person who was shot he identified her as a young woman that is a single protester Sarah his account
What he thought with us and that's all we can share at the moment on that but he also said he was able to get in with the rest
The problem with red I asked him how many people he said about 500 people that is his account right now
We're able to get in I asked him where he went and he said I went everywhere never been inside so I wandered around I said
You see any police he said just a few and then I asked him why he left and he said well we got bored and there was nothing else to do
So we came back outside and he was one of the few whose now Milling around with the rest of the protesters
Something that you expect to hear from someone who was able to come here breach the entry to the Capitol
Wander about it will and then leave but of course as we know anything else about this very disturbing
Report about one person being shot we will continue to share that with you right now we're in a standoff
What happens next if they mention those additional forces now arriving but the protesters showing no signs of moving
Yes it is it is such a disturbing scene and then I'm no you see the
The protests that are going on you see the crowds behind you but then we just saw something 2 people when you started to speak or just
Walking casually behind you like they were strolling through Washington we do have a few more pieces of information
We want to share one is a CBS is reporting that Kevin McCarthy who is the highest
Ranking Republican in the house he's a House minority leader has phone President Trump to ask
Ask him to do more
To get the crowd to step back to do something to calm the
The protest he asked him to speak to the country at least that is the report that that we've been receiving
We're now trying to confirm that ourselves but we want to share that with you being reported by CBS
Another news organization reporting that law enforcement is arriving at the at the
Capital from the Department of Homeland Security we are also told that both the National Guard and the
The federal federal police of other description are heading toward the capitol
There are clearly our moves now to reinforce security at the Capitol whatever the plan
Was it went into today they underestimated the determination of this crowd to do what
It has done which is enter the building and two to have to work
Their way through and it to the point that we now know at least one protester was shot
Just read another report and I can't tell you the source of it but the report is it 6 ft
People have been taken to the hospital as as a consequence of what we've been watching at the at the
And I'm looking to see if I can find the source of that because we are always reluctant to share information we
We have not confirmed that but I did see a report six people taken to the hospital we can say the AP is reporting
But the National Guard
And other federal police
Are making their way to the capital I've seen a report the Department of Homeland Security was sending it
Uniformed guards official security to assist
At the capital I and as I mentioned earlier vice president Pence himself
Has tweeted that this attack on the capital will not be tolerated the protesters will be prosecuted to the fullest
6 net of a law in other words he's going farther further than President Trump is himself President Trump has
Has called for calm
He called for people to be proud to be peaceful but this is after
Hours of basically egging them on of saying his election the election was rigged
Urging them to to have the courage to stand up to defy the accurate election
Results and only in the aftermath of that
And as we just reported after he was asked
Bye
Congressman McCarthy who's the Senate the House minority leader the president was asked to do more
More to speak to the American people to urge these
Supporters of his to stand down and we're waiting to see what more he will do we are waiting to hear from Joe
Biden's he was to be talking to the Press at 3:30 Eastern time that
Time has come and gone it's about 20 minutes ago we're still waiting to see
What if anything the vice-president of a rather president-elect Biden
I will have to say he may be waiting to see what what takes place and whether there are
Able to to calm things down at the Capitol building
So we know again efforts are being made under way right now to get more
More uniformed
Officers
Into the capital to calm things down so Lisa does your dad you are inside the capitol complex tell us what you were
Learned Point Lisa
A little bit out of their offices
Go into other offices
I don't think even the hospitality this is what it looks like in the capital
I am just a few people and on any other day
Any other
. of time this would be completely on normal but this is what the capital has look like they're in the Coronavirus
One thing about the timing of this today
I didn't have met you or people were affected
Affected a year ago
Is it many of the Congressional offices
Have either no staff or very little staff because of the Coronavirus
So many damn people in the Capitol complex like so many Americans are working remotely
Capitol complex has some 20000 employees
That's down to a mere fraction these days because of the coronavirus now
On the other hand
Today was probably the most the most I've seen of staff
In a year and that's because it's the first week of Congress and it is the Electoral College certification
So
You are safer here than usual
More than we seem very most of the Coronavirus
When other know Judy I have seen Capitol Police Gathering
In stairwell in the building that I am at
They clearly are trying to figure out their next steps they are organizing
But I can tell you that they are
They're organizing they are gathering in their groups here
I don't know what their next up are but they're they're clearly trying to figure that out themselves as well
Lisa Desjardin recording out from the capitol complex lease has been there for us on the inside
What is our eyes and ears Lisa Lisa reporting on the there are law enforcement
Trying to get things under control we know that both the governor of Virginia Ralph Northam as I reported a few minutes ago
Joe said he's sending in the National Guard from his State I now know I can report that from Maryland
The governor of Maryland Larry Hogan has said that Maryland is sending in
State troopers and National Guard as well to help get the capital get the Washington DC and get
The United States Capitol under control under a safe to a position where it's safe for people
To be there I just want to share also the New York Times is reporting Maggie Haberman new Tiffin
Glee covers the White House is reporting an explosive device was found at the Republican National
Mini and detonated safely so that's another development
Where we are we will be following
Today
Danny Weiss who worked for speaker Pelosi
For several years you've been at the Capitol you have Decades of experience in the building you've been talking to folks what are you learning
Well most members seem to be safe staff seem to be safe there reporting that they're locked down
It's Lisa just reported
Many of them are working from home only staff that were needed for today's procedure
Or in capital or or in the house office building
But you know that there
Deeply concerned and you know there
This is an institution okay so I worked there for a long time and it's an institution
That is not a lot of good it's an institution that has done a lot of bad
I personally care about the institution
I know a lot of members doing a lot of Staff do
And it's
It's very very very disturbing
Toosii
The Congress the buildings and what it represents
Its ability to do good for the country
Certainly doesn't ability to do harm
Are to be under attack like this
And it raises
Very very significant questions about
How this mood is going to be changed you know what I what I see is that this movement of people that are there today
Which present-day they resemble when you when you look at them
It resembles the people that gathered in Lansing Michigan to try to shut down the state capitol in Lansing
They resemble some of the people that said that they
We're planning to kidnap
Arrested for trying to kidnap Governor Whitmer
When that happened
President Trump said nothing
And all of the times that that people gather weather's in Charlottesville or here or elsewhere and they're never
This can't go on
By the top leadership in this country
They're embolden
To go further and this is now the farthest depth that they've taken to break into the capital their
Potentially of resulted
In the serious wounding or death of somebody inside the building
That is on the president of the United States
And really I hate to say this
It's on the heads of every Republican that is supported
President Trump I don't say that as a partisan
I say that as someone who has witnessed and mentioned that she said words have consequences
So those consequences we are now seeing play out when the president was acquitted
Impeachment in the Senate
All bets were off
And we are now releasing the consequences of that
Listening to Danny Wiseau who works at the capitol for a number of years there was a chief of staff to Nancy Pelosi
We're now hearing and seeing evidence of tear gas or another form of gas that's being
Used around the capital to try to disperse the protestors we are watching this very close
Mostly to see where it's coming from and what happened this is inside now
This is a camera inside I believe the Senate chamber
We're looking at this we were told earlier that protesters were in there they were rummaging through the desks of death
Different Senators I just want to let you know that as we see this and this is the Senate chamber
I was at the house chamber I'm having to get this is the house chamber my apology I just
See members of Congress
Looks like
Sitting in some of these seats I'm trying to not sure I'm recognizing people but I do want to report
Speaker Pelosi and Chuck Schumer who is the ranking
Democrat in the Senate the Senate minority leader have both called on President Trump
To ask his supporters to leave the capital ground they've called on president
Trump to ask his supporters to leave the capitol grounds we have reported earlier that Kevin McCarthy who is
House minority leader Republican
Called on President Trump to try to calm the situation
To ask his reporters to stand down we don't know what effect that had but now we have the speed
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer who's the ranking Democrat in the Senate both
Asking President Trump
To speak to his reporters
To urge them to leave the capital
So these requests are coming into the president from the Democratic Leadership
From the Republican leadership
We have the vice president in the United States
Calling on these protesters to stand down saying they will be
They will be prosecuted he said to the full extent
Of the law my colleague Nick schifrin who covers National Security covers of military the Pentagon
And the state department for us Nick with some information Nick
You want to go ahead
Yeah Judy over the last hour or so it's been really back and forth when it comes to the National Guard
Guard DC National Guard deployed through the Pentagon whereas the Virginia and
Maryland National Guard National Guards would deploy out through their Governors after being asked we now a
I have confirmation from the Pentagon that the DC National Guard will deploy into Washington
DC and the area around the capitol a statement from Chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman
Caught that the guard has been mobilized to provide support to federal law enforcement in the district and then discusses how the
The acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller has been in contact with Congressional leadership and the Army secretary
Terry McCarthy has been working with the DC government that sled of course by the mayor and the statement goes on to say
The law enforcement response will be led by the department
Of justice and and Judy that speaks to fears within the Pentagon until the San
Afternoon I should say that the DC guard
Would be misused there were a lot of concerns how the DC National Guard deployed in June
During the George Floyd protests and so joint staff
Leaders Pentagon Army leaders took pains to restrict how the guard could be deployed
They weren't allowed as of this morning to have weapons they weren't allowed to have any armored vehicles they weren't
Allowed to use any helicopters like they did in June but again that was as of this morning so this is new this is just in the last
Shower so the DC National Guard has been activated the entire guard all 1100 is an activated
Because of what's happening at the Capitol and they will be assisting law enforcement including the capital
Just one more Nick and an extraordinary turn of events this afternoon you have the DC National Guard as Europe
Reporting earlier we have been reporting both Virginia governor Ralph Northam of Virginia said that the Virginia now
National Guard was going into the district to help at the request of of Mayor Bowser we've had
Announcing that it's National Guard State Police being made available to try to bring
To restore some calm and peace there at the United States capitol building which has been over
Run today by protesters supporters of President Trump who called on them to come to
Washington to protest the election results and two in a belief in his
In his false belief that the election was rigged and stolen from him so as as a result
Both of his pushing
And urging this this is what it is led to we now there were reports that a number of P
People have been hospitalized we know at least one protester apparently was shot
We don't know the condition of that person there's a reliable report that the person was shot in the neck
We don't know again what has happened but we know it's serious the situation
Situation took a dark turn very quickly after the House and Senate convened
Two to try to begin the formal process of counting the electoral votes what should have been routine
What should have been a routine process
I has turned into this Mayhem that we've been watching
Unfold all afternoon since about 132
Eastern time in Washington my colleague Amna Nawaz has been there on the grounds of the Capitol watching all this happen
I know where there was a report of a while ago there was tear gas it was deployed tell us where you are and what you're saying
That's right he was actually pulled a little further back away from the capital because of that teargas I'm not sure
Sure if you can see or not over my shoulder but there's a pretty densely packed crowd that still trying to get into the capitol
Any confrontation in a lockdown at standoff with DC capitol police for quite some time now
Continue to grow
There's some gas coming up over the wall on that side is unclear to us exactly from
Somewhere it was deployed but of course it's very windy it's very cold out here it blew up over that Hill
And it did have a little bit of a dissipated we're leaving walking away
From the area wiping their eyes they were very red eyes and their nose is running as I know someone who's experienced before that is
What happened so we pulled a little further way to remain safe but that's how it is still very much engaged in a confrontation with
DC capitol police
People that Center sterile but even that has thinned out just a bit so
Update people on sort of what's been happening out here there's definitely fewer protesters Maybe
The teargas also contributed a little bit but people are by-and-large starting to leave
Some of this location go see some folks walking around behind us as well there's so many more have
Heavily armed guards of law-enforcement officials son whom you saw with emergency response
Best on for taking up a position outside the perimeter and seem to be part of that line
Now holding people back there's a handful of DC capitol police have been here from the beginning who are still in those
Petition against protestors confrontation now down
Smaller hardcore contingent ever made screaming and yelling and waving flags and chanting
Confrontation with law enforcement we have not yet seen any significant arrival
National Guard troops or any other reinforcement troops be hearing sirens and
Now and again we haven't seen a significant increase in that kind of heavy roll on for
Official presents will let you know as we do but maybe they're hoping that over time as the pulled over
Text people and the tear gas is deployed that the crowd will continue to thin out a little bit more tension
Seemed to have gone down just a little bit but will come back to you with me no more
Thank you from outside the capitol now to Joe Biden speaking to the press in Wilmington Delaware
Watching
At this hour Arden
Democracy is under unprecedented assault
Unlike anything we've seen in Modern Times And assault
The Citadel of Liberty the capital itself
Assault on the people's Representatives
The Capitol Hill Police sworn to protect them
In the public servants who work at the heart of our Republic
An assault on the rule of law like few times we've ever seen it
Assault on most sacred of American undertakings
The doing of the people's business
Let me be very clear
The scenes of chaos at the Capitol
Do not reflect the true America
Do not represent Who We Are
What we're saying
Are small number of extremist
Dedicated so lawlessness
This is not the scent
It's disorder
It's chaos
It borders on sedition
Must end
Now
I call in this mob
The pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward
You heard me say before a different context
The words of a president matter
No matter how good or bad
At their best
The words of a president can inspire
At their worst
It can incite
Therefore
I call on President Trump
Go on national television now
And defend the Constitution
And demand an end to this Siege
Storm the capitol
The smash windows
Occupy offices
This floor of the United States Senate rummaging through desk
The capital of the House of Representatives
Threatening the safety of duly elected officials it's not protest
It's insurrection
The world's watching
Like so many other Americans
I'm genuinely shocked and saddened the tarnation
So long Beacon of light hope
Has come to such a dark moment
True war and strife
America's endured March
And we will endure here and we will prevail again and will prevail now
The work of the moment and the work of the next four years must be the restoration
Democracy decency honor
Respect
The rule of law
Just plain simple decency
The renewal of a politics
It's about solving problems looking out for one another not stoking the Flames of hate and chaos
I said America's about honor
Decency respect
Tolerance
That's who we are
Actually I've always been
The certification electrical it the Electoral College vote
Supposed to be a sacred ritual
Swift firm
Purposes go from the Majesty
American democracy
Today's reminder
Payne Ford
Democracy is fragile
Preserve it
Requires people of Goodwill
Leaders
The courage to stand up
For devoted not to the pursuit of power
But this was a personal interest Pursuits of Their Own self-interest
Is any cost
What are the common good
People are children watching television or sinking
Speak with the rest of the world is looking
Fornelli two-and-a-half centuries
We the People
In search of a more perfect union
Ever kept our eyes on that common good
America's so much better today
Watching the season the capital
As reminders as I prepared other speeches in the past was
Words of Abraham Lincoln
This annual message to Congress
Whose work
Has today been interrupted by chaos
Lincoln said
He said we shall nobly save
Or merely lose
The last
Best
Hope on Earth
Went on to say
The way is playing
Peaceful
Generous
Just
Away
Which is followed
The world will forever applaud
God must forever bless
Waze playing here too
Actually are
History of democracy
Respect
Decency
I'm commitment is Patriots to this nation
Notwithstanding what I saw today and we're seeing today
I remain optimistic about the incredible opportunities
There's never been anything we can't do
When we do it together
In this god-awful display today
Bringing home to every Republican Democrat independent in the nation
We must Step Up
This is the United States of America
There's never ever ever ever ever been a thing we tried to do
Done it together not been able to do it
So President Trump
Step Up
Play God Bless America
How do God protect our troops
And all those Folks at the Capitol
We're trying to preserve order
Thank you and I'm sorry to have kept you waiting
Joe Biden talking to the Press there and Wilmington Delaware the president-elect calling on Pro
President Trump to speak on National Television to order his supporters to leave
The capital we heard Joe Biden describe what he called disorder and chaos
At the capital he said this borders on sedition it must end I call on this Ma
I'm reading a Joe Biden's words to pull back and he went on to speak about the words of a
President matter to site
The many ways President Trump has called on his supporters to challenge the election results
He spoke about the need now for Americans to come together he said the work of the work that we're going
I have to do incoming in coming weeks and months
I will be to bring the country together I'm very much condensing what the president elect
Had to say but the most
Newsworthy was his calling on President Trump to go on
National television and urge his supporters to leave the capital
We know that there were reports before Biden spoke
From other news organizations
That President Trump had been asked by Republican leaders as well as Democratic leaders
To urge people to leave the capital he was refusing to do he's refusing to go on television
To do that he was declining at least that is according to other report right now our own reporter
Burgers are only Saturday Showdown Amna Nawaz I have been looking
I've been reporting from the capitol grounds we are waiting to see evidence of
Either National Guard State patrols State Police
Evidence that they are showing up at the Capitol to reinforced and the Capitol Police where they were clearly under
Prepared under secured we're not ready for the show of force on the part of these protesters
Who came
Enforce in large numbers determined to breach the capital to breach the perimeter
Where to go in to knock down the doors to break Windows to break glass to get inside
To go into the Senate chamber into the house chamber here we have this is a quick look at the house
Chamber
We were told that protesters were inside there were also told that house members are
Trying to find different places to stay safe in the Capitol Building Lisa Desjardin has has
Recorded for us that the members of the Senate were in one location
We don't know what that location is what we were told they were staying safe being kept safe in one
Location but we're trying to follow sources of information from many different
Many different directions from just listen to Joe Biden calling on President Trump to go before the Americans
People to go on National Television to urge his supporters to leave the capital
To pull back
And biting himself called on these protesters to leave the capital he said and I'm
Quoting here you said they are what they are doing borders on sedition he call
Call the disorder even chaos he said they do not represent who we are as a
American people they are a small number of extremist and he went on to call
Call them
He said I call on this mob to pull back and he described the word
Words of the president
Clearly holding President Trump responsible
For what has happened today at the Capitol these are live pictures you're looking at
I from the capitol grounds we know that tear gas was deployed a little earlier maybe 15-20 30 min
Let's ago
In an effort to disperse the crowd but some of them
A number of them are still there as Darkness ends
Dot on the capital city
We know that what it's about 37° with some fruit
Pretty strong winds today it's not a
Pleasant day to be outdoors but this is a determined group I just want to share
Some news on the Georgia Senate race and number of news organizations not the Associated Press
Which is what the news hour
We are allied with the Associated Press in their call but other news organizations are
Saying that Jon ossoff they're declaring him the winter in Georgia but we are not ready we're waiting to see if
What the Associated Press does U Michel sender has been at the White House for us all day following
Advance their umich what are you learning
Good morning desibel reports that President Trump may be releasing at some point a tape statement this
This comes after both Democrats and Republicans in a vice president elect Joe Biden have called on him to come to a
Camera to call off these protesters who have broken into the capitol we heard president-elect Biden say something
So far President Trump himself is not setting that is telling these protesters to go home saying it's not protested
It looks like interest insert Insurrection he also said that this is not democracy in that the president needs to
Quote step up so this is a president responded that in some ways there are a lot of critics of the president who say this
Is all really all because of the president and his rhetoric his his continuing to to beat the drum of
Disinformation sobc is president-elect Biden saying In This Moment President Trump you need to step up and be
Presidential we will hear what we'll wait to see what the President says in that taped video address because
The president hasn't in the past in his video dresses continue to talk about this information
Continue to talk about debunked claims he's use these taped these tape videos to try to really just continue to spread thing
Things that are simply not true and did not take really hard questions from reporters in this moment where the nation is looking
For a leader to say something about what's going on
Andweknow Jamaica's your reporting the president has apparently taped a message that is going to be really
Shortly we will of course share that as soon as we see it I'm told okay maybe this is
Is it a two-minute statement it's on Twitter
It was just released as of about 2 minutes ago as soon as we can
We can share that with you we will I'm told he is calling for calm
He's calling for comp
I know you're hurt we had an Alexa also he goes on
Maybe we have the statement here
I hear I hear the president's boy so maybe someone has the statement I can see it on Twitter but I'm not able to share it
With you I'm told the President says
Says the election was stolen he continues to insist the election was stolen but he is calling for calm
So it remains to be seen whether the short statement by the president will have the desired effect of getting people to
Leave the capital because the president clings to this completely unfounded and baseless belief that
That the election was stolen from him and that he actually one he's said on several occasions he was
Millions of votes are hundreds of thousands of votes in a number of states which is
Which is not true but as soon as we can get the president's statement we will share that with you the picture I'm looking at
Out of the present he's standing it looks like in the Rose Garden in front in front of the road
Rose Garden it's a picture that a shot
With him standing there and I could show it to you on my
My smartphone but probably not the best way to share
To share video but in a sense the president
Is now speaking out to these protesters at the Capitol asking them to leave but
Still saying that the election was stolen from him that it was illegitimate another piece of news the Associated Press has
Has now joined other news organizations and saying that Jon ossoff the 33-year old business
Entrepreneur is the winner
In the senate race in Georgia that's the second race that was in a runoff he was running against David Perdue
Who is serve for one term one-term Republican Jon ossoff has defeated David Perdue by
I am Arjun I believe
6% which is above the .5% that
Under which the candidates voters can ask for an automatic recount
So that is appears to be outside the point 5% half of a percent margin
That would Trigger or or set off an automatic recount so that is a big win for the day
Democrats for the Democrats to have one now to not one
But two Senate seats in the state of Georgia
Is simply stunning another piece of stunning news on this already
Very news news
We're crammed day of that we're all living through and watching the other race of course one by Rev
The Reverend Raphael Warnock who was challenging the incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler
I've been appointed to that seat just a year ago
By the Republican Governor Brian Kemp after the former
Senator Johnny isakson step down because of illness Governor Kemp appointed
Kelly Loeffler Republican in the belief that she would appeal to moderate moderate in the state of Georgia
As it turned out became a huge supporter of President Trump she's espoused his false claim
Claims that the election was stolen from him she is expected to be one of the
Members of the Senate who object
To the worthy senator who objects
To the electoral vote count in the state of Georgia that was supposed to happen this afternoon of course all that has
Has been put on hold by the protests that we
Saying that we've been covering
The Takeover of the capitol or the I should say the breach of the capitol
Why President Trump supporters and completely unexpected turn of events
Violent turn of events that has led to the shooting of at least one protester six people hospitalized
I've also seen reports in the last few minutes that
Some uniformed police have been injured uniformed officers that is have been injured
And we're waiting to find out more do you have
Something New Forest from inside the capitol complex
Yes a few things Judy pick up my math cuz there's no one near me and took me this long to realize that
I didn't report that
A large number of u.s. Senators are now Sheltering in place and it's just secure location
Location I know what that location is on this side of the capital on the house side I've seen cap
Going through the building checking for members of Congress on I assume that they
Are going to offer them the chance to also go to a secure location
Questions they have been going
Door by door looking for members of Congress to assess their safety and to deal with that
Also tell you I've been speaking with majority leader of the House anywheres office
Was uprooted from their normal workplaces I think right now
Many staffers who are important in the operation of Congress are just now getting back on their phone
Getting in a position where they and their bosses can figure out the steps in governing
Batman next and warriors office at tells me that they don't know when this session
We'll reconvene and that they will let us know as soon as they do but that's no surprise I also
Location reporting for the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
Having covered Congress for a long time you mentioned Senator Loeffler
And how she had planned to objects to the Georgia vote
It is it is going to be a real question I think in my mind
If that plan to objected this election
Continues after the violence that we seen and that these members themself
Have face it we have been getting reports now journalist are scattered all around the capital we're in close touch with
Trying to keep in touch with who were talking to
And one of the reports I got is from an interview with representative Mike Kelly
Pennsylvania he is one of the people he's Republican one of the people who was
Objecting it looks like my phone can't bring it up now but when he was asked what he thought
Major that's what he was concerned about the rhetoric from the president
Legend as a president who refused to vigorously defend
Instead here is something that I think we need to keep our eyes open for
He talks about the media as being the one that Stoke this fire the media as the one to blame essentially
For the violence that we saw today
Trump's allies here in the capital who himself
Has been affected by this violence today
So so Lisa what does that tell you the fact that you have one of the president's supporters saying
You know it tells me that
They aren't that least
Representative Kelly
Is digging in
On the same messages he's had
And has spoken for years
And is not yet considering any other possibility
For the State of Affairs in this country
And I think that's one reason we're at this point is because both sides but certainly
President has been a leader
In the idea that
If you think you're right
You can believe that you are right
And you can be right
And you don't need to consider arguments
That undermine what you believe is the truth
And so I think at least now and it's still very soon we're still in the middle of this
At least now that is one of the president's supporters
Who's not willing to think more broadly
About the underlying causes
What happened here at the Capitol
Which is a good reason Lisa to wonder how this all is going to be resolved because you have so many
People who continue to be loyal to the president continue to stand by him and these false
All allegations of the agreement that the president has
Champion for now weeks and weeks and weeks and it's now led to what's happened
Not today but you're right about Kelly Loeffler the senator from Georgia who's been defeated in her bid for
For election
Is she going to be able to stand there and object after we've seen what happened I do have a
Verbatim now Lisa what the president said in his video message that was tweeted out
I'm going to read this this was this is from my colleague Dan Cooney at the NewsHour he says I know this is
Directed to his supporters I know your pain I know you're hurt we had an election that was stolen from us this is
The president speaking it was a landslide election and everyone knows it especially the other side but you
You have to go home now we have to have peace we have to have Law & Order we have to respect our great people in
In Law & Order we don't want anybody hurt
Course people have already been hurt those are my words it's a very tough period of time there's never been a time like this
We're such a thing happened where they could take it away from all of us from me from you from our country this was a
The fraudulent election which is not true but he says but we can't play into the hands of these people we
I have to have peace so go home we love you you're very special you seen what happened you see
You see the way others are treated
That are so bad and so evil I know how you feel but go home and go home and peace so the
The president tweeted that
About 10 minutes ago
Give or take and presumably that's being shared with his supporters but whether that
I will lead them to stand down you just heard Lisa Desjardin describing what one congressman husavik
Supporter the president is telling her he's not standing down he's not backing down they are going to continue to protest
The electoral vote results they're going to continue to question
And they're going to continue to believe
But this election was fraudulent that it was stolen which is going to build it it fuels the end
Anger and the disbelief on their part
And fuels the division inside the Republican Party my colleague was just telling me that
The president's former
Big supporter former white house chief of staff Mick Mulvaney
Has been quoted as saying or maybe his tweeted himself the president to the president you must stop this
Yes it's gone too far
Awards to that effect
So even people who are close to this president who worked directly with him and big support
Quarters of his many of them are now telling him
He must put this to an end Kevin McCarthy
Who is the House minority leader highest-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives very loyal to the Press
President has been supporting him through all these election challenges saying to the president you must tell these people to
Leave now finally the president has done that
But he's done it in essence with one arm behind his back saying yes go home but
You have every right to be angry because the election was stolen from us and he's repeated that again just
Just in the last few minutes so
It remains to be seen if
These supporters of the president will be dissuaded in anyway
With that sort of mixed message
Coming
From the president
We have we're all we have a number of reporters who were following these fast-moving
Developments Lisa Desjardins been in the capital I'm going to Boswell's on the couch has been on the capitol grounds I've been
Joined by a horse by yamiche Alcindor at the White House he's our some pictures I don't know whether they are alive or earlier today
Downtowndc
Why pictures
And I've also been joined by longtime Capitol Hill individuals who were cast
Staff at the Capitol and also joining me now is Kathleen belew she is
Is a professor at the University of Chicago a scholar who studies extremist groups
Professor Baloo if you're there and if you can hear me
I think a definition is helpful at this point because
This
People who've shown up supporting President Trump
We don't know whether they came from some organized group or whether they just spontaneously
Left their Hometown and made their way to Washington DC
Because they have fallen into this
Conspiracy theory or theories that the president
Has has perpetrated what is your understanding of who they are
You know I think we're going to learn much more about who they are and the days and weeks to come and I think that's a question that we will want to
A very close attention to as the story unfolds what I would anticipate based on the recent history of this
Kind of activism in our country is that what we're looking at is sort of an amalgam of people who are motivated by concern
Dorothy arrested that they've encountered on social media and elsewhere are people who subscribe to qanon to
Election conspiracy theory but also
Sort of run-of-the-mill trump base members and we know that some of the
People at this protests are are more organized than that and belong to White Power movement groups and other
Other parts of what we might think of us the militant right now that includes groups like The Proud boys one leader
And who has sort of been
Galvanizing where activity around his arrest and sometimes in tension with police
The thing about the cowboys that people might remember is if that's the group that came up in one of the presidential campaign debates
When President Trump serve infamously said
Cowboys stand stand stand back and standby
How many people at the time thought of that as sort of a call to arms because he was not saying stand
He was saying standby certainly many people in the crowd boys and further afield in the white power
Heard that is a call to action by our president and I think the big question today is whether he even does have the power
Our to tell them to stand down it's not at all clear that this is a Groundswell that He commands in the
The way that people make think
And no question about it we're not at his you say we don't know yet how much
Of an organized white supremacist or other group is behind
What we are seeing today unfold at the capital we know these are people who do support President Trump
Who subscribed to his view that the election was stolen from him at least the ones we've been AR reporters
Able to talk to the ones we've been able to speak with Lisa Desjardin spoke with one of them who broke in
To the capital who told her I'm here because I think President Trump one and
And the election this can't be allowed to stand and
He told her he said it one point
The time comes when we have to take on the government or words to that effect
So very strong views and we we see this from time to time in this
But we haven't seen it to this
Level where it's actually reached
The US Capitol building
And where
And where we see this this level of
Mayhem if you will we now have Untold a way to show you the
Video of President Trump
This is a statement he released about 10 or 15 minutes ago shatona video at the White House
In the Rose Garden with listen it's about 2 minutes
I know your pain
I know you're hurt
We had an election
That was stolen from us
It was a landslide election
And everyone knows it
Especially the other side
But you have to go home now
We have to have peace we have to have Law & Order we have to respect our great
People in Law & Order we don't want anybody hurt it's a very tough. Of time
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
This was a fraudulent election
But we can't play into the hands of these people
We have to have peace so go home we love you
You're very special
You've seen what happens you see the way others are treated that are
So bad and so evil
I know how you feel
But go home and go home and peace
That's a statement President Trump issued to put out on Twitter just about 10 or 15 minutes ago
Urging his supporters as you heard to stand down but still insisting
That the election was fraudulent that it was stolen from him
And so it remains to be seen how people are going to accept it Lisa Desjardin my colleague at the
Decapolis shared a couple of comments from some of the Senate Republican objectors people who
Were objecting to
The the counting of the electoral votes
That led to Joe Biden's winning this election and Lisa I see you're there with me I was reading what you were
Sharing with the rest of us from both from Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri is one of the leaders of this group and also
Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana
That's right let's start with Senator Holly because he has been one of the most Ardent objectors
Subjective movement
She wrote in a tweet
Thank you to the brave law enforcement officials who have put their lives on the line
And then he wrote the violence must end those who attacked police and broke the law must be
Prosecuted and Congress must get back to work and finish finish its job Holly himself is
Prosecutor then Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana who is also an objector
Again some more steam the Capitol Police have done an extraordinary job keeping us safe I'm thankful for their heroism
I condemn this violent assault on the Democratic process
And will not be intimidated by a mob that confuses chaos and destruction
With strength and wisdom are continue to work for Louisiana and
Because
Those are words that we have seen
Conservative use
When talking about
Progressives when talking about liberals calling them a mom
Instead
This is something that Kennedy who himself is a trump supporter
Is using to label
The protesters who
Ransacked his capital in the name of his president he called them again
Animal that confuses chaos and destruction
With strength and wisdom
So I'm eager to ask him
What he thinks of
The president's words
Status mom
As you called it
Husband and Vulcan
One of the things that you were talking about when I was talking to protest earlier there were several that I spoke to you
Not as on the show but in between went when I guess
And I think you you said a word hours ago that really struck me as getting to the core of what housing
These protesters were acting inside the capitol
They were casual
And they had a sense of propriety
About being here
It was startling and I sort of had to just get over the fact that they felt
It was completely not on me
Possible that it was their right
To be doing what they were doing and
They were very laid-back about it
Cavalier
Some of the nonchalant
You could see in their eyes there was
And intensity
But as they were walking around they were
Just curious
You know kind of laxidasical some of them
And it was startling compared to their actions their actions and their attitudes
Inside the capitol
Work hard for me to release album
It's such a good point Lisa and we have yet to understand of course what motivates each and every one of these in
Individuals who did what they did who came into the capitol who done damage who have
Clearly taking part in in activities that have led to people being injured we know that one
One person was shot we're waiting to find out their condition a total of 6 people went to the hospital we know that several
Enforcement officers have been injured we don't know the details of any of that but this took a very dark turn
And whatever their motivation was and no matter how is use as you point out whether it's casual or Cavalier
We're they may act or or be about what's going on
It has very serious consequences and so when you read the words of either senator
John Kennedy of Louisiana and I'm repeating it again condemning this violent assault
On the Democratic process and calling it a mob that confuses chaos and destruction with strength
And wisdom
Or whether you quote as you did Josh Hawley the senator freshman senator from Missouri has been
One of the ringleaders or one of the leaders of this effort to abject
To the election result saying the violence must and those who attack police and broke the lawn mower
Must be prosecuted so you do have now these voices rising up
Even from among the president's most loyal
Supporters
Calling on the protesters to stop but I have to say Lisa it has to be difficult
Call for the Americans and these are Americans these are not foreign terrorist who come
Into our country and you know where where we spent so much time focusing on
Foreign interference in our in our country
These are Americans who are on the one hand
Holding the idea in their minds that this election was stolen but on the
The other hand are being told
To stand down and to let it
Just to let things
Go forward
And that's a very difficult concept
Four people is for all of us and for but the president is continuing to say that he's going
Continuing to say the election was stolen from us it was stolen from me it was stolen from you the democracy
He's been attacked
And yet
I'm asking you to go home in peace
I'm going to say I think what I saw and I'm still processing what I saw obviously
It was
I'm now sort of under I'm understanding that in some ways it was a physical manifestation
What's an intangible for so long something like an election is intangible it's an idea if
The process
And there has been an idea for so many of the president's supporters that the election was stolen they believe this
They wanted it to be true in their minds they made it through
So then I saw a physically hear something that's
Connected but seems like a different topic
People entering the capitol breaking through the glass door glass I think it was
On the US Capitol
Pushing down police officers
And then minutes later telling me they didn't believe in violence and that they were not violent
And I'm not real I like that there is something going on with
Disconnect of
You can believe whatever truth you want to and make it true
And it's more than that
It is a disconnect with reality
And it is a choice to not be responsible
For those for anything negative
At all
And enter put that responsibility on others you are not responsible for anything you can do whatever you want
And and that's what we saw here in the US Capitol you can make up whatever reasons you want but do whatever you want
And believe whatever you want
And I think that is what
I heard and felt from these protesters it was sort of a physical manifestation
Of these years
Completely disregarding
Some aspects of reality and today it was disregarding the reality of what they themselves were doing to their own
It said it clearly a disconnect I think the way you described it Lisa is apt it it's a
Disconnect between
Again holding the idea that the election was fraudulent which we know it was not
The election was carried out it's been multiple courts have ruled the election in
In state after state after State they've upheld that it was done and legitimate and fair
And legal manner
But despite that
These people are being told it wasn't
And what are they going to do with that information just swallow it and go on and what are they going to do that so
Loaded piece of information
To carry around
Again even though there's no evidence to back it up when you're being told that by the most powerful person on the
Planet by the president of the United States
And you're inclined to believe it
What do you do with that information by the way I just seen that
Democratic congresswoman ilhan Omar says she's drawing up articles of impeachment
Against President Trump there but other references today to other members
Saying the president
Quote should be in Peachtree only has what 14 days left
In office it's highly unlikely something like that's going to going to be carried out but
Think about that
Articles of impeachment that's a privilege motion
That does not have to go through the committee process
When Congress reconvenes
And I expected to reconvene before President Trump leave office
You can bring that to the house for there it is is within her right as a loan
Pastel green famously bring impeachment resolution so while Democrats
Idaho land leaders
Don't have an appetite for an impeachment debate right now because Trump's meeting she can raise that and if she is determined to do it
We will probably see about on that on the house floor
But that wouldn't be before they finish with the task that is immediately before then which is
Counting these electrobuzz Rida me that takes precedence over everything
Currently
Currently they are in a joint session of Congress that has split into
The separate House and Senate debates that is one of the most
Highest kind of
Privilege sorts of process at the Capitol has
So that joint session Congress actually has to vote to adjourn the joint session it has to complete the business
Of the joint session
It has to
Finish the 2020 election which by the way I haven't been on Twitter but if I was I would say
I really thought the 2020 elections is going to end
Perhaps before midnight tonight but this
Wait we don't know when Congress will be able to finally end it
Hopefully in hours but
The Congress added their next task that is what they will return to when they're be contained
Lisa Desjardin at the Capitol we're going to go now to DC Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser who's
Holding a press conference let's hear what she says
But nothing like ridiculous
She's clearly
Responding this is the chief of police
Let's see if we can get that audio for you
Okay we're working to get that and we will go to
Mayor Bowser in the police chief in Washington DC
As soon as as soon as we possibly can
And Constitution Avenue Northwest
As the demonstrators approached the United States Capitol grounds there was a noticeable change in their demeanor
They breached the fencing along the US Capitol grounds and confronted police line surrounding the building
MPD was requested by the United States by the United States Capitol Police to provide assistance
Cloud management
And due to the violent behaviour towards the police officers there and they're intent on gaining access to the to the Capitol
A riot was declared
It was clear that the crowd was intent on causing harm to officers by the point chemical irritants on
Police to force entry into the United States Capitol building
As you-all we're
They were able to gain access to the Capitol Building and I can confirm that one civilian was
Reported to have sustained a gunshot wound inside of the capitol
Details of the shooting are not immediately available and the situation remains under investigation the
Police department will be taking the lead on that investigation
MP3 continues to provide Personnel Resources and assistance on the grounds of the US Capitol and has request
The assistance of law enforcement Partners three previously in place Mutual Aid agreements
As you heard from the mayor a 6 p.m. curfew has been put in place tonight and will be in effect until 6 a.m.
Tomorrow January 7th we are advising everyone
Everyone that is not engage and essential activity to get off the streets and adhere to the curfew
If you are found to be in violation of the curfew police will be required to take action
Again I want to reiterate
And make it clear please abide by the curfew that the mayor has said and placed or
People will be subject to arrest lastly
I know that many of you are familiar with the Metropolitan Police Department
Understand that there is no better agency in the country to handle First Amendment
Events
They happened on a regular basis here in the city however
Today's events were not representation of peaceful protest today what we witnessed was unlock
Riotous Behavior
And people that come to Owl City engagement unlawful Behavior will be held accountable we can take any
Questions app that you may have after the secretary has a chance to speak
Like Mario browser to Compton
We've been listening to the police chief in Washington DC you can see him you listen to
I am describing the riot he called it the broke out at the US Capitol today what started
I doubt as a peaceful protest people showing up to support President Trump and his false
Allegation that the election was rigged a stolen from him a turned into a riot people broke into the cow
Capital there's an injury someone at least one person was shot or waiting to find out more another striking develop
Just now the National Association of Manufacturers this is a group that represents as the title suggests
American manufacturers across the country typically a group that would support Republicans
Issued a statement calling on vice president Pence and I quote to seriously consider working with the cabinet
To invoke the 25th amendment that is the Amendment of the Constitution which calls for the removal of the press
President of the United States and they say to do this quote to preserve democracy
A number of Things We Said Today a remarkable this is just one more in Astor
String of events today that has Jaws dropping eyes popping
In reaction to what happened today you have President United States speaking to supporters for an hour they met
March to the capital they took over they broke into the building they just had their run of the place
And I'm I'm reading the statement from the na there acronym is n a m National
PlayStation manufacturer this is a large group that represents American become
Companies that make things manufacturers they are calling on the vice president of the United States
To move to seriously consider
Working with the cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president
From office in order to preserve democracy it's about a Stark
As you can get
When you have a statement like this from a very respected stable long time
Organization that hit is republican-leaning if anything in its
And it sucked a belief in its philosophy so again one more and we're we're
According to you on this as we're reporting on National Guard state police coming in from Maryland coming in from
Virginia being invoked the National Guard in DC where is our Nick schifrin reported earlier there was a reluctant
Mister call up the DC National Guard because of the position they had been put in back in the summertime when press
Trump in effect used the National Guard to put down peaceful protesters who
Who were protesting the death of George Floyd and that was he
Where the president stood in front of a church and held up a Bible and we will remember that incident
Well so
One surprising turn of events after another you Michel sender is reporting on all this
At the White House you may shitz now dark there you've been standing by for hours
As the events that transpired one after another
That's right we seen from the president is him trying to urge. also continuing to double down on
On the false information that got us to this moment what's remarkable about that video that the president put out is that he spends
As much time if not more time continuing to to say things that are not true continuing to say that he won the
Stolen from him things that we know aren't true and then he goes on to say I also understand your paint in some ways
Acrylic with a feeding into the sense of entitlement that we saw witness at the Capitol when you saw people breaking in and that she's
Cavalierly walking around the building as if they weren't breaking the law what you see in the president here in this moment and
In this moment that is possibly the most important moment of his presidency is a president that is continuing to be consumed
With the issue of staying in power continuing to be consumed with his own political failing this is a president who is down
Course losing people that were close to him including I think many Republicans who in some ways are not over
Anything publicly are Whispering what that statement is saying from that manufacturing group saying that maybe 14 days is
Is 2 long for a president who would continue to say that the election was stolen even after seeing someone
Shot in the capital of the United States two weeks is a long time Judy visit all happen as you know and
One day I'm there a lot of people that I'm talking to now even allies of the president were frankly scared worried about what the president
Might do next on the president in some ways said that he was empathetic with these protesters with these people who have broken the law
Who is terrified terrorizing and scared so many people empathize with them saying I understand your pain
I'm in the president wasn't as pointed as vice-president Pence or president-elect Biden in this moment that calls for leadership
And I'm reading Commission in conjunction with all that you're saying is CNN reporter Jim Acosta
Who covers White House along with you saying that a source close to the White House was in touch with some of the rioters at the
Capital says the goal of those involved to stay inside the capitol
Through the night so we if that's the case and we can expect to see some confrontation because we know that
There are more
Law enforcement or moving into the Capitol in an attempt to remove them from the building to restore calm
To restore order to the Congress can go back to work if there's if if this is true and if they
So you're saying we plan to stay
Then we can expect some kind of Confrontation we certainly hope that doesn't happen we certainly hope there's no more vile
There's already been we certainly would hope for a peaceful resolution but this is a disturbing bit of
Information for us to have any other point
Yeah sure go ahead yamiche it is that protesters do not want
That counting by Congress to go on and Advil. They're their goal is to try to stay in the capital is to try to hold out
It's a try to see if they can get something done and try to upend even more the process so it is my
Understanding that these protesters are going to have to be taken out of the capital someone that may leave when they hear the President's Day go
Many of them may see that as the president just doing what people want him to do because he has said so many times
People should fight people should not concede
That was his message to them today was it not earlier today he was urging his
Vice president Mike Pence just put a stop
To this counting he don't he doesn't want this of this process to go forward so others very
How much a mixed message going on here on the one hand he saying the election was rigged
In his View and he wants the process to stop on the other hand who sang go home so how are they to read this
It's that mixed messaging that is really troubling tonight as we realize that the president is
Not going to stop questioning the other results of the election is not going to finally say I lie
Lost the election on the president at one point said that he was a sore loser said that he was it was hard for him to lose but this Atkinson
Some ways has done so much farther than even people close to President Trump thought it would go I'm so many weeks when I talk to
Two people they said while the president is really just processing he's embarrassed he's hurt he's going to come around and now we
Casey is a president who is not able to come around was not able to process this loss and it's a country
Where are we eating depend on president in particular to process their losses and move on if they have to
That's the way that democracy survives in America is it survives in this great experiment that we in surprising a place where we X
American democracy the other countries own in this way will be seen as a president who is wanting to Italy
Say in condemn violence but cannot at all bring himself to say this needs to end this election is over let's go
It just is not part of what he's going to do there's no sense among people who are close to him that he's going to ever get to the point
He can say you know what this has gone too far let's all go home including myself let me leave the White House here so that's why you see the chocolate
14 days might not be a time. The president can be responsible with
Which is why we are seeing it would this this stunning statement from the National Association of Manufacturers
Large organization representing as we said the major
Companies in this country that manufacturers typically Republican sympathetic organization
Saying party no matter what parties in charge it's time for the vice president
To talk to the cabinet about removing the president from office and is you say you mean it is 14 days
From the time that Joe Biden would step in would be inaugurated the fact that people are not even
Prepared to wait
14 days to weeks
Is is simply head-spinning stunning and you're hearing it
From others you're here reading it you might expect Democrats to be calling for impeachment but the fact that Republic
Bookings are now concerned and stepping in and sang although this is not a Republican or
Organization if they tend to support Republicans on it on a number
Of issues I'm now joined Jamesha I'm going to turn to a republican Congressman Ron
Last days of Kansas he had planned to objected today's electoral vote count
Congressman tell me where you are right now and what is your take on what's been happening
So I had just left the floor when the just before the the protesters stormed
When do the Capitol building and so we re in Office Buildings now
And so we're safe and secure both myself as well as staff members and so we're we're look
Looking to see I mean I have complete confidence in the Capitol Police and and law enforcement and helping make sure that
But we go through in and they they clear out the Capitol building and we get back to the business of we need to do
This is an appropriate inappropriate that completely that they are protesting
Appropriate free-speech is appropriate terms of what we say but having violence and destruction in
It is not appropriate at all
Congressman are you still planning to eject
To the electoral vote
Show the process today on January 6th is that we is Congress has a responsibility
To certify the elector and I based on what's in the constitution is that the state legislators
Should have the responsibility to determine how that those electors are selected and in several these states
That didn't happen either it was a judge or it was that an election official I chose to do that and
That's not the way the Constitution was set up that's not what supposed to be done country that you know
Based on the rule of law and so that was what the holdup jection process was about
There are a lot of Po Folks who on the Republican side as well who somewhere
And some work at because this is a very serious discussion we don't want Congress pic
Picking the president that's not appropriate at all we don't want judges picking up the present the judicial branch not supposed to do
Do that until this was a process we should have been able to go through that process peacefully
Because that's what we've done for the last 240 in our country is a peaceful protest and
Transitional government
But President Trump is the one Congressman Estes who urged his supporters to come to
Washington he urged them not to allow this process
To go forward he's the one who is saying that this process is should be stopped but it's
Should not go forward that his votes that the electoral vote count should stop that it should go back
The states
Period and the election should be overturned are you supporting him in that belief
So they're there been several protests since the election I expected this protest
B2B like that to be a peaceful in terms of that process I was somewhat surprised today
At that it did turn violent because that hadn't been the aspect of what it happened in any of the
Previous ones I do understand the frustration on people's Parts but it's not appropriate for in
Individuals I don't condone violence that they've done and don't support them at all in terms of storm
Moving our capital and trying to disrupt the process that setup in in the laws of our country in that that we should follow
What responsibilities do you think President Trump has for sending the message though that that this is
This election should not be accepted and that his supporters should do whatever they can and
Anything they can in order to stand in the way
Of Joe Biden becoming president
Thought I think you have to look at it and hold accountable those individuals that that committed these these
These acts of violence it's not appropriate at all it took for them to do that and those are the folks in need
To be held accountable for doing that I support our captive place in the law enforcement who've actually
I done an admirable job looking out the to secure the capital building and make sure that
Do we have a minimum amount of issues with individuals but even though it's it's
Part of our country's history to have free speech and to have the ability to protest this violence is not a
Appropriate in an individual should not have done that
What do you think President Trump Bears some responsibility
If not a great deal of responsibility for what's happened
I think when you when you have a crowd to get together conducting a protest year you're at risk any
Time that there could be violence that comes out of that I mean we saw it earlier last year with all of the auntie
People protest and saw the violence in Seattle and in Wisconsin and and so that that's an individual
We need to hold those individuals that commit that responsible and and knowing that we need
You have a crowd that that is a risk and that's one of the reason why you know the Capitol Police and law enforcement
We're always at the ready when when you go through the process of of having a protest like that that
At the beginning maybe start out peaceful but then has the risk of turning violet
You think the President should have urged his supporters to come to Washington today for protest
I think protesting is is part of our country's history and we should we should we can't we can't
Limit Free Speech through that I we can't limit people's right to protest about aspects but
To be done peacefully it should be done within the rule of law and that's the whole point of what this
This process was today was to follow the rule of law and everybody should be responsible to do that and
It should be responsible to to encourage folks to follow that rule of law
Do you know anyone who is part of today's protest
I I don't know any of those individuals that they were after storming a
The capital I do know there's different discussions of different folks that work planning to come to the the rally earlier
But I don't know specifically that anybody did that Capital now
And end in Congressman just quickly back on your point about objecting to the results and I hear what you're saying
About the state legislatures are supposed to have more oversight over how
Electors are chosen
But as you know in all the 50 states and the District of Columbia there were there were numerous legal challenges to what
What happened and not a single court has upheld anything that would overturn any
These results so there's a huge question mark about what exactly
Is the violation that happened that took place
That that you believe
Makes this election illegitimi gather you're saying the election
Result is illegitimate
I think what what you saw from several of the court rulings was that there wasn't standing
Particularly like the the Texas lawsuit that the Attorney General in Texas didn't have stay
Standing to dictate to Pennsylvania how Pennsylvania should a solo
Their electors wasn't that this the Court ruled on the the merits of boy that there was decisions
They also said there was no evidence they ruled in a number of cases that there was no evidence
That they were different than what the state legislature it said but it was one of those things were
The most part that Edward several of the court cases it was that there was a process identified that
Come on January 6th and end and that's what we were following through here today
Alright well we are going to leave it there representative Ron Estes a Kansas who's one of the objectors
In this electoral vote counting process Congressman thank you very much and we're glad we're so glad
That you were able to stay safe today
Thank you very much I appreciate that in and we need to get back to making sure that we follow the rule of law and and and
And move forward with our country and and and it continued this this elector process seer
Thank you very much we appreciate it
And I want to turn now to one of our Congressional veterans were calling them
Individuals who worked part of the staff on Capitol Hill for a number of years John Hart work for
The late Republican senator Coburn who
Johnny work for him both in the in the
In the house
House and house and in the Senate John Hart but you've been listening to
Republican Congressman from Kansas just now sort of square the circle of
Trying to explain how it's possible
To object to the election
To the electoral votes but also say it's time to move on
Right as I think it is a very
Principal in smart guy from from Kansas every decent person
And I think what he's articulated is that
But there are instances all over the country where they were state legislators did not have the final say and how they look
Election was administered and there's a legitimate constitutional argument between those who say the stapler
Legislators should have total control
And those who say the state legislator merely set the parameters
Secretaries of state and other boards can make those determinations as to how the elections rrrrx
They executed so I think what it's what we would have learned today had had the protest. Happened
In the way it did and I think we'll still learned is that there is a lot of ambiguity
Written into the Constitution about how
Congress can provide oversight should Congress provide oversight to
State election boards to state legislators
Legislatures rather
And to me the only intellectually honest way to actually change anything is to do it through constitutional
Amendment
So there maybe takeaways where
There might be in agreement to for example look at how we do
Draw congressional districts you can do can broaden the aperture Beyond just
Election rules to look at how do we decide districts
And how do we have modern and elections in the internet age in ways that are transparent fair you know could we could we sit
I found other ways to do it online
If we can pay our taxes online why can't we vote other simpler ways to have
Free and fair and open elections ways that can prevent fraud
That will not create suspicion and and again I think what what's happened
Is there were four years of the resistance on the left that said the president was illegitimately Ally
Elected
And that is created an enormous amount of Suspicion
And I would agree that Trump has amplify that weighs or unhelpful but that's that's
Part of why we are where we are today
I don't think we've had four years of the kind of
The presidency legitimately elected do the way the president
Is protesting what's happened in this election
John I think it's fair to say people didn't made out of like the result but they accepted the result
In 2016 today what we're hearing is that the present is saying the
Action was stolen
From him that that dead people voted that
That cashes of piles of votes were thrown in at the last
Last minute as he did it it said about Georgia
Yesterday
And there's just no evidence of that I mean I know there is this discussion about
What state legislature should have done that was a question I was asking
Congressman yesterday is a minute ago and what year just referring to but that's different from saying the entire
Fire election was
Was fraudulent which
Again judge after judge
Orenda clarified that status that is not what I do what I'm saying either I think
What would I am imploring the media to do at large is to understand
Bad
When there were years and years dedicated to a storyline
That the Russians helped elect Donald Trump the Donald Trump colluded with the Russians
Are there was an impeachment process built around that
That that then created a fertile ground for Donald Trump to say
This this election result was merely a continuation of four years of resistance
And it is so that's why I think there was plenty of blame on both sides that this is a cultural political problem
Discuss Way Beyond just partisanship and that's really that's the point I'm trying to make
Here is that
If it is wrong and partisan for either side to say
One side cause this of the other didn't
There is different types of blame to go around but there's a lot of blame
But I think both shot size can share and that we need to learn from
And move forward in a much more productive way and there are there are ways that Congress can do this very productively
And bring an experts and figure out how can we have
In the modern digital age a free election where everybody gets to vote
And their vote is not for fraudulent there but will count
And that's what I think we need to do going forward that's what members couldn't can support on both sides
Well we are its is clearly something we're going to continue to discuss into report on because it matters
So much John Hart I do want to read before we go to our next gas I want to read a statement that Ben Sasse
Republican senator from Nebraska who has been in recent days critical of President Trump
Senator Sasse has been saying that the election was certified the election should be
Accepted but in a statement just now he said today the United States Capitol the world greatest symbol of of cell
Government was ransacked while the leader of the Free World coward behind his keyboard Tweety
Against his vice president for fulfilling his duties before filling the duties of his oath to the
The US to the Constitution and I'm continuing to quote this brief statement from senator
Ben Sasse Republican he said lies have consequences this violence was the inevitable and
Ugly outcome of the president's addiction to constantly stoking division
I'm continuing a quote Americans are better than this Americans aren't nihilus Americans
Aren't
Arsonists Americans aren't
French revolutionaries taking to the barricade this is not how we peacefully transfer power the American people are tough
Our constitutional order is strong and we will meet this moment with strength and Grace that statement
From Republican senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska who again has spoken out against
The president's statement of a conspiracy theory conspiracy
Let's turn now to journalist and author Ron suskind who has been speaking with sources of his
Within the Trump Administration on this
Truly astonishing day hi Ron what are you learning
It's a quite a day
Judy one of the things that I'm hearing from sources in the government is well something that we heard starting
Around the middle of of last year is that this is the thing they feared is that
Trump always had an army of loyalist
And the speed was if he were to lose the election
That he would unleash them he would use the power of of the people
Who will do just about anything Donald Trump says in have been convinced that a fraud has occurred
Extraordinary numbers which Trump did himself
To create a situation which is sort of what we have at this moment in which you got
This group of insurrectionists who had taken over the capitol that
That are really moving at the direction of Donald Trump let's be very clear about that and the same time he's still retain
Change the powers of the presidency that's a left-hand and right-hand in which he has power in both hands
And I think what we're seeing now is a question
That he's answering as to how he will use that Leverage
He said to them it's time to go home
That's that's not a very forceful statement is sort of like you've done your work now
Stand down and wait for further instructions
He also has activated the police and has activated the National Guard
So you got left-hand and right-hand working in a kind of Unison that terrifies a many of the folks
Publicans many of the folks are senior officials in the government
And that's why I rent a very Dynamic situation
Well it's it is a Wii at the very least it's a mixed message and as you say it's a danger
Dangerous message because you're right on the one hand the presents and go home but he is
Sticking by his argument that the election was stolen which is of course what is fueling the
The anger and the actions taken by this
By these protesters run so how organized is all of this is my question.
I know we still don't know the identity of every single one of the
Individuals who came to Washington today
To protest the election result but
How much organization is there
I don't think there's a lot of organization as we generally think about organization you know this is a mob.
Takes Direction and can improvise as they see fit because they don't need a battle plan hand
This age
And I think that what you're seeing here is a kind of signaling
That we see a lot in the digital era in which the president is signalling to his commune
As he did in that speech this morning which was just hollering to listen to
Because he did fire them up and he pointed them
Toward the capitol was quite clear
You're ready
Go that way and do what need be done if you listen to that Long Beach
That is essentially the message you gave to them and then he stopped and watched
From the Oval Office as the Havoc unfolded
And watch for quite a while
It seems to me I mean just again looking at this from my perspective watching us on fall today that there was a
An effort initially to exercise restraint on the part of the capitol
Law enforcement the Capitol Police and others they were hoping that things wouldn't get out of hand they were holding back
They didn't want to use Force they didn't want to
Tear gas or use other other methods they held back
But then that turned out to be the opening
That led to what we saw where they broke into the capitol
Someone was at least one person was shot people sent to the hospital so on it remains to be seen just how much all the
This unfolded but now we have the situation
Where a number of these protesters are telling
People who talk to them that they are going to stay there overnight we had yamiche
I'll send a report in a little while ago that's the whole purpose of being there to keep this
This SOB electoral vote counting process from going forward so if the police if the
National Guard or police whoever goes into the capital they're going to meet with resistance on the part of these people we we sink
We don't know
But but but back to the president and his role in all of this it's it's something we are trying to understand
And and it's
It is certainly raising a question of just what a dangerous moment this is
Unity One thing I want to play now you I think you say something that's quite pertinent that the Capitol Police were what kind of surprise
It's hard to imagine that you know this man threat assessments going on inside of the government by senior
Fault in various agencies or months as to what could happen if Donald Trump wall
Lost the election it's one thing to engage in that process is another thing to be spacing it
And I think what you saw is the surprise
Leblond forcement police around the capitol when they saw a mob coming quite ardent
About what they decided to do
And I think as well now's the moment we're all trying to
Getting ahead of the key actor here which is Trump Trump trump created the situation Trump also
Also controls the key powers of government
That will affect what happens in the next few days
Both things are within his control and purview
That's I think why you have some people Republicans and Democrats calling for the 25th Amendment
Can have all that power in one man
What Peter Baker wrote In The New York Times
About the president leading an Insurgency
Insurgent in the White House
Is the thinking that many senior officials have had for actually quite some time
So now we're in a dynamic situation where people are trying to figure out what.
Donald Trump's intentions are and what he will do next
In some ways
One of the things that people been watching for is in fact alerting and
I'm bringing in the National Guard and the military
How to create a kind of state of emergency situation
Which again gives the president extraordinary powers
And I'm in that happening now so it doesn't surprise me that
The folks in the white in the capital are staying
They realize they have power
And that they're really backed up significantly by the president of the United States himself
That changed the dynamic
We've ever seen I think in this country
Where you have a group like that
Does Billy have the support of the president
That's the new terrain we are standing on now
And it is terrified
So bring at the very least and this discussion the 25th Amendment again so bring
Ron suskind thank you very much so much to report on and just quickly I'm going to take her to step away for this
Just a few minutes to turn it over to my colleague William bring them to carry on I just want a report William SI
Turn this over to you I'm seeing William Barr who up until a few days ago with the Attorney General of the UN
United States calling today's events at the Capitol outrageous and Despicable
So these are again these are people supportive of been supportive of the president until very recently
Who are astonished and worse at at what has happened
Well
Thank you so much Duty and thank you for all of this incredible reporting and anchoring you have been doing all day today we are all
All of us in the NewsHour family grateful to this it has been a truly remarkable day I mean
Comments of former Attorney General William Barr just the latest we have seen so many former stalwart
Members of the Trump Administration and trumps
A circle of supporters who have now come out and said that this seems to be a bridge too far
To see those images so vividly reported by our own Lisa Desjardin of
Of of protesters breaking into the US Capitol and storming the building and rifling through
Through those offices and standing in those Halls and in those Wells where we have seen four
So many decades congressman and senators and presidents and vice presidents speak it's just
I think many of us had hoped that today would have passed as a small bit of political theater
Get her and it is turned into something obviously much much Graver than that anyway I would like to turn now
Some point to give me she'll send or our White House correspondent she has been following all of this great
To see you can you just give us the latest what are you hearing about we saw the statement at the White House put out from president
Trump what else can you tell us about the latest of what the White House is thinking and how they're responding to all of this
The president remains convinced that he has to continue to spread disinformation
About the election he is watching all of this unfold from the White House at this point other than that one minute video he
He has not offered himself up to speak to the American people in this moment were so many Americans are terrified about
That what they're watching verified from what they're watching I'm this of course is a result of the president's own
Words own rhetoric he told Americans millions of them at Rally's on Twitter and videos from the
White House Podium that he was someone who was a victim of a mass conspiracy theory again
That he had the election stolen from him in the president is still there still in that moment
Mindframe still focused on his own future even as night falls on the White House even a thing
Things get dark even if things have gotten so dark in the capital what we see here is the president Urgent Care
People around him including Rudy Giuliani saying that there needs to be no violence with the same people William you know they
Today's from the reporting that you've been doing on this information domestically these are the same people who are perpetuating the same information
Now these people have taken these protesters taken into the into the capital and so many other cities
To try to to Really up and all of this process my reporting continues to be but these protesters
I'm do not plan to want to leave do not plan to want to back down because they want to see the system
Not be able to go forward and right now they are succeeding at doing that it's remarkable at the beginning of the day we thought fight of the 2020 election
Was going to be over and now we've seen armed protesters succeed in disrupting American democracy
Do many people including Republicans urge the president weeks before this to condemn violence did not have people
Come out but the president ignored them all and we saw this morning the president double down on that and I think it's
Going to be something that we're going to have to really think about when he said fight on we will not concede and we're heading to the Capitol
I just had someone discovered a lot of protest these images are just remarkable I remember being in Fergus
Missouri where there were protesters who were protesting peacefully and we saw tanks and tear gas around
These protesters now are sitting in Nancy Pelosi's office are sitting on the couch in the Senate chamber and
President Trump is saying I hear your pain I understand you I love you this is the president feeding into that sense of entitlement that
They got these people to break Windows of the u.s. capital funding that we just have not seen in modern history some historians
Thing that it was back in 1812 the last time that the capital was breach so this is a white house right now that is
Not communicating that 1-minute video where was getting by I have so many questions for this white house including what happens
Next is the present going to do something to try to put this put it into this all the way physically try to do something
Put an end to this we're just not getting any answers and we also don't know where the vice president is right now he was whisked away from the capital
And there's no Clarity right now from the White House on where the leader on the second-in-command of the US government is right
Now it is just such a remarkable turn of events Yumi end end just to Echo what you said but
For I know you have covered so many of those protests and seen the way in which
Heavily armed and well-fortified police officers respond to physical destruction to
Two large numbers of people pushing into places where they're not supposed to be and then to see the dishes be
Going on 4 hours today we know that the National Guard has been called out in some instances here but this side
Idea that this went on for such a long period of time and either the Capitol Police simply route number
But then to not see a response a more vigorous and forceful response his
Got to just be I mean the contrast between the protest we saw earlier this year and what we saw being allowed to
Go forward today is just striking someone who remembers
Seeing protesters moved out-of-the-way physically with some sort of chemical gas that President Trump to take a picture
In front of St John's Church is someone who's gone to Ferguson Missouri who is seeing protesters they are protesting the death of a nun
Unarmed teenager in the street being moved aside with teargas and with tanks this was the
Capitol prison some ways being caught off guard it seemed on the president announced several hours ago that he was going to be marching
Sing with them I'm working with these protesters to the Capitol but it seems the Capitol Police just simply did not have
The force needed at in the Manpower needed to protect the US Capitol that really is something that's very scary
Standing in the other building at in DC on their number of them of course that are federal buildings in DC but the White House is how
Probably the only other place that you think of as super-safe it's Athena's ixora security bubble I've been in the capital Stone
How many times and when you enter that Rotonda you feel like the security guards are not going to let anyone in there that doesn't need to be there
And instead what we saw was a complete breach of that and I should say there were there were moments where we heard sirens were we heard from
Catchers outside the White House but they didn't breach here and some of that is because they're sympathetic to this white house they like this white house there's a
Supporting this white house I'm as a result we didn't see the same force that we saw at the Capitol
Indoor at the White House Forest today and as you have been all day today thank you so much for your reporting will check back with you later
For sure
I am join now by the district attorney the attorney general for the District of
Call Racine he's on the telephone talking with us today by Mr Racine are you there
I'm here William thank you very much
Very good to have you on the news ever thank you for talking with us I wonder if I could just initially get your react
Action to what is unfolded here today
Well I hit several fold and I'll try to be as brief as I can
I think attorney general Barr's message is a plain clear and she run question
Play the truth
What we witnessed today was an American Tragedy
It is outrageous
It is devastating
And I would add to it former Attorney General Barr's words
That it was unlawful
Predictable
And encouraged
Bye
None other than
The president of the United States
So this is an unprecedented event
Let me talk about the predictability for moment
We know that these hate groups and militia groups
I'm talking about not the peaceful protesters but the people who broke police line
And salted the capital
And left
Senators in congress
Women
Ant-Man
Cuddledown onto the ground
With their gas masks out
And ushered onto underground trains
For Refuge the same reference.
By the Vice President
Of the United States
So this is a tragic day that was predictable because the social media made it clear as to what was going to occur
And
I have to tell you you Misha's exactly right
And you to William when you
Bring into contrast
The black lives matter protests you'll remember
And your pictures night would urge
You and your fantastic
Program
To show the images
What you'll see in the images of the defense of the capital during the black
Lives matter protest
Are Wardens
And other officials from the Bureau of Prisons
Law enforcement heavily
Armed
And in uniform
Bulletproof fasting Mass
From the
A Homeland Security
National Guard
From overwhelmingly States
Better run unfortunately United States run by Republican governors
Protecting the capital
For no reason
Where there was a peaceful protest
What you saw today
Sadly and I certainly don't mean to demean Capital policeman individually
Usaw Capitol policeman running away
From individuals
Who were breaking into the capitol
Interfacing the offices of our
Most respected elected officials
Again I'm going to cite your niche
She and I were
Are haitian-americans
We love our country of Haiti
It's been beset
Unfortunately by
Political corruption and instability
Sometimes with the cooperation of the United States of America
Current time in Haiti
It's not something sadly that is unusual
What you had today was a
Attempted coup d'etat that may still be in process
Because the president claims
Falsely
Becky won an election
That every Court
Has rejected including a conservative Supreme Court
So now is the time for all responsible Americans
Thank God for the former Defense secretary
And the Business Leaders
The finally come out
It's made clear
That our democracy relies on a peaceful transition of power
Every side
Feels the loss
But we get on with it
We regrouped
And then we fight a political battle in the next 4 years
It's time for Donald Trump and his supporters to leave Washington DC
Peacefully
Think it's too late for them to leave humbly
Or with any decency
Please leave in a manner that is not
Violin
Do you and you're describing the the words of the president and many of his supporters as
As as though it's the legal equivalent of incitement to violence and we certainly saw a Rudy Giuliani
Give this morning standing on amongst those protesters calling for trial by combat we heard
Heard the president before his language all along about theft and robbery an enemy of the people and the need
To rise up into come to Washington
Do you
Do you really lay this fully at the feet of the president do you really believe that this is
This is a monster of his making
Candidly I do think he Bears great responsibility
Because he's gone we're literally no president has ever gone
Before
And history will certainly
Reflect this
I also believe that
We have seen the fragility of our democracy
And the fragility of our democracy is not in our constitution
Nor in our laws nor in our dorms
It's in the human beings
Who are interested
To defend those
Sadly
Too many
Of those human beings
Succumbed to the withering pressure
Other president of the United States
I would argue the corruption
Other president of the United States
And the fear
The fear
They're losing potential
Supporters and voters
You don't
John F Kennedy wrote a book called profiles of Courage about eight Senators who defied their constituents
And public opinion
Because they did the right thing for the country
That book is noted
For the talk about those eight courageous senators
But it's also noted
For health in the book actually is
What we've seen unfortunately
Our elected officials after elected officials
And former elected officials and responsible
Folks
Fold
At in courageously
At the expense
About great Democratic experience
Attorney general I wonder if you could help us understand a little bit of the
For people who don't know Washington DC and how lawn forcement operates in the city it's a very confusing
Sing there's a police force for the capital there's the Secret Service for the president
DC has its own police force in this case we we saw that this was primarily a
An issue for the Capitol Police to be dealing with what other local and or national
Law enforcement agencies should be involved here and do you believe are involved in here
William the question is spoken from someone who knows Washington DC the thank you for that
It's important for
Audi
Citizens and residents of the United States to understand
That the District of Columbia
Unfortunately is not a state
We pay taxes we go to war
But we're not a stately
Taxation without representation
That means that our local police
I'm police are neighborhoods in the District of Columbia was 700000 +
Extraordinary washingtonians
Living work
But we have the Capitol Police responsible for
Policing the capital
We have the Secret Service
That's broad responsibilities
For protecting of course the president other elected officials
And you know and other National Assets
We have to park police
That is in charge of protecting our
Parks here in the District of Columbia that are beautiful
And so in a way
The District of Columbia is one of the most
Over police in the sense of having so many
Law enforcement officials
Generally speaking
Actually work well together
I think the break down here
Is that
The Metropolitan Police Department is trying
All of this might and I think they're doing
To be honest
A very good job under there
The new Chief Conte
But we have a dissonance because it appears that
Some crucial Federal partners
Frankly didn't come to play today
I can only think that the order came from somewhere
Hi
Because
I know those Federal
Police officers
They go to work every day to do the right thing
Think they were frankly Colton not post today
I want to follow up on that in a moment but we are just getting some Ward from the apparently the sergeant of arms inside
Side the capital announced an all-clear that there was at least some sense that the majority of protesters have been
Either contained or the threat is minimizing allegedly there wasn't some Applause that broke out inside the
The capital so hopefully that is some good news are working to try to confirm that but attorney general you were saying before about
About this this issue of of the difficulty of a city not necessarily having full gum
Government over its own Affairs we know that the mayor of DC Muriel Bowser has established
6 p.m. curfew tonight in the city can you give us a sense of what other resources
They're going to be deployed to the city what concerns you have about what might unfold as this protest continues
Well yes William the mayor indeed did Issue
6 p.m. curfew and we're getting close to that 6 p.m. our 18 more minutes
Emerging anyone who was watching your show and I hope many people are
Aren't you here to that curfew
The Metropolitan Police Department is going to enforce
That curfew
In the District of Columbia that means our police officers
Will enforce the curfew and will arrest
Individuals who are
Violating the curfew
Those charges will be
Reviewed by my office
I end up where they evidence will bring
The charges
There are other charges
That can be brought
In regards to what we saw on television today
Many of those charges in fact almost all of them
Chargeable by
My office which is the DC Attorney General's office but instead
Only chargeable by the federal prosecutor
These events happened on federal property is that correct
Partly but not fully
Apparently yes but not fully because the federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia
Given DC's lack of full autonomy
Is the principal prosecutor
Four felonies
And adult offenses
And the federal prosecutor that is the US attorney District of Columbia
Is appointed by the president of the United States
So if you thought that
There was meddling into the Michael Flynn case after he pled guilty twice and knowledge
Perjured himself and violated the law
Then you know
That
Unfortunately the president United States
Interferes
Ended lawful and dutiful operation of federal prosecution it's a fair question William
For you and the press to follow up on
What charges are the federal prosecutors
Bringing
In light of today's events
I'm in Lynn last attorney general I just have to wonder as someone who has spent so much of his life and career
Career in Washington DC and in many ways charged with the protection of the people who live here and looking
King after the residents of this city this is got to be an incredibly dark day as I said at the beginning
Many of us watch what was going on today and the the the congressmen and senators
Gathering to go through what we were been told would be a formal
Counting certifying whatever the term of art is of the final votes of this election
And then to see it evolve into this chaos I mean as it as a as a longtime resident here and a member of
Our local government this is got to be
An incredibly dark and tragic day for for you
Well you know I am going to
Beg to differ a bit notwithstanding the assault
On our democracy
That was aided and abetted encouraged
I'm in here frankly you know known in advance
By you know the president United States
The residents of the District of Columbia to the contrary
They follow the rules
They were not out in the District of Columbia
They did not participate in confrontation with hate groups
The residents of the District of Columbia I would argue
Are at the front of the seat of autocracy
Today saw the mistreatment of protesters who happen to be overwhelmingly protesting against
Police excesses
On behalf of
People of color who you know the statistics clearly revealed and treated differently and violently
And they've also seen what happened today
And they're going to see what's going to happen tonight
I'm so there may be weeping tonight
They'll be joy in the morning
It'll be a fence
Residents of the District of Columbia
Have honored their us to be
Citizens of this country
Kayaking peacefully respecting protesters
And going along their business
DC residents
We got it
We want the rest of the country to get it
Attorney general Karl Racine
The Attorney General of the District of Columbia thank you very much for joining us on this
Really remarkable Dave's great to talk to you thank you
Thank you William
And we would like to turn back to two who have been with us all day today
Jon Hart and Danny Weiss we are grateful to you for both being here all day long and
John Hart to you first I wonder you both of you have spent a great deal of time on Capital
He'll know many people who have been worked on Capitol Hill and currently work on Capitol Hill have you heard any dispatches
For many of your former colleagues about this most recent news that we heard apparently that the sergeant-at-arms said that
That all seems to be well inside the Capitol Building have you heard any of that
Yes
Today whose reports corroborating what we've heard from
Recent others
Yep I think the hope is that member see this through tonight no matter how long it takes weather
They have to clear the capital of protesters I think it's important at this disruption
Jordan ocracy not be rewarded by any undue delay
I think I members want to see this through and and do whatever it takes to to get this process
Process moving forward
So that their voices can be heard it it's a very sad day I think
You know as a as a republican it's it's profoundly embarrassing as a conservative
It enrages me that we can't debate the issues that are important to the country
I want to see a fight a fair fight on everything from the size and scope of government government spending
Whether we should defund the police whether we should have Medicare for all
Whether we should have the green New Deal
All of those Clauses that I care about have been derailed and disrupted
By these protests and Donald Trump does share Fairmount a blame
For promoting it and inciting it and tolerating it
And I think Donald Trump's standing in the Republican Party
Is is going to be severely demand damaged hopefully after today
And we can't continue on this path that were on right now we can't tolerate
Disruptions to the Democratic process and I think Republicans and Democrats are going to agree to that move forward as quickly as they can
Anyways do you think that this the events of today change any
Votes in the sense to think that this will give any people who wanted to
Take more of a public stand and make these unfounded allegations of there being fraud you think any of those boats
Change now because of this
It's possible there's an article out now that Senator Ted Cruz is under pressure to
Not proceed with any objections once they're able to
Resume the counting of the Electoral of the certifications
Electoral College votes
You know the dynamic has been changed definitely
Question coming into today was
What was
Donald Trump's role going to be
In the Republican party and in the country over the next two to four years
The results in Georgia
Kind of added a wrinkle to that clearly undermining his stature
And then the question now is
Does today do today's events
Significantly undermine Donald Trump stature
In the Republican Party
And more importantly
Among this base
That really I think
Republicans have been afraid of that. It was President Trump that created this base and the Republican
Kids running for office in 2024
Have been appealing to that bass
By challenging the Electoral College votes
Do they know
Want to separate themselves from that because of this
Unprecedented disgraceful and violent activity that is taking place today
Or are they beholden to that bass
Because as as umich
Questioned earlier I believe it was her
Maybe they no one has any control over them
Having big been Unleashed
And who has control over them at this point
So there's a lot of questions raised today has flipped the script
Hopefully in some important ways
It's going to take a few days probably to be able to get back to normal
And to count
The remainder of the of the balance
It's a really tragic day for the country
It's a shame that
The president was allowed to get to this point but in fact he's been an able
Adley
Why is party not everyone in it but
The majority of his party is really enabled this president
Eagle forward he created fear in them
That if they did not support everything that he did that was abnormal
They would pay a price including his family saying that they would Primary people
So it's a very it's a tragic tragic day
And we do need to move on this electron was correct
A lot of important issues to talk about in the middle of a pandemic
We have to be dealing with the vaccine
Making sure it's distributed over at a faster rate and effectively and get the economy up and running
Today's event is looking a lot like a super spreader event to me and I certainly hope that it isn't but you have a lot of unmasked people
Close together going wherever they want and the capital is going to have to clean that up as well
A John Hart I wonder if you would pick up on this idea that we're hearing that do you think
That today's events
And the lead of the long-term impact of this does dislodge certain members of the rubber
Looking partying and detach them in some way from the spell that's being described that he has had over member
Members of the Republican Party
But I do think I do think of all the stomach said it's too early to know exactly how
Okay year ago I was part of the impeachment panel and spent several several days actually opposed
Posing
Impeachment process and in defending the president's position
But I will tell you that today the president is much more danger of being removed from office
Then he was there in the impeachment process
And and the reason is is that there are now significant questions as to whether or not he's committed treason has he promoted
And incitement against the Democratic process so I think heading into today
There was a sense that the president was already in denial that he had lost an election
And Republicans had a choice of do they want to appeal to what I would describe as a majority of the minority
Another word 68% of the public thought the election measure fraud of the election that it was unfair
60% of the country believe that but only a third 60% of Republicans dead but only a third of a cup
Country bullet sure that boys Republicans won a only appeal to a majority of the minority
They will continue to be a minority power party
If they want to appeal to to a majority they need someone besides Donald Trump
As the leader of the party
And I think after today that greatly increases the chances that someone else is going to
Step up and become the standard-bearer whether it's a Tom Cotton whether it's a Nikki Haley
My parents Ben Sasse there a lot of people waiting in the wings who want to be a leader
That will take us to a place again but we can debate the issues that Danny and I would have a respectful
Dialog about that's we want to get to the country to a point where we can just have her ideas heard
That we could have at the bait and let the best idea when that's what America is about that's what democracy is about
John Hart just sticking with you for a moment I'm still struck by that though this idea that you believe that the president is closer today
Being removed from office and he was back during the impeachment because you're saying you think that it is
I understand the argument that the president that many of his critics would say he is guilty of treason
Do you believe that there are any Republicans in the Congress or the Senate who would share that
Believe in in a meaningful way
Yes yeah I would say ace very significant number of Republicans who would believe that the quest
It is are they willing to cross the president so the President Trump's what what folks don't understand is
Set the Loyalty that quote Republicans have the Trump
Is a mile wide and an inch deep
So as a conservative I didn't support Trump 2016 Automotive
Talma 2020
If your runs again there's no way I would vote for him
And he was he was compliant to a lot of conservative ideas
And that's why conservative supported him
Now he's clearly shown in the past few weeks that he's he's become unhinged he has become what
But the last one against
And as Republicans we have to acknowledge the fact that
That he is doing incredible damage to the party
And the conservative movement with his with his
With his antics of me just today
Encourage the vice president
To essentially
Commit sedition to
2 accident unconstitutional a way in which his own White House counsel said was unconstitutional
And then he just he released a video trying to calm people down but then repeated
The same you know conspiracy theory
That
Inspire people to come protester lock their illegitimate
The issues that could be raised about the election I think there are two irrational positions one
Is that Donald Trump won in a landslide that is completely ridiculous in your rational but it is also irrational to
Say there was no fraud
Anywhere and that's not that's not an accurate statement either in the state of Pennsylvania there were 10.000 votes
Question but clearly they were not 80.000 votes in question so there was not an outcome to Terminal 2
Question in my mind is in the minds of
Eighty-two 85% of Republicans so
So again I think but the moment would tap here's the political Dan at Dynamic now
Is that Republicans have to measure and assess how much damage has been done by today's too stressful events
And whether we like it or not Republicans will share disproportion a disproportionate share of the blame for what's half
And Republicans may take an opportunity to distance themselves from this president
Are various various numbers of actions whether that's not going through with these electoral challenges
Informatic and I think it's going to depend on on the events that unfolded over the next few hours it's very fluid and it
Tragically dark situation that were watching
Indeed anyways just in the minute or so that we have less what is your sense of how the Democratic Party
Pretty itself ought to respond to this I mean we saw former FBI director James Comey saying this was
Obviously before today's events but him saying what he knows about the president and his actions thus far he would not
I choose to prosecute the president do you think
But it is the best thing for the country and for the Democratic party which looks like they're going to be leaving the Congress the Sun
Send it and the White House that they should pursue
Amor
Enforcement prosecution of the president
That's a great question I think I don't know the answer to that I will say that
The only successful path over would be one where the Democrats and Republicans going to come to you
Iran agreed on an approach so if the speaker and leader McConnell
We're able to have a meeting about this tonight or tomorrow and decide if this is really crossed everybody's Redline
Then perhaps I could do something together
Rank-and-file members of the democratic caucus
Are irate
As they should be
And some of them will choose to recommend either articles of impeachment
Order some of them already called on
A criminal investigation based on the phone call
The Georgia the other day by the present
But I would say the Democrats cannot
Do something on their own that would be that would only be a message action on their part they need to do something
In concert
With Republicans
If in fact the Republicans have now decided
At the horse they hitch themselves to
It's been a disaster
Indeed Danny Weiss and John Hart I'd like to thank you both for all of your help
Getting us through this really remarkable day we will talk with you later I am sure thank you both
Very very much for being here we now turn back to the PBS NewsHour I'm William brangham thank you very
Very much for joining us
Goody's
Evening on Judy Woodruff on the NewsHour tonight chaos at the Capitol support
Ring and encouraged by President Trump storm the US Capitol breaking Windows push
Pushing through police with shots fired inside as lawmakers were gathered to count the votes
Confirming president-elect on the election a disturbing seeing the country as never Witness
We devote the entire program to this moment and talk to one of the winners from the Georgia Senate race
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And by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you thank you
The nation today has witnessed a grave breach of its Democratic traditions for the first time in
American history supporters of the losing presidential candidate
Forcibly disrupted the official counting of electoral votes John Yang begins our coverage
Chaos erupted at the US Capitol today when pro-trump
Demonstrators Greek barricade and pushed their way inside as lawmakers were in the process of May
Making president-elect binds election official protest
With police the capital was put on lockdown while law enforcement tried to regain control
Tear gas was fired outside the building to disperse the crowd and both Chambers were empty by spread
Mike Pence was rushed to safety the vice-president later tweeted the violence and destruction taking
Place at the US Capitol must stop and it must stop now
House minority leader Kevin McCarthy who supports Congressional efforts to challenge the election's outcome
Describe hearing gunshots and condemned the violence as unacceptable a DC law enforcement official said Italy
At least one person had been shot an extraordinary sight inside the house chamber
Police drawing their guns while protesters tried to force their way inside
Demonstrators could be seen occupying the dais
Another image showed a protester inside house Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office
All 1100 members of the DC National Guard were activated
In addition Virginia and Maryland called up their National Guardsmen to help reinforce the capital
DC mayor Muriel Bowser imposed a 6 p.m. curfew in Wilmington Delaware prison elect
Biden condemned the violence
What we're saying
Are small number of extremist
Dedicated so lawlessness
This is not the scent
It's disorder
It's chaos
Borders on sedition
Must
Now
And President Trump released a recorded message which repeats unfounded claims about the election
I know you pain
I know you're hurt
We had an election
That was stolen from us
It was a landslide election
And everyone knows it
Especially the other side
But you have to go home now
We have to have peace we have to have Law and Order
The chaos at the Capitol came after President Trump urged protesters to march on the building
You will never give up we will never concede it doesn't happen you don't concede with his theft involve
He spoke at a rally on the ellipse shortly before a joint session got underway airing off repeated and
And baseless claims of election fraud many of the thousands of protesters who descended on the city picked up
The president's call from happening because if we don't
Integrity in our voting system
Some said they wanted the vice president to refuse to count votes from swing states that mr.
What needs to happen today is Vice President Pence nice
Actors envelopes with the states that I mentioned set them aside and send it all back to those state
It was a desire expressed by the president himself
That will be a sad day for our country after the vice president said the con
Constitution doesn't give him the authority to do that the president tweeted that Mr Pence didn't have the courage
To do what should have been done to protect our country
Before the chaos broke out inside the capitol it was the vice president himself who called to Joint session to order
Madam speaker members of Congress
Pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the United States
The Senate and House of Representatives are meeting and Joint session one-by-one the state's Electoral College certificates worth
Open that examined the certificate of the electoral vote in the state of Alabama seems to be regular in form
Inauthentic put a process that in the past have been quaintly ceremonial turned into were sharply
Partisan dispute as some Republicans challenge President Trump's losses in key States beginning with
Arizona
Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Arizona Republican representative Paul gosar
Jerome Arizona irise and 60 my colleagues to object to the
Counting of the Electoral ballot from Arizona by Texas Senator Ted Cruz sending Mommy
Makers to the beat the objection in their respective Chambers when Republican leader Mitch McConnell open to Senate debate
He seemed to warn of what was to come
The voters
The courts
Have a stage
Hello spoke
The ball spoken
If we overrule them
It would damage our Republic
Forever this election were overturned
By mere allegations from the losing side
Our democracy would ever a death spiral
Would never see the whole nation except
Election again
Every four years will be a Scramble for power
At any cost
Cruise denied he was trying to set aside any votes he said he was trying to make sure they were legitimate by invest
Instigating them
Recent polling shows that 39% of Americans
Believe the election that just occurred quote
Was richt
You may not agree with that assessment
But it is nonetheless a reality for nearly half the country
Democrats accused those objecting of casting doubt on the Democratic process the Congress does not determine
In the outcome of Elections the people do
The Congress is not endowed with the power to administer elections
Are States
I'll given that power across the capital in the house chamber many of the same arguments were made
Colorado Republican representative Lauren boebert days where added
Judicial
Fiat
To allow voter registration these ten days were added after voting had already begun this is completely
Defensible you cannot change the rules of an election while it is under way and expect the American people
But Democrats like representative Joe neguse of Colorado dismissed those claims today
Day we hear from some
In this paper not all
But some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle
Vague claims of fraud
No substance
No evidence
No facts
No explanation for why / 88
Judges across this land have rejected the very same
Claims order had not been restored in the capital by days and house leaders decided to
Call it quits and try to finish dealing with the Arizona objection tomorrow when they reconvene Republic
Lawmakers plan to objector results into more States Georgia and Pennsylvania objection
When's at the root of the emotions that fueled the protests that disrupted the process today for the PBS NewsHour
Jean yang
We have two new updates as this story unfolds we have learned that lawmakers will return tonight
To count the official electoral votes and there has now been confirmation from 2 News
That the woman who was shot inside the capitol has died
It has been an extraordinary and now tragic day are Lisa Dozier down was inside the cap
Capital One it was stormed by protesters are you Michel sender has been at the White House throughout this day
Lisa to you first this news that the woman who was shot has died
And even greater Paul all over what was already horrific set of develop
That's right and I think the capital hasn't begun to really reckon it all with
The events of today as I'm talking to you I see next to me you can see next to me actually the sergeant of arms of the house of
Just passing me on his way into the house chamber and I also saw high-ranking
It looks to me like they are getting ready to allow people back in the capital
I'm able to go that way myself very soon we know that they have cleared and secured or any Capital police
The US Capitol building and again as you say Judy officials are planning to meet and continue
New and finish the Electoral College count the decisive certification of Jovi
Has president tonight there is a curfew in place as you said in Washington DC we've had announcements here
I don't think those Were Meant For Us those are meant for protesters I've never heard this kind of announcement before I'm sort of
Siren and bell sound that warn people if they did not get home before this hour
They would be subject to arrest if they were outside I believe that was meant for protesters and now it does look like
We're going to be able to shortly make it back
Into the capital of officials of the house are on their way in there now
And Lisa course we're trying to understand whether they plan to go they do plan to go forward we've heard a
Just seen a statement by whip Clyburn who course very close to speaker Pelosi saying they plan to get the business.
Don of counting these electoral votes but what we don't know is if all the objections that had been
Entertained that have been planned that they're going to go forward with all that given now what's happened
We don't know and it is a very wide universe of Republicans who were objectors
They don't all feel the same way about why they are injecting some of them felt that the election was for
Fraudulent others of them said they wanted to make a point and just have a day of debate so
How much time will be used up how many Republicans will speak to actually try it
Debate this issue or because of what's happened here the consequences are sort of this departure from real
Baladi
That we saw with the election and now we seen manifest physically here in the capital will that change how many
Republicans want to speak up tonight objecting to the election well we will see where
We're going to be covering it closely watching it very closely and now to UU Miche at the White House
Where the president went left from the White House this morning to go speak to these protesters
Later ended up mopping
The capital and now it me she's made some statements but he stands by his view that the election
It was stolen
That's right today we saw the physical manifestations and consequences of the president
10 Yuan to spread disinformation about the election and his lost in the 2020 election the president is not
Backing down from that even though as you noted as we've noted someone has died on someone that has
People have been terrorized inside the US Capitol violent protesters breach the walls and still the
Didn't persist with misinformation with disinformation what we saw today was the consequences of of
Conspiracy theories and it's really that conspiracy theories have consequences that false allegations have consequences it's
Is that the delusional and at times debunked claims have consequences and I won the point
Not a tweet that the president sent I'm just a few minutes ago here's what he said justifying it seems the actions of these Pro
He said there are these are the things and events that happened when it's sacred Landslide election victory
Is so unceremonious Lee and viciously Stripped Away from a group of great Patriots living badly and unfairly tree
Read for so long go home with love and peace remember this day forever that is the present lending his voice
In some ways justifying protesters actions of protesters who felt entitled to come to the u.s. capital to
Break Windows I'm to do all of these things that have made this day so extraordinary and we see all the
The president continue to double down as President elect Joe Biden is telling President Trump tonight to step up saying that he needs to go
National television and condemn this and tell people that this was wrong the president has said that there should be compati
He has not done that he has not gone to take questions he has not gone before television cameras as of now he's been watching all of this on
For the safety of the White House at all day has remain calm while the rest of the city has been chaotic
Rest of the city chaotic and end things have gotten so out of hand yamiche we are not only saying demo
Kratts call for the president be impeached when he only has two weeks left in office we saw that stunning statement
From the National Association of Manufacturers one of the major associations here in Washington
Emily republican-leaning calling on the vice president Mike Pence to
Salt with a cabinet on having a president removed
From office and again this was only two weeks left where do things stand right now between the president and
And the vice president president was
Criticizing his own
Number to today I'll for not too and going through with rejecting the election results
Will the ref in the Republican Party grew wider today with the president lashing out at the vice president saying that he did
Did not do what the president wanted him to do which is offends account vice-president Pence said that it was his constitutional Duty
To have a ceremonial umbrosa right now things are tense between the vice president and the president the vice-president has also been
More pointed in his criticism of protesters while President Trump has Justified some interaction another thing you know that you said there are men
Manufacturing groups other allies of the president openly talking about the 25th Amendment openly saying the president might not be
Be able to be trusted with the next 14 days which is all that remains in his presidency but look at all that happened Duty
In just one day just one day someone lost their life for their lot of people who are worried that President Trump simply will not be respond
Shuffle with the time and could continue to incite violence in their eyes
And and you Niche just quickly do we know what the president's plans are for the rest of the evening
For tomorrow is a White House saying anything to to about that
The White House is not saying what the president's plans are it seems pretty clear based on people that I'm talking to the president
Going to continue to watch television going to continue to take to Twitter going to continue to send tweet that will likely have to be labeled as men
Many of them work today by Twitter as misinformation and disinformation he's going to continue to do that but there
Is no clear Communications plan here this of course on a day where Americans are looking for leadership or Americans
Are wondering how can we all stay safe in this moment the present is not offering any of that will be has seen its former White House
Officials including former Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney as well as the former White House communications director Alyssa
This has to stop saying but this needs to be condemned by the president more strong terms I'm thinking of a Republican
Official in Georgia Gabriel Sterling who said someone was going to get killed and the President should condemn all of this different actor
Tivity the president didn't do that weeks ago and now we are here today with the president continuing not to do that
Alright you Michel sender at the White House are Lisa Desjardin at the capital Lisa
Last we spoke with you you were making your way back into the Capitol Building hoping
You get there as soon as possible as it cleared out Lisa yamiche thank you both and will become
Coming back to you throughout the evening is Lisa reported it was a chaotic scene outside the cat
Capitaland inside Aram navase was on the outside she was there and she joins me now so I'm
Tell us he had to move a little bit farther away tell us where things stand that's right
You know here in Washington DC that curfew has gone into play so the streets are very quiet the DC mayor
Browser has said that unless you are an essential person meant to be outside right now everyone should be off the streets and
I've been doing their jobs moving people and asking people to move away from the capitol grounds and off the streets
Things are quiet now but as you mentioned we did have to move locations a couple of times once earlier from The Capital Grille
Because the protesters that has been out there as the hours went by and as time went on and they real
That they weren't going to be able to breathe anymore of the entryways and they were in a standoff with Capitol Police they basically turned
On the media and the number of those protesters went Sports and media pain where a number of foreign journalists Warehouse
Begin tearing away the barricades taking their gear throwing water bottles and yelling
About points are NewsHour team move to a different location
Group of trump supporters who were leaving the Capitol grounds rally and again confronted us calling us fake news and
To relocate once again to the streets right now
Capital is now secure but we have to remember what it's called for the capital to get there and it took the involvement
DC capitol police riot gear SWAT teams of
Guard troops moved in to support those forces on the ground because what we all thought
Today was just a remarkable scene unfold on the steps of the Capitol and to be clear
Were there because they heard the president's message loud and clear and they responded and acted on it every single protester
We spoke to said that they were there because they believe the election was stolen because they believed
With not duly elected and because in their minds they could not see this process before they felt it was undemocratic
Country was being stolen from them they don't even
That's the pandemic is real and many of them were very tightly packed together in clothes
So these were people who have been very closely listening to the president's messaging for a very long time
Having fertilized and believe all of the false claim from the live feed repeated and today they acted upon it and that's what
We saw I'm sold on the steps of the Capitol today truly stunning turn of events.
Well today I'm not any sense from looking at these protesters either by what they said or how they were dressed
Faster whatever whatever they said to you that that suggests they were organized
In some way that they came together as a group what did you see it in terms of that
Number for two disparate groups would rally together so there was a group of Veterans for Trump and women for Trump
We spoke to some people who actually flew in from California family member sisters and their husbands and Flonase together
Supporters of President Trump repeated
Number of poor statements we've heard from conspiracy theorist on flags and memorabilia
White nationalist images and messages as well so these are all groups that we know we have all tub
Number for very long time that's very strong messaging and circles on social media and elsewhere and once a message guess
Community it spread very quickly and is very deeply internalized and people were out there repeating
A lot of those same messages so a number of them had those things that they didn't seem as if there was any one large
Overarching thing bringing them together other than the fact that they were there to support presidents from Bessemer
Message they have a Judy appointment haven't reported that this was an overwhelmingly white group
There were very few people of color and we know in the past when we seen the president respond to the black lives matter protest for example
Calling people frogs are peacefully took to the streets in protest of racial Injustice that was not the response we heard from him today
Is reporting on today's events from outside the capital of
She is in downtown Washington right now are watching as the protesters
The night begins in the city and as the curfew has gotten underway just in the last 20 minutes I'm nothing
Thank you and we step back now to reflect a little more on this remarkable moment with Mary McCord she was acting
Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the Department of Justice she now teaches at Georgetown
Law School Mary McCord we appreciate your being with us again I know you've just been listening to
I'm no talk about the makeup of the people who showed up in Washington today who showed up at the Capitol
You're somebody who has studied some of these extremist groups including white supremacist
What do you make of who these people are what motivated them to come
To do what they were doing today
Well it's not surprising to see these groups showing up this is something that we have seen in the making for some
Sometime now and we have a combination of extremist far-right extremists including cancer
Spira see theorist those who buy into debunked false claims of everything from election fraud
Qanon theories about various elected officials Democrats and and Republicans but we
We also have
Unlawful criminal street gangs and militias from different states now
BC of course is not an open carry of jurisdiction and
Check doesn't even allow concealed carry unless you have a concealed carry permit from DC they don't recognize permits from other
Jurisdictions but that doesn't mean that people haven't been concealing weapons on their person under their coats it's
And these are far-right unlawful private militias who are big Trump supporters
Also probably seen some some more mainstream Republicans who who legitimately are concerned
That there might have been some fraud in the election but they are
In with these much more extreme individuals who I think are contributing to
Do a real radicalization and the type of violence and Rebellion that we start today at the Capitol
From the work that you've done when we when the group got to the point today where they went to the capital they weren't
Simply content a protest outside the capitol they breach the perimeters they got to the doors they started break
Making windows breaking through the doors going inside ransacking or walking through
Basically taking over the building what kind of leadership does it take
Pay for something like that to happen is it spontaneous or is it something that you think was probably
Workout and planned ahead of time
So I've been watching this developed for months now even even before the election as the
Resident was even prior to the election suggesting that mail-in ballots were susceptible to fraud and that we weren't going to
To be able to trust the results of the election and of course he's doubled down on that post-election and this is red meat for
These groups the online activity of the far-right extremist movement
Is extremely prolific and it is in some case
Encouraging violence in other cases encouraging overthrow of the government and whatever they needed to do to to
Do what they consider stopping the steel the present has been ignorant on it every term not only
Has he himself promoted conspiracy theories and false claims of election fraud that have been debunked
Drew at in every single court and of course where you know Secretary of State raffensberger in the call on saint
Saturday you know tried to push back point-by-point about the falsity of those claims and he hid in the president at the
The same time as giving this red meat to the Beast giving this red meat to the most extremist elements
Of his supporters has also refused not only refused to denounce civil unrest but encouraged it
Someone that coming through the weekend as he was encouraging people to come today but we start even more so this morning and the sieve
Evening when he was encouraging that that march on the capital and end this evening while he was
Telling people to go home at the same time he was saying I know your pain the election was stolen
We wanted I want to know why inside it was stolen you can't tell people to go home and be peaceful while you're telling them the other
Election has been stolen there's been no leadership and I and I also I put this on my hands
The present but he has been enabled by those in the White House and those in Congress who refuse to stand up to him and right after
After the election you might remember that some of them said we're humoring him all the time for humor has long passed
This violence this woman killed the other people who will be injured this is on their hands
And now the question a lot of us have is will the death of this woman and wilda please from so many
Many people including prominent Republicans and supporters of the president that this stand down at the stop
Will that have any effect on these people we will certainly be watching to see Mary McCord
Thank you very much
Thank you Judy
At the same time there was so much chaos unfolding at the Capitol today
We saw a shift of power in the US Senate after the vote in the state of Georgia
Won both the runoff both run-off elections and William brangham has that story
With the balance of power in the US Senate and its hands history was made in Georgia
Democrat Raphael Warnock now senator-elect defeated Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler to become
The first black senator in the state's history and Justice afternoon Jon ossoff Who challenged
Republican incumbent David Perdue was declared the winner of his race
He will be Georgia's first-ever Jewish Senator Warnock who's the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church
In Atlanta celebrated his victory yesterday and his place in history because this is America
The 82-year old hands that used to pick somebody else's cotton went to the polls
I picked her youngest son to be a United States Senator Gabriel Sterling
A top election official in Georgia and a republican spoke to reporters this morning
Beat by whoever did it to get a hundred thousand people to show up on a January election who did not show up and in November
It was the highest turnout for a Georgia runoff election on record Suburban voters in the
Growing Atlanta metro area delivered the Lion's Share of votes to Democrats osthoff in Warnock
Across the state black voters were key to their success
Summer gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has made black voter turnout her Focus years ago
Organizing against voter suppression has increased access to marginalized voters and is transformed Georgia
From a republican stronghold to a competitive political Battleground ossoff think Georgia voters forum
Electing him whether you were for me or against me I'll be for you in the US Senate I will serve all the
The people of the state I will give everything I've got to ensuring that George's interests are represented in the US
Send it. Send more knocks when is a major feat for Democrats Lefler and Purdue both strong
Trump loyalists have signal V2 plan to fight Leffler Who was appointed to the senate in 2019
Has yet to concede she addressed her supporters late last night
The game of inches we're going to win this election we're going to say this country and statement early this
This morning Purdue told supporters quote we will mobilize every available resource to ensure all League
Glee cast ballots are properly counted with all the final votes still being counted it remains unclear
Whether the margins will be great enough for any losing candidate to request a Statewide recount
For the PBS newshour william brangham
Even for veterans of Capitol Hill this is been a day like no other and with the results in Georgia which is
Just heard about with both Democrats winning what are turnout of two men who have led the senate for their
Effective parties during the time the last time the Senate was split 50/50 and that was in 2001
Trent Lott republican from Mississippi and Tom daschle Democrat from South Dakota share the power
Our and we are so glad to welcome both of you back to the NewsHour it's very good to see you
I'm going to start with you and that and ask you about the events that unfolded today at the
Capital President Trump continues to insist the election was stolen his supporters
Basically overtook the capital today A woman has died in pain
Part of what happened as a result
But what are you what are you take away from this
Will first Judy it's good to be back on with you again I enjoyed being with you over the years when I was still in the sea
But today is just been to me very sad day up just been to almost to the point of Tears
Disgusting when I see people breaking into the United States capital breaking
Windows
Going to the floor of the Senate than sitting in the presiding officers chair
That is just disgusting to me
And so you know I have nothing but they're just sadness and the Capitol building
Freedom
And you know what was going on inside that building was a constitutional process so
That was a very sad Exposition and I hope you don't have it anymore
Tom daschle spend a lot of time in that building that representing the state of
South Dakota what what what can you say about today
I don't know how you could possibly articulate the feelings that all of us have the tragedy the shock
Sickness that was so clearly demonstrated today breaking Windows going onto the
Slow are doing all that destructive work across the building that's a secret
Temple to democracy and it was abused today unlike anything we've seen and well over a hundred.
Here's tragic is tragic and I hope those responsible or are held to account
And and and that we never see something like this ever again
Tom daschle who is responsible
Well I think there's a lot of responsibility to go around frankly I think the president has to take some of that responsibility
Himself with what he said this morning with this tweet this afternoon I don't think you can avoid taking responsibility when you
You make a comment like that I think there are others as well we've been sighted this kind of violence it's all those who
Behind the conspiracy theories they all of them
Social media
That goes on by the day it's just I think all of that has now reached a crescendo here and
We seen the results between a death tragically this afternoon or saying destruction of property we seen death
Desecration of one of the most important buildings in the entire country all of that has to be understood and those
Those responsible have to be accounted for
Trent Lott how do you say who is responsible here and how much of it is should be laid at the feet of the
Well certainly he has to take part of the blame and his remarks today
Certainly I think contributed to what happened
Look up
I don't like the results of the elections but
I must say that this conduct since the election and today even is just not what we expect
My president of the United States but here's what I want to talk about Judy
Here we are we had a terrible day
We got to fix picture Center
But the country has a lot of these so a lot of things that need to be done
Are we going to be able to rise to the occasion are we going to be able to make a 50-50 Senate work
Like Foundation I found a way to do in 2001 that is the big question
Well what do you think Center lot because right now there are Republican Senators raising objections
Directions to the very counting of the of the electoral vote that led to is it is leading to Jobe
Biden being elected being inaugurated president how is that going to lend itself to
The two parties working together down the line in the future
You know it's Julia text communication that takes respect
One of the reasons that we one of the ways we will get things done is that Tom daschle I talked a lot and we had a free
Friendship I respected in my trusted in and we were determined to find a way to deal
The situation at hand and do something for the country it's called communication and it's called leadership
This is a terrible day what are we going to do to get Beyond this has got to be some blame
And maybe some you know but maybe even some prosecution's involved but we got to find a way to get
The Congress the Senate
And the house
And oppress them to work together
Joe Biden is going to be post United States
We only have one president at the time
We need to find a way to make it work and so a lot of that is going to depend on them and Chuck Schumer can they make it
And Sarah Dashiell do you think do you think the two sides can work together
Well you've got to help Judy I mean there's really no alternative our country so desperately needs
Leadership leadership across-the-board
We've got so much to do with covid and with the economy and with all of the challenges were facing both
Domestically and internationally that's going to require leadership it's going to require partnership it's going to require
A new level of understanding of the challenges were facing and what happens if we fail so
You got to be hopeful and and you know I think perhaps this could be a trap
Transformational moment maybe people could see this for what it is and recognize that we bought them doubt you can't get much lower
And what we saw today let's climb out of this whole let's try to put some pieces together and make this country work
Better again
I think a lot of people agree with that Senator lot but they're wondering how it can happen because
You seen such
Vitriol since the election and Aunt again you've seen most Republicans in the house
House of Representatives and most Republicans in the Senate the vast majority
Supporting the president in his belief that the election was stolen that it needs to be examined again and again
And even though it's already been through the courts I'm just struggling to understand how do the two sides
Come together given the hard feelings that the strong
Beliefs that have kept them apart
Well if it won't be easy and I should note that you know the majority of the
Senators did not
Support you know disposing are doing away or a challenging the Electoral College so
There are thought to a couple of them today and they are upset about what went on in the capital.
They're concerned about how do we get things done I mean we still are facing a pandemic
We need to do more about getting this virus under control and dealing with the economy and stomp so aptly
Sad.
You know we need to get legislation on infrastructure America's a lot that needs to be done
And I'm hoping that the Joe Biden when he does get in office will be a Healer and but also
Reach out to
Senators and congressmen in both parties and say okay look elections over
We got big problems we got to deal with
And I want to work with you to get results
It really begins at the White House
And we could we've seen how
That leadership can create problems sometime and also it gets in the Congress in the House and Senate are leaders of both parties
Got you and do something for our country I think they will
Was an Awakening event for us and we got a lot done in the aftermath in the fall
But after 9/11
We work together and actually the approval of the Senate went up to a historic High because it's always working together
Country at a difficult time
Now that's true the country did come together up until the war the dispute over the war in Iraq but Senator Dashiell even
If Joe Biden tries to work with Republicans presumably you're still going to have President Trump out there the
People who support him advocating for something else and still insisting the election was
Stolen
Well that's right dirty I I I think they're going to have a decision they're going to have to make a follower
What does the Republican Party look like going forward it could be the party of a trend lot and you know a constructive
Party with conservative values that that has an important role to play in this country or it could be the destructive approached
President Trump is reflected now for four years that's going to be a choice every Republican has to make how do we Define
Find the party going forward enough people that will follow the
Model that Trent is so exemplified and all of his public life and and and take that approach
This is a critical moment they've got a decision to make and I would hope they put their country first
And send her a lot very quickly you think you think the to divide the big divide and the Republic
Can party can be healed
Well it can be and I know right now people are angry and upset than
A lot of accusations but at some point in elections are in political decisions in life
You have to say
We will give it our best shot
But now we got to move forward
We need to be thinking about positive things to do for the country in and work the other night
Republican Senators still and I know there are a lot of them that are thinking about that it back that we had two of them today reach
How did y'all make the big papers in it the work send us a memo
And I've done that so at least they're beginning to think that way
And certainly I would be glad to talk him anytime and
I have
I respected them I admired him and I trusted it
And that facilitated us doing a lot of good things but the country even when we were
Well we are very glad to have the two of you speaking with us this evening thank you so much
Trent Lott
Senator Tom daschle we appreciate it wish you well
Wish you both very well
Thank you
We will return to coverage of this extraordinary day in Washington and just a moment but first hear our
Are some of today's other news president-elect Biden tapped Federal appeals court judge
Garland to be us attorney general the NewsHour has confirmed the mr. Biden will announce the nomination to
Tomorrow in 2016 President Obama nominated Garland for the US Supreme Court but the sea
Senate Republican majority refused to consider the nomination officials Nationwide
Press to accelerate covid-19 vaccinations is the US death toll reached 360
8000 the CDC reported that about 5.3 million people have now gotten shot
Out of 17 million doses distributed Alex Azar Secretary of Health and Human Services
What vaccinations should not be limited to Priority groups if those people don't come forward fast enough
Those are simply recommendations and they should never stand in the way
Of getting shots in arms instead of keeping vaccine in the freezer or
Ever heaven forbid wasting a dose of vaccine in a vial
Meanwhile officials in California have ordered hospitals in hard-hit counties to take patients
From facilities that run out of intensive care beds in Hong Kong police arrested 50
Three former lawmakers and democracy advocates in the biggest Crackdown since the new security
Law was imposed they're accused of undermining Hong Kong's government by participating in an unofficial
Election last year China today than males President Trump's executive order Banning
Sing any business with 8 Chinese apps they include the payment services Ally pay
And WeChat pay the order said that they may be funneling personal and financial data to China
Has communist government Beijing charge that the US is just trying to freeze out commercial competitors
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has made a rare admission that his economic development plan
Plans have failed you spoke at the opening of the ruling party Congress that takes place once every 5 years
Kim said that his government faces unprecedented challenges
The implementation of the five-year strategy for National Economic Development ended last year but almost all sectors
You're still a long way short of their objectives the current Congress is going to make a comprehensive analysis and judge
At the lessons and mistakes we have made
North Korea's economy has been ravaged by pandemic related closings on the border with China
Us sanctions over its nuclear program back in this country Louisville Kentucky
Fired two more police officers and Brianna Taylor's fatal shooting back in March the two were
Detective Myles Cosgrove who shot Taylor and detective Joshua James who sought
No-knock warrant for the raid on Taylor's apartment a third officer was fired last fall
Kenosha Wisconsin State peaceful last night after prosecutors decided against charging
A white police officer who shot Jacob Lake last August Blake was left paralyzed
Wisconsin governor had mobilize the National Guard bracing for unrest following the decision but protest where
We're small and non-violent the local district attorney says that he opted not to file charges because he could
Could not disprove the officers claim of self-defense and on Wall Street investors.
Baton businesses that may benefit if Democrats control the house and the Senate and Passmore
Economic stimulus gained 437 point to close at 30th
2008 29 that's a new record the NASDAQ fell 78 points with the S&P 500
Added 21
This is the PBS NewsHour from double
Studios in Washington and in the west from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State
As some of President Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol today the newest senator-elect was
Watching from his home in Georgia just hours after being declared the winner and yesterday is runoff
Raphael Warnock is also the pastor at the Ebenezer historic Ebenezer Baptist Church
Atlanta where Martin Luther King Jr once preached and we welcome you now senator-elect Warnock
And congratulations on this win has it sunk in and how are you
How are you feeling about it at this moment
Thank you so very much as wonderful to be here with you and
I'm deeply honored to have been
Chosen by the people of Georgia
To represent them in the United States Senate I was born and raised in this
State Child Savannah Georgia crew up in public housing
I want a quail children in my family I'm number 11 the first college graduate
I know personally the impact of good public policy
We've been moving all the tiles to stay
Talkin about the importance of leadership
In this moral moment in our country
And that someone who served at the last 15 years is pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church where
Dr. King preached and where
John Lewis worship that I can think of no more
Critical time right now for more leadership in this moment
Don't question and and Pastor Warnock I have to ask you about events on this day the day
Hey you a day after your declare the winner in that runoff you see what happened at the US Capitol today
What is that say to you about the institution where you where you're about to serve and represent the
State of Georgia
But we need in this moment his folks were committed
Leaders were committed to the people
This is what happens when you have leaders who don't have a moral compass
You're willing to do anything to stay in power
And this is the extreme expression of that
Before too long and Washington
We've had politicians who are so focused on the next election
But they're not thinking about the Next Generation
And this is the kind of of of of Craven
That we were witnessing right now for the sake of
Positioning oneself for a presidential election 4 years from now
Is shameful
It's Way Beyond The Pale
And the folks who have participated in this today
Aided and abetted this kind of action
Will be remembered by history this this this is a
Terrible moment in the life of our country is a dark moment
But you know even in the midst of that Darkness there glimpses of light
And I'm very proud of the people of Georgia they elected
An African American
Pastor of
Dr. King's church
The first black senator from Georgia
And a young Jewish man the son of an immigrant
A mentee of John Lewis in this defining moment in our story reminding us
Of the Covenant that we have with one another than American people
I want to ask you about that but I first want to ask you if we assume that the people who were responsible for something that
What happened at the Capitol today they're going to be prosecution's do you think anything should happen to President Trump
Should there be some sort of either prosecution or what do you think should
It happened because I think many people agree President Trump encouraging people to come to Washington
In support of his belief that
He was
Cheated out of his election and this election
Wonder what happened at the Capitol
Well they'll be time to think about that and it look
I think it's a mistake for us as a country when we take stock of what happened over the last few years
If we extract
Donald Trump from that equation
I think we miss an important moment
For the country
We can't talk about him without regard to what gay birthday
If we remove them from the equation
The toxic nature what's occurred over the last several years
Aided and abetted by people were supposed to be serving
Even my opponent
Who agreed
To be a part of that challenge today
Of the Electoral College
That's what has to be addressed otherwise the country
Are you still in a place
That leaves all of us imperiled we got big problems in our country
We're faced with the
Global pandemic the likes of which we haven't seen in a century he cannot turn down
People am I staying all across the country are suffering
And we're not seeing the response from our government that we need
And that in and of itself is its own is its own shame
But how do you how do you go about addressing that and by the way Senator Loeffler is saying that
She's not ready to concede she's going to continue to contest this how do you go about
Both
Dealing with the the the wrongs that have been done
And trying to bring people together at the same time and then you have a very divided state of Georgia right now just
You have a very divided
United States
We are a nation of laws and I think
We have to be reminded of that laws have to be enforced and
And there will be
Time to talk about that in the work through that
But as I've been moving across our state
As a candidate over the last several weeks
I had the privilege of talking to Georgians
And I wanted to bring you know when are they going to get some real relief
I mean since the Senate was meeting today we should have been voting
On the $2.000 stimulus check their folks
Whoever seen releasing maps and it literally barely keeping their heads above water and then they turn on their tongue
Television
We've seen such a violent and an awful display today
But it is a part of an ongoing kind of circus atmosphere
That we've been far too long and Washington a big disconnect
Between what's happening in DC and where people actually live
The politicians that made the politics all about themselves
And today we seen just the worst expression of what happens
Oven that goes on check
And and do you have a tangible sense right now of how you work across the aisle I realize you
Your election just took took place a few hours ago but are you able to think at this point about
That how you work with
The other party to get
To get anything done in a very it a 50-50 Senate
But we have no other choice and you know I think the words of dr. King are particular
Irrelevant in this moment he said either will learn to live together as sisters and brothers
All will perish as fools
And we cannot allow
The
Covenant that we have with one another American people
To be tattered by this
That was the worst demons at our nature this this kind of
Bigotry
Old tribalism zand
Racial resentment said rise up
And you don't demand the car you know that that's Center
The conversation and ways are not helpful
And so I think in this moment we need
Folks who understand
That at the end of the day
All we have is one another night I was saying that during this course of my campaign
Let you know we got these
Conversations around public policy that need to happen
Around Healthcare
Around voting rights around a livable wage
Around on National Security all of these issues
But a true
There's a more fundamental question about the soul
Of the nation the character
Of the country
And I think that the fundamental question before America in this moment we're seeing it play out literally
On a television set
Do we want
To become
A more divided nation
Increasingly hostile everyone in their own
Silo's whether those are partisan silos or F taken
Racial and religious silos
Everyone armed and afraid of one another
Or do we want to build
What dr. king called The Beloved Community
Many of us have visited countries where where there are
A few people who have
All the things that they need and then some
And then they're the masters of folk
Lahore suffering increasing wealth inequality
A disconnect
That's not America this is not who we are at our best
And
In This Moment
We somehow have to summon
The best in the American Spirit
And to remind each other and ourselves
I bet at the end of the day we we are all we got Democrat and Republican
Red yellow brown black and white we are all we've got
And in some ways you know I think this deadly pandemic has reminded us of that we should have known
Before the pandemic
That we need to have each other's back but all the sudden we're dealing with an Airborne
Deadly disease
Bandipur cost
They might be sick today
But because you're my neighbor in there and they called
I might be in peril
That doesn't make my neighbor my enemy that means that I got to have my neighbor's back
Uncovered perhaps I'm unprotected I should want them to have Healthcare
I should want their children to have access
To a quality education
I should want them to be able to work with dignity and earn a livable wage and to retire
I should want
Offered them equal
Protection
Under the law
And
Tonight as we watch these rioters storm our capital
Without
And we watched it the response of law enforcement
Juxtapose that
To what happens
When black and brown people whether they're in Ferguson or Baltimore and other places
Have risen up non-violently
To give voice to their concerns
It's a market study in contrasts that that's hard to ignore
And I think it calls us
In this moment to build the kind of multiracial Coalition of conscience
I think we saw this summer in light of the tragic flashpoints of George Floyd and others
We saw Americans of all colors
General multi-generational
March out into the streets
Amassed up against one
Virus covid-19
In order to wage war against the virus of bigotry and racism
Xenophobia
We need that kind of spirit and we need it now more than ever
Reverend Raphael Warnock who made history today by becoming the first black American elect
United States senator from the state of Georgia congratulations Senator on your hard-fought
When thank you so much for joining us
Thank you so much
How are you
And return again to our Lisa Desjardin now at the Capitol where we are hearing that lawmakers will
Resume the Electoral College count process
Tonight so Lisa tell us more
If you look behind me Judah you might be able to just see the house whip Clyburn getting on the
Bitter I just saw speaker Pelosi
Pass me go down this hallway not clear that she's going to the Capitol yet
Albert Meyerson and Judy is that they could come back into session as soon as eight or nine
I have to clean the entire House and Senate chamber before they can do that
Alright Lisa weird we know you're going to keep on watching and we are in a
Continue our coverage Lisa Desjardins at the Capitol thank you
It is an
It is an extraordinary day we we saw gripped by chaos by violence it was supposed to be
Be a day that Mark the peaceful transition of power were lawmakers counted the legal and certified vote
Boats to Mark Joe Biden the president-elect Kamala Harris vice president elect but President Trump's poll
To his supporters for more than an hour he reiterated
His false claims that he won the election senators and congressmen then opposed the legal count
Of Arizona's votes shortly after a mob descended on the capital breaking windows disregarding and
Overriding Capitol Police the mob stormed into the building a violent scene that led to Italy
At least one death inside the building that
Unfortunately we take
As a symbol of our democracy this night yamiche Alcindor
Is at the White House tell us at this at this point what you were hearing
From the people around the president on what he plans next
It's unclear what the president plans next other than continuing his false claims of victory in the 2020 election
I've been talking to allies to sound increasingly concerned that the president is not processing
In a way that they think is presidential in a way that they think is is really reasonable what happened today
I talked to one guy who said that the president is obsessed with the idea that he lost obsessed with
The idea that he's embarrassed and hurt I'm in says look human being but he is someone who is also the lead
Leader of the United States and needs to step up in the way that president-elect Joe Biden said President Trump needs to step up
Something that's remarkable something that is troubling is that we're hearing the word Insurrection both by Republicans
And Democrats including president-elect Joe Biden who said this is not protested Insurrection and by former
President George W bush who said he was appalled by the behaviour of some political leaders saying that this
It was all just too much people around the president tell me that this is really gone too far on this is something that the
President do is not in somebody's pulling back he's saying that people should go home he's condemning in some ways
The violence that he's seen it but this is the Law & Order president someone who has lashed out at peaceful protesters someone
Who has made it a part of his presidency of Hallmark of his presidency to call out peaceful protest
And here is the president justifying people breaking into the US Capitol you put out a number of demons tonight but all of
Them have said the same thing which is at the election was raised that he was someone who's a victim of a conspiracy theory 2
Steal the election from him and that is just not helping people that is how we got here in the first place the president
Telling people something that is not true is how people got angry enough I'm after hearing him on Twitter after hearing him
I'm in videos after hearing about the rally today March to the Capitol and do Mayhem
And incite violence in this way so the present is not backing down from that it's unclear when we're going to see the president again the White House
Have called what we call a lid that means the president is going to be seen on camera from news cameras what we could see the present on him
On a video that he releases on his own but as of now the White House is not giving any other communication details
I want me to come tomorrow but you Misha's far as we can tell the people who been support
Boarding the president who been urging him to continue the legal voices he's been listening to his family members
They all seem to be sticking with him and there's still the question of the vice-president who he was critical of today but everyone else
All seems to be standing by him that is right it seems as though as as of now is that
When it comes to people like his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani these are people who are again condemning the violence say that people should
Should not be violent but still sticking with the president's fundamental belief that he was cheated out of this election which is
Is not helping the situation we have seen former White House officials including Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and the 4th
Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah saying this all needs to stop you lost me tailpiece
People that this needs to stop but we have not seen any other people that are inside the White House really speak out
The president is wrong there was some talk I should say of aides who were even talking about whether or not they might
I'm resigning person reporting there but no one has done that instead what we seen as a president who served has surrounded himself with people
Who are loyal if the people who are left in this White House are people who have stuck sent by President Trump for the week
Weeks and months that he has continued to claim that he was the rightful winner of this election and those are the same people tonight then
Watching the President watch TV watching the presidency this all unfold from the safety of the White House
I can't underscore enough I've been at the White House all day things here have been peaceful you can hear sirens you can hear protester
You can hear the sound of rumbling but inside this White House the president has been largely sheltered from the chaos
That came from his own rhetoric from his own false claims
Following it all from the White House all day and now into the evening let's go to our Lisa Desjardin at the Capitol
Lisa bring us up-to-date on where things are it has been a tumultuous afternoon
You've been there in the middle of it from the very beginning Phyllis in or where we are
Are and where we go from here currently Capitol Police have say that they have secured
Capitol Building I right now I'm at a house office building this is where we see really the residents of
Capitol Hill members of Congress and their staff
I've been Sheltering in place we are under lockdown that means no one can leave
No one can enter this building
The house chamber I've seen the house Clerk
Nancy Pelosi the speaker zayde's go to house Speaker Pelosi as we just reported past
Me a short while ago
Talking to a leadership Source when house Democrats
Remember who is in leadership they told me that they will come back tonight we can again
I said when 8-9
We haven't decided yet I don't want to give you a time but yeah that sounds about right
Another Stafford made a good observation dododo that it could be an hour from now for several
So the hope is to return soon
Do they have to clean the house chamber there are two big concerns and of course
Amber was disrupted
I want to show some video right now I think that we have it
Of the evacuation of the house chamber
Are we don't have it I'm sorry but
Police did quickly evacuate
The chamber but with weapons drawn which was something that I saw as well when police confronted
Protesters on the third floor
The capital but the determination now from leaders in both Chambers is to continue with the Third
Certification
And finalization of the 2020 election tonight
WCI members the Capitol Police now you know these are folks that have been standing on guard
This particular Corridor there relaxed right now you can hear some laughing even but I talked to a different capital
Officer who got a very stuffed up jackets
And clearly someone who got pushed around with protesters and
He said yeah I think
I think I really might
Tomorrow
And that's why the last thing I want to say is that how he observes
Are the protesters
Crash through the front door of the US Capitol
One thing that I feel like hasn't been talked about a lot of hurt some of our guests have talked about
Capitol Police and their concerns about what capital police did not do
But I want to talk about I did see alone Capitol police officer just one on arms
He didn't draw weapon if you had one
Throw his body into the gap
Of the front door of the US Capitol trying to stop the protesters by himself
Another officer with him
Things to do in Port why were there not more police with him
There were a few on the other side trying to get in but I just want to point out that
There were topical police who were running into the crowd to try and protect the capital
At least I think I remember that moment because you were on in on standing on a balcony
Inside the capitol looking down on the door where the protesters a mob was coming in Breaking Glass
Last trying to push through the door and I remember you said you only saw one officer standing there trying to hold
Everything back which of course raised the question where was everybody else
In its previous I had seen had seen a few more officers in that vicinity I think they have fallen back
It was hard for me to see because my feet was obscure upstairs by the balcony that I was on they weren't they were underneath me
Officers down there
Cancel that location that location is not one that has many officers there it is
People don't go up those steps people don't go down those front steps
Except for very rare occasions of State like the lying-in-state of John Lewisburg sample
This is that location that were talking about so that those those front doors to the capital that are used on rare occasion
Very seldom police there at all and in this case there were very few
That one officer kept trying but you could see that he was being defeated it it was a fascinating situation
Because the crowd did not
Did not hurt him but they pushed him back
There was not a fight between him in the crowd
But the crowd was unrelenting and because of that he could have gotten hurt but there was not a direct conflict
The officer
But neither were they following his orders neither were they following the lot they were determined to break into the US Capitol
Despite this police officer
Anthony McCloud came here today waving flags
Support police officers but yet you saw them completely roll past
The order of Laura and police officers themselves tonight here at the Capitol
And Lisa you mentioned guns drawn as the officers allowed house members send it send it
Membership exit the chamber and we saw in one of your reporting one of the moments we
We have the camera with you we saw one of the officers with gun drawn you don't have information
And yet though on where this woman was shot inside the capitol the one who has reportedly now. I'd missing
We do not but in a week I have seen video
Where you can hear what sounds like a gunshot the video was taken in the house chamber
And it sounds like it was close to or possibly even in the chamber it's it's hard to make out and of course
There was a lot going on who's to say that that wasn't a gunshot that was involved in this case
Don't know any more details about that woman's death who she was
We also are waiting to find out about injuries to other people included injuries the Capitol Police
That's right there are reports of not only some people people being hospitalized but that includes the injuries
Police at the capitol or at least we're going to let you continue with your reporting continue
To to watch to see when this debate resumes this process that was interrupted
By The Assault on the Capitol building the process of counting the electoral votes it was on
Wonder why they were on the third state of Arizona where there'd been an objection and and they at least has been reporting
They're going to try to resume that this evening we just don't know exactly when at one point we were told at 8
Can Eastern but as you heard Lisa say that could slip
So let's turn now to small makers who were inside the capitol during this chaotic day
We start with Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin Carson Gallagher thank you very
Very much for talking with us first of all tell us where you are now are you safe
How did you how were you taken out or escorted out of the house chamber
Well I won't get into the specifics of where I am but I am safe right now and various members are
Doing what is necessary to shelter-in-place and hopefully we get to a point where we can reconvene
And finish the process tonight and I was not on the house floor at the moment of chaos unraveled but certainly
Throughout the debate over the Arizona certification started hearing
Flashbangs which was presumably the capitol police trying to get the protesters to back off
The protesters got increasingly violent
Vice president Pence was rushed off
The house floor at one point and protesters somehow breached the security perimeter and then obviously intro
Tragically this all culminated in someone getting shot
Ilusionar life reportedly which is
A tragedy and it's Unbecoming and unbefitting of American democracy and that we have to step back
Back from the abyss year
How do you think all this happened do you hold responsible for this
Well ultimately I think we trafficked in the fiction that somehow
January 6th was going to change the outcome
Of the Congressional and presidential election and even the objectors would have been behind closed doors that that's not
What was going to happen there was no way Congress was going to overrule and overturn the results of the election on
6th and consequently they gave a lot of people. About what was going to happen today
And things escalated out of control so I'm not trying to point the finger of blame
At any one person or any of my colleagues I certainly disagree with them on the constitutionality and the practical
Pro cheer
I just want us all to get back together tonight
Drop the objections drop the attempt by Congress to overrule the states in the American people
And support a peaceful
Transition of power that is ultimately what needs to happen
Do you believe you have reason to believe that the objections will be dropped
I'm hearing you do informal reports that the senatorial objectors are considering dropping their checks
I can't really tell you how
Accurate that is I think it would be astounding if after what we witnessed
Today
The objectors went back on the house floor
And started objecting again I just don't know see how
You can do that after the violence and chaos
That we saw on the capitol today
And of course it takes there has to be a member of both houses it has to be a House member
And it has to be signed by a senator so if is you're saying the Senators don't agree to go along enough C
Senators don't agree to go along then there wouldn't be any more
Any more debate but you're saying you've heard the talk but you don't have reason to think that that decisions
Finally made yet is that right
That's right that I don't know when we're going to reconvene I think security is Paramount priority right now
That's understandable but I really do think it is important
And if it happens at midnight at 2 a.m. I just think it's important for us to come together as a congress
Finish this process I think I would send a strong statement that even the one of our Darkest Hours American democracy
Will not be deterred and so I hope my colleagues share that conviction and then you know we can start playing the blame
Blame game over the next two weeks but right now the Constitution and the peaceful transition of powers was Paramount in my mind
Congressman Gallagher this conversation already about him and some Democrats are going so far as to say President Trump
Should be impeached in the short. We have heard calls up from the National Association of
Bachelor's and others that vice-president Pence talked to the cabinet about possibly invoking the 20
Fifth Amendment removing President Trump from Office do you think
It is safe for the country that he remain in office for the next two weeks
Well I think the safest route before we jump to impeachment or or before people use this
As a way to the punish their political enemies is
The Republicans and Democrats to come together
Certify the results electoral college
And then yes of course the president
Should concede and support
A peaceful transition of power that to me seems like the simplest
Approach going forward one that does not tear the country apart
More I mean we've seen dramatic divisions over the course of the last four years and I I just I just
Would prefer people step back from the abyss let's do our duty tonight and then tomorrow we all maybe we can have it.
Debate about what needs to happen after that
But sounds like you're leaving the door open to that
I haven't even I'm doing sitting in a room with
Desks barricading doors I'm not thinking about that right now I'm thinking about how we can
Prevent further people from getting shot
And killed and how we can certify the results of the Electoral College and end the shenanigans
Am I hearing you correctly you're in a room where there are desks that are holding the doors closed
Yes that's correct
And we've come to that
At at the United States capitol
Unfortunately that's it and I made a comment earlier today where I never thought I would see this in
In the United States Capitol the closest thing I can recall is the time I spent in uniform in a rack and some of the violin
Chaos we saw there and I think it's easy for us as Americans because
You know we have this this democracy that The Shining City upon the hill
It takes some of these little things for granted some of the unwritten rules and norms and we're just leaving
Take for granted the idea of a peaceful transfer of power which is at once. play some remarkable is Reagan said in
The fact is we're all the overheated rhetoric of life-or-death Elections I spent a lot of time in countries where elections are quite
Early life for Dad
And we do not want to go down that road I can assure you and today we took a step down that road so let's take a step back
And your message tonight to President Trump is what
Encourage your supporters
2
Remove themselves peacefully from the capital
Stop
Telling people that somehow the vice president is going to overturn the results of the election and support the peace
Peaceful transfer of power
Representative Mike Gallagher Republican of the state of Wisconsin we thank you very much for joining us and please.
Stay safe
Thank you
And now we turn to another member of Congress as she is democratic congresswoman Mikie Sherrill of the state
New Jersey congresswoman Cheryl thank you very much it's good to have you back on the news hour but not
Under these
Circumstances which are
Stunning and disturbing tell us if you are safe right now it appears that you're in your office
I'm going to ask you the same question I asked
A congressman Gallagher do you feel safe how did you get out of the house chamber to where you are
So thanks Judy I do feel safe right now I've been assured that the building I
Is has been secured
I was in the chamber
When I'm
We started to hear reports of the unrest on the hill
First we heard that Cannon several my colleagues had to evacuate from their offices in the Cannon House Office
Building and then we heard reports that the vice president had been evacuated from the Senate
Chamber shortly thereafter as that was in the chamber of the speaker was evacuated
From the chamber
We continued our hearings hoping that we could continue to do our constitutional Duty
However we started to hear the crowds will coming at towards the chamber that they've been in Statuary Hall so
We had to adjourn
And then we had to all get down
We were being told by the capitalist to get down in the event that there was an active shooter there were concerns about that to pull out
Are gas masks in case there was tear gas that they had to use to disperse Pro
Protesters
And then we started to hear banging on the doors all the doors have been shut and locked they barricaded those doors we had
Capitol Police with their
With our weapons out
And then we move towards an exit we had to bend shelter-in-place again and get down
I was with some members that were calling their families and so then I called my husband to assure him that I was okay
And we exited they finally found a safe way for us to egress the chamber as I exited the chain
Amber there were
People face down on the ground with their hands over their heads being watched over by the police
Did you hear gunshots at anytime
You know I did not I was talking to people who said that they had heard that I could not hear a lot
What was going on outside the chamber I just start to hear that noise
Have a crowd outside the chamber
You ran for congress a few years ago did you ever think that you would be dealing with something like this
SMU
When you signed on for this job
You know I can't say that I did we have had a peaceful transition of this government uninterrupted
Except for the Civil War since 1789
This President and his constant attacks have worried me that's part of the reason I ran for Congress
I have kelp earrings where
I asked the Secretary of Defense in the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff this past spring if they were prepared to do there
Duty to ensure a peaceful transition of power
I've continued to prosper that I formed a
The group has joined a group of constitutional Scholars to talk about this very day and how we're going to get
Get through this damn assure
That we were able to certify this election but to see
Violent protesters that were called to the capital by the president of the United States to interrupt
Our constitutional Duty
And the president's constant undermining of our democracy with this baseless claims that this election was unfair that
You somehow
Had a win
Is really something that I don't think even I could have expected despite all of my concerns
Yeah and Anna's we didn't mention this but of course you came out of active duty in the United States Navy
You had a distinguished career
In the military yourself before you
Decided to go into politics I do want to come back to President Trump what do you think should
Should happen now there are some of your Democratic colleagues or calling for
Impeachment we've had other groups asking the vice president to look into the 25th Amendment which would
Involve forcibly removed or removing the president
From Office what do you think should be done now
I think the thing that we have to concentrate on first and foremost
Is transferring the power to president-elect Biden
And that is the number one objective at this point we obviously have a person in office to do is
Really unfit to serve as the president United States that the sooner
We can get him out in the more peaceful we can get him out the better so I think we have to have our eyes on January 20th
Getting to the inauguration getting that turnover turnover of power done
And I think
You know at this point it's it's really in so many ways and comment upon Republicans to start
To work towards that transition I think we have worked incredibly hard we
But we still have
Vice president Pence as the president of the Senate not
Kamala Harris so we still don't have control of the Senate
And we need that body
We are going to ensuring the house the House of Representatives will ensure that we certify the Press
We will ensure that none of these kind of spurious claims
That we should not
Certify the Electoral ballot from any state that we're seeing
From Republicans in both Chambers we're going to ensure that that we don't allow that that we allow the boy
Voice of the people in the people's house to be her that we certify those boats so we'll get through January 6th and and paw
Possibly don't take a little bit longer but I think many of us are willing to work through the night to see that we do our constitution
Judy where where
Hoping to go back shortly back into
The chamber so we are doing that but it's really incumbent at this point if we are going to
To ensure that transition for Republicans to
To get engaged in this as well
And do you think that's going to happen I'm asking and part because we heard
Congressman Mike Gallagher whom I just spoke with saying he's heard
Perhaps that there won't be objections carried out that perhaps
Some of the Senators who were going to take part in that are no longer going to do that we don't know that that's the case
Have you heard anything like that
I have not heard that but I think that would be a good sign that the members
Understand the gravity of their actions and that their actions have consequences
That they can't simply doubt and undermine our democracy and
Craddock institutions for political gain and it's so I'm hoping very much that they stop that we
Had Affair election
In the areas where was closed we recounted those ballots and sit you know cheap the result
And then
The president had over 60 court cases that were heard
The evidence that was presented by the president was found not to be true
And the judges found that we ran a fair election across this country so these claims by members
Congress that somehow we should not
Certify
The Electoral ballot Estates States who have certified their own ballots
And
Should not hear from the people and allow the people to decide the next president of the United States
Is I I would say undermining their constitutional oath
And I need to stop that
Well we will certainly see what happens tonight but I hear you saying that you and your collar
Players are prepared to stay through the night
If necessary to get this process
Moving forward congresswoman Mikie Sherrill of the state of New Jersey Democrats tank
Thank you so much for joining us and we hope you will stay safe
Well thank you so much for having me thanks
And now we turn to another member of Congress he is Congressman Mark desaulnier he is a dumb
Democrat from the state of California Congressman tell me I'm going to ask you the same
Do your two of your colleagues do you feel you're in a safe place now how did you
To get safely out of the house floor with all the chaos going on
Well. thanks for having me on the light
Health conditions of the speakers
Watch outside of the Westside and see the crowd come down from the mall gather start to come over the barricades and then
Continue the building from the Westside
Police came through and said make sure the doors locked
And going through it was a surreal experience
It had to be frightening for you
Can't say it was more that we have come to this
Barricaded doors
It might you incited by the current price of the United States and
Decided to do what they did today
Hopefully the last chapters of a Saturn ministration very ugly and
I agree with you
And this evening finish our responsibilities and certify this election so we can move on
These very sad moments and we're waiting to see
When that debate when the process of of counting the votes the electoral votes
What does get underway again tonight Congressman but in the meantime how do you how do you
You process what happened today do you hold responsible for this and if it's the president
What can be done about that
But I respect
So mostly I respect the US Constitution
Imperfections
I'm concerned today to me is beyond the pale
I put the total responsibility
The individuals who broke the law I think after
We need to do some due diligence
Well first off
Finish our job that we started today and that's the first thing but then people accountable
And I want to ask you the same question I think I asked powers and Gallagher
Is the country safe with President Trump I mean are the American people safe with president
Trump as President Jefferson saying the price of Liberty is at
This is the scariest I'm in my lifetime for American democracy does next 14 days
And there is no constitutional way to remove him
I would hope he would resign somebody down there
Speak to him and see if he believes
Right now right now
Yes but I don't I don't imagine that there's someone who can convey that message nor would I receive
So it's our job as Americans all of us with your member of Congress or not
And make sure that
Responsibility
And it's given to her to our kids or grandkids and future Generations
Congressman how do you give hope to Americans who are out there watching all this watching
Just a unfold
And wonder if
Congress can function if our political system can function when you have such a deep divide
Certainly not all Republicans were supporting what the president is saying but a number of them have been
With him in this claim that he was cheated out of re-election
How do you begin to move forward as a legislative body as a
Political leaders when you have this kind of
Toxic
Relationship
Between the left and the right it's much bigger than than that now but but
Between these two sides in our country
Well I would agree with scars from Gallagher I'm a Democrat from San Francisco
But we have to work together
Believe that the constitution is superior to anyone
2 hours in the next 14 days whether Republicans Or democrats
And have this amazing responsibility we have to step up and we have to say enough
This is too important
Cedarbrook on Grant behind you
So the way they got to have a providential president
But they have leaders who stepped out
They were plenty of them in the Congress will get through this if we are better angels
One of these moments in this country but we certainly hope that we're not approaching anything like what happened
In the Civil War although there are comparisons that are being drawn certainly.
The. That that led up to the Civil War Congressman mark desaulnier from
The state of California thank you very much please stay safe and and we just appreciate so much your jaw
And now we step back and before we do I just want to show you some live pictures of the mall
This is a National Mall in Washington DC where the crowd is still here in the capital c
City you're seeing these pictures and I'm seeing them for the first time as are you it looks to me
Play like a pretty heavy
Police presence or National Guard presents there where these
Protesters are I'm having a hard time the camera is a little bit is unsteady and I can't really tell
There we go I I think those are the protesters on the side and then on the other side where the where the police so we are
Indeci
Where this goes tonight if you can see the Capitol in the background so you can see how far away
From the capital they are right now but they're still here and it's night it's just about a little after
7:30 in the East and they are still here and they are still making their voices heard the
Police have been called out and we know now the National Guard we're hearing an alarm
Right now I don't know whether this is on my earpiece alone or whether this is something happening on the streets of
Washington
But but that's that's the same right now on the streets of Washington there still unrest
The situation has not completely ended even though we are told that the US Capitol
Has been secured and now we do want to reflect again on this remarkable moment with Mary McCord she was
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the Department of Justice and she now teaches at George
Town Law School Mary McCord thank you so much again for talking with us looking at
Who these protesters are people are calling it a mob of they're calling it
Insurrection and and all sorts of terms are being thrown around to describe what happened today and who they
But who do you see their me what
What elements of American society do you see coming together
Make this group that assaulted the capital
Well I think it's it's a it's a rather big tent right we have a far-right extremist
Including people who have been agitating for violence agitating for you know Eva
Even something as dramatic as Civil War online we also have conspiracy theories
We certainly had Alex Jones last night and Rodger Stone who are conspiracy theory
Who spoke to the crowd and we have people who adhere to those views that are in part of this crowd
We also have much more I think mainstream people who are Trump supporters who may legitimately
Believe that there was some fraud in the election made legitimately question the Integrity of Aaliyah
Election years that this entire spectrum of people from you know maybe conserva
But not extreme all the way to extremist calling for violence and and promoting conspiracy theories
We have them all under the same tent and that's a dangerous situation because it allows the more extreme elements really
We just sort of radicalized the less extreme element and then you put them together in a crowd or mob and people
People will do things that they would not otherwise do on their own there's an anonymity into in a crowd
There's that feeling of you're just part of a movement people get swept up in it and I think that probably what we saw at the Capitol
Who are some leaders who you know led the charge and then a lot of followers that came by
Behind them and you know this is the danger of of extremist ability to
Do I use a message that the president himself has been promoting as a galvanizing Force
Toward this type of extremist activity this really seditious activity
I hear and using the word seditious and I hear you saying these people coming together with different motives
Depending on their backgrounds as you say some of the may just be ordinary Americans who
Like President Trump and Anna falling into believing the conspiracy theories
Either he's been repeating nonstop since the election could this have come together
Heather and happen without President Trump calling on them
To come to Washington
Today
So you know I don't have a crystal ball of course and it's certainly possible that there would have been people
It would have felt like the election was unfair or that they would have just be unhappy with the results and would want to
Protest but if you did not have President Trump from day one really even before the election he was already Prime
Priming the pump for allegations of fraud but from day one on the election promoting false
Claims of fraud false claims of ballot-box stuffing of dead people voting
Abella's being counted two and three times if you listen to the tape of his conversation with Secretary of State rap
Athens Burger in Georgia on on Saturday he just Unleashed a whole Litany of clams that have been soundly
Debunked in courts and elsewhere through evidence and so you know if it weren't for that
That a messaging repeated drumbeat of messaging including today I don't think you would see
People taking to the streets in this way of assaulting the the capitol
They might have protest they might have exercise their first amendment rights as they are entitled to do in our first amendment is one of our most
Shearer's constitutional rights that makes us different from other countries but what we saw today was not protected person
I'm an activity activity violence
That is not protected and that's the kind of stuff that the president was egging on with his with his
Conspiracy theories with his false claims with his you don't only very thinly veiled calls
For this type of a rebellion
And we've had in America's history we've had a succession of leaders who
Call them demagogues use other terms you know people who have had a big following of peace
People whether with racist motives or anti-communist motives
McCarthy
But now we have a president of the United States who is
Constantly feeding this belief and I'm trying to I guess we're all trying to
First and how much more power does that give a movement
Or a group
To have the president of the United States most powerful person in the world
Essentially feeding it information feeding
Theories feeding ideas on a regular basis
I think you have done in first while you have that powerful position of leadership and people for better
Star Wars are drawn to President Trump and think about historical even outside of America think about other leaders like Hitler
Who actually got people to do things that I think we looked at now and horror and we are shocked that as many people went along
What helped Hitler espouse think about not calling the president terrorist think about terrorist leaders and what
They are able to get their followers to do that we think that people would not ordinarily do so there's that
That leadership that has an incredible impact on people who follow but I think beyond that we also have
Social media plays such a huge role in this because you note in decades past Eve
Even if you had a powerful leader with a powerful message the ability to get it
Out as quickly and as for ranging make you were talking about around the
World within seconds of a tweet this allows for just a constant con
Constant barrage of messaging and so I think we can't discount the impact it when President Trump uses
Twitter. he is a bully pulpit unlike any other in history in terms of being able to get this mess
Message out quickly and he's used it you no more so than any leader I'm aware of and certainly more
More so than those in the past before the technology even existed I think that that that
That combination of the leadership position he's in that has this veneer of credibility
The president of the United States and his use of social media so prolifically
Contributes to the fact that he has such a large following in and people who are going to willing to go out and do what we saw
Happened today
I am coming back I keep thinking back to what you said initially Mary McCord when you describe the different
Groups coming together you use you talk about extremist you talk about other groups you can spirit
Chrissy theorists and you you then said ordinary Americans who believe
Who like President Trump agree with him and and have accepted his theory or his
His conspiracy theory that the election was stolen from him I'm thinking about
What it takes to get the interview at what point do people who believe something
Like that graduate or move from being simply passive
Accepting something like that and believing it and say hey that sounds right to actually to acting on
Wanted to getting on a plane or a bus or a train coming to Washington and acting out on there so
Suspicions their anger
What is it that that moves people from One category
To the next
Yeah well I'm not a sociologist but I can tell you what I've observed in the last four years because it's something that I've worked
When I was in government and now outside of government within ourselves back to the unite the right
Rally in Charlottesville Virginia in 2017 that was a real example of extremist stepping out
Out of that virtual space of the internet and into the physical space and making that physical showing and
You know immediately President Trump refused to denounce the far-right refused to announce
White supremacist and instead instead said famously there were very fine people on both sides
Well that was that was like the stamp of approval for them and we've seen it escalating ever since then this
I can step off the internet right I can now say things and do things in public that I would not
I have done in the past and so I think part of it is
Disputing of approval from
The president of the United States that gave them the ability to say what we're doing what we believe in
Is supported by the president and you know inviting named a group a criminal street gang and Cole
That criminal street gang to standby during the first debate and I won't name that criminal street gang because I'm not going to give them that
Attention that they want and that they crave but that was immediately Merchants dies by that group and monetize by that
And that group has expanded since then and has been one of the major groups driving violence in DC now.
You know in November at the million Maga March and December and another March and and today and Eva
Even last night in the District of Columbia so you know this
I can't say what changes in a person's
But I can tell you also and I can't I don't want to over over
Play that the analogy to what I've seen in the terrorism context but it is an area where you see
See that people over a. Of time feel you know comfortable moving from
Ideologies that started out not too extreme get more extreme and then
And finally sometimes start talking about violence and then sometimes act upon that not everybody
But some do and in this case that we're seeing now we're seeing a lot of people that have been
Vulnerable to the false messages from the president and the end the real calls to take
To the streets and you know what I said earlier at to Judy that and you know you can't have the present
Has he did tonight saying the election was stolen from us we won in a landslide and it was stolen but go home
Calm and be peaceful
Mary McCord former
Justice Department official now at Georgetown law school thank you very much for walking
Sing a story so much of as we try to understand what happened on this terrible day thank you very much
Thank you Judy and
Absolutely
While witnessing all this on Soul with me throughout this day earlier to Veterans of Capitol Hill they were
They're now joining me watch today's events on volt to longtime Congressional Watchers Danny Weiss formerly serve
Nervous speaker Nancy Pelosi Chief of Staff Danny Weiss is now a senior fellow at the think-tank the century Foundation
And John hard he worked in both the house and the senate for the late Republican congressman
And Senator Tom Coburn John Hart recently launched a group called the conservative Coalition for
Climate Solutions and we welcome both of you back to the news hours coverage you were with me for
Hours this afternoon and you're still with me tonight as we still try to understand that absorb what
Friend at the Capitol today and as we wait to see if the House and Senate reconvene to continue
RV counting the formal counting of the electoral vote John Hart I'm going to come to you
You first hear you both I had a chance to ask both of you what you made of what was half
Happening as it was unfolding but now that you had a little bit of time to reflect as things have calmed down a little
We're told that the capital is now been secured how does it
How is it sitting with you what are you thinking
What I'm thinking right now is I want to touch a little bit on what Mary said I think I think there's an issue that we have to deal with head on
What I would call corporate and individual responsibility is what I mean by corporate responsibility is in this country
We have allowed a culture of untruth to prevail
On both sides the culture of postmodernism has been with us for 30-40 years
Where the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan used to say Everyone's entitled
To their own opinion but not their own facts will today people feel like they're entitled
Turn around facts and that's a problem on both sides we have these competing realities
On social media weary to tribes competing
And the way to solve that is to is to encourage the other side to encounter and deal with the humanity of
The other side
And my former boss Tom Coburn did that beautifully with Barack Obama
He embraced him publicly on the floor of the house
After his first State of the Union Address very conservative member
Unapologetically was warm towards a very liberal Democrat
That that to me is the act of rebellion against the culture we have right now where you treat the other side of the force
Respect and dignity
So that's the corporate responsibility now the individual responsibility I take Republicans as I've
For the past couple hours is we have to do something dramatic
And decisive in the face of what's happened today
And I don't know what that will look like I think at a minimum there will be a scaling back of these objections
I think it's beyond dispute that the message
Going into today of let's have a thoughtful conversation about Electoral College issues and challenges
Is that has been completely
I pushed to the side but very tragic events
We should have zero tolerance toward political violence in the United States as a conservative I think
Publican should be leading the charge against that
Or the party of Lincoln
And we need to step up and condemn it in the most forceful way possible
So one thing we could do is after after the election is certified
Republican should in Mass tell Donald Trump it is time to graciously concede you know we expect our little league
Makers to learn from failure
We should at least expect the same from our president
And if President Trump fails to do that then they should look at other measures whether it's a censure whether some kind of punishment
I think it's it's too speculative to to wonder if there would be any other further action taken
But this is disgraceful this should not be allowed to stand I think as it is a matter
I'm just Republic patriotism to the country we can tolerate
Where to put also as Republicans if we want our brand have any long-term viability
We can't be seen as advocating and defending this kind of violence we have to condemn it in the strongest was
Lookaway possible
I hear what you're saying at the same time and with all due respect John Hart it's Republicans who stood by the president ever since the election
Action in saying that there was something rotten about what happened here that he was
Did the election was stolen from him he's making statements right up through today he's been making those statements
On a daily basis almost hourly basis and most Republicans
Up until now have stood with him you're right you you and I discussed this earlier this afternoon
And you're right that
Only a few Republicans in the Senate were objecting but over a hundred Republicans in the
The house still with him and objecting
Did the electoral vote count most Republicans refuse to acknowledge Joe Biden
Is president-elect up until
I just a couple weeks ago so
I'm I'm just trying to understand
Where that line gets drawn
Look it's it's a it's a judgment like I think it again
There there it is not as I said earlier it is not irrational to say
There is fraud in the election
It is also a rational to say the election was totally fraudulent and Donald Trump won in a landslide both
What does arguments are absurd
So I think the truth and reality is that we have an imperfect slot electoral system
I think it's beyond question
That Joe Biden was elected president and he got more votes you do the principle of Occam's razor
Says that that the simplest explanation that requires the fewest assumptions is usually correct so
I believe in the assumption that Joe Biden got more votes than Donald Trump
And the other alternative Seth Green conspiracy
And you know they were voting machines hacked by the ghost of Hugo Chavez or whatever
Siri that's on Trump's lawyers put out and that's just absurd and ridiculous
So I think I think we have to reject both of those extremes but acknowledged that
There we live in an imperfect world with imperfect electoral systems
It's not it's not the unpatriotic
I want to have free and open elections and fair elections
But the president obviously cross the line
And we've seen today the consequences of
Of those words
And I have to say look at site it's over once once Republicans take the stuff
Objecting to one side of electors they should go to the president say look we fought the fight
It is over there is no way for you to win you need to concede graciously immediately
For the sake of the country for the sake of our party for the sake of your legacy
And if you don't will
Consider other steps
So Danny Weiss you know we're hearing hearing John Hart explain what what repeat
Publicans
Should do do you see Republicans doing that
Hard to see them doing that I mean you're in you're in the berry and the Trump Administration this is the same
President who
A State Farm country to intervene in our election
It's not a conspiracy theory by the left that's just a fact
And there was no objection to that
By the Republican Party
Now you're in the challenges of of Donald Trump
As president and we don't know what's going to happen to in the future
I agree with one thing that the John said which is
You know emotion like a centromotion would certainly be appropriate at a minimum in both the house and the Senate
It would be wonderful that speaker Pelosi and leader McConnell
I could get together tonight even
And agree on something that they would
Those people need to bring to the floor of the house it wouldn't be enough
Or the progressive wing of the democratic party and
It would be too much for the conservative wing of the Republican party was over the trunk wing of the Republican Party
It would be important to take some stuff
But you know
Do need to disagree with
Something that John has been saying throughout the evening and and that others have tried to say which is
There's sort of an attempt to continue the
Alignment
Both sides do this
And I really think that that is one of the problems we have in American politics is there are times when
When
One group of people have gone too far
And both sides are not doing
Who has as I said earlier you had
You know I don't know what the number was was it a million people who came to the women's March
In Washington
They didn't attack the capital
They hated the fact that Donald Trump was elected president
They didn't commit violence
They didn't attack the capital they didn't attack the White House
They spoke out
And they committed themselves to winning the next election
And they didn't even say that the election
Was stolen a myth
Spent the last four years saying that the election was stolen
Have said is that the president colluded with Russia
What were the election
It was proven that he did it was proven just recently asked a foreign country
Intervene in this election and then he was acquitted by the Senate
I do think we need to come together but I don't believe that it's helpful to always say that both sides
Do it
When
Vice President Joe Biden had to oversee the election count certification
4 years ago
I believe it was something the effect of
To his own members Denise a
It's over guys
Stop casting
The election's over
Donald Trump
That's right and Ann and Danny Weiss in terms of
Tonight and whether these objections go forward do you think I'm an asking you to spend
Speculate right now but do you have either any information or
Do you have expectation that we will continue we will continue to see these arguments play out
As
There are objections to finishing up on Arizona we haven't heard the
Conclusion of that but then Georgia
And Pennsylvania
I don't know the answer I've been texting with members of Congress and staff
During this break and
Brainy
Democrats the Democratic members that I've spoken with
Obviously hope
Bath Republican members
Will withdraw their objections
They don't know what's going to happen on that that's even from some members that are very close with Republic
You know when you look back at the
At the proceedings that I'll just a really quickly this is been accomplished the accounting the certification of the ballots in beads
Done in about 25 minutes
We were expecting it to take about maybe 18 hours
Today if they did all Six States now it's obviously taking much longer than that with his horrific interruption
But this whole process could have taken
25 minutes and then you can get back to dealing with the covid
A crisis dealing with vaccines and preparing frankly for a new Congress and a new Administration
Danny Weiss Jon Hart joining us all afternoon and into the evening to help us understand and to
The sect what's been going on in this electoral count process thank you both
And as I thank you I want to tell our audience it is now 8 p.m. on the East Coast We are continuing
Going our live special coverage on PBS of this remarkable
And disturbing day we thought we would witness a peaceful transition of power including some legislative debate is
Lawmakers counted the legally certified votes by all 50 states to confirm in the district
To confirm Joe Biden to be the next president instead President Trump spoke to protesters for more than
An hour he repeated false claims that he won the election shortly thereafter Republic
Looking lawmakers contested the vote in the state of Arizona
Moments later on Mob supported and encouraged by President Trump stormed the capital
Stay-over ran Capitol Police violence ensued
Shots were fired and at this moment we can report that at least one woman
Was killed we don't know the details of that tragedy are Lisa Desjardins has been there
Or at the Capitol all day yamiche Alcindor is at the White House and I come to the two of you as well
We still are absorbing the shock
Oh and dismay and alarm at all we witnessed today Lisa
You went to the Capitol this morning thinking you were going to cover
As I'm just mentioned and accounting
Of electoral votes you knew they were going to be some objections but
You thought it was all going to reach a conclusion at some point late tonight but that's not exactly what happened
That isn't what happened I am glad to say that it does look like I will get the chance to cover that elect
Natural process and we have just been monitoring senators and house members who are
Are planning to abduct one of them Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin he is the Senate Homeland Security
Chairman currently he is an objector he just told reporters here at the Capitol who passed all along notes to me
That obviously has courted obviously given what has happened
Attitudes are changing clear least at least some objectors are thinking of removing their objections and I think the play
Place to watch is the US Senate that's one reason that we were going to see
Three states versus six senators were less embracing of suitable for throttle object to everything
Approached now we will have to watch to see if Senators object to any states at all it is seems like it is
Clearly under consideration but one other piece of big news especially for myself personally may have noticed
I am back in the US capital I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time when the staff
Half of the House Radio TV Gallery with a squirted back with some other journalists I was oblivious corded back with them
That is a very positive sign Capitol Police feels the building is secure enough for some of us to be here and work here
However my understanding for what I saw it is on an escort only basis I don't think I
I'm able to leave this area I don't feel like I need to at this point but it is a very positive sign up
I personally am very relieved it's good to be back where I can plug in my phone
We are very glad about that too and I should say Lisa extraordinary reporting you did today
All the walking with your camera all over the US Capitol tours
The underground tunnel that leads from the capitol to various members use
Quite quite an extraordinary performance has been noticed by a lot of people and we
Can't thank you enough before I go to UNI so I just want to clarify so you're saying it sounds like
There may not be any Senate objections or we're not sure yet
Not sure we know that Senators who were planning to object
Seem to be reconsidering their plan we don't know how far that goes does that mean they will object if you were states to nose
Statesboro fewer Senators themselves join the objections it only takes one Senator so
We're talking about 12 Senators who all would have to remove their objections and but
We should watch that it it doesn't seem impossible to me but I honestly don't know how that will how do any one of them Ron Johnson who
Is one of the most Ardent supporters of the present Unapologetic he has been about the abduction movement is now saying
And if there's a different attitude because of what has happened
Well that may very well be a telling comment so we will hang on that remember that until we learn
Morning will come back to you as the hour goes on Lisa Desjardin thank you and now the Umesh
Alcindor at the White House the president had a
An active hour or more of speaking to his supporters and
Everything fell apart after that they March to the capital they assaulted the capital people were hurt
A woman was killed
Where do things stand tonight
Judy remarkably and in somebody's troubling and in a troubling way president
Trump remains defiant remains wedded to the idea that he is the rightful winner
Of the 2020 election I was just talking to someone who is familiar with some of the conversations that president has been have
Having as he's been watching all this unfold from the White House on TV and that person said that the president is genuinely
Embarrass genuinely worried about trying it all to to say that he is not the winner of
This election and as a result there some people who feel like the present has simply just lost his way there people telling me
Me the president has often walked up to the line but then walked back right after I walked up to do not want
At some point being able to announce them now the president is I'm told confused because he
He doesn't want to denounce these people to forcefully because they are in fact these violent protesters as they breach
Security and artists in some cases arrested they are doing what the president told them to do he stood in front of
Hundreds of people today and said fight and March to the Capitol and that's exactly what those people did for the president as in a situation
Asian where he wants to be able to denounce violence and wants to make sure that the capitol isn't run over entirely but he also wants
To keep these same people as his supporters the thing that also is happening God is that you're seeing the tension
Yamiche I'm going to interrupt you umich I'm going to interrupt you because we have vice-president Pence sitting in the
The seat at the US Senate with listen to him
Who defended our Capitol today
And we will always be grateful
The men and women who stayed at their posts
To defend this is stork place
To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today
You did not win
Violence never wins
Freedom wins
And this is still the people's house
Naz we reconvene in this chamber
The world will again Witness
The resilience and strength of our democracy
For even in the wake of unprecedented violence and vandalism
At this capital
The elected representatives
Of the people of the United States
Have assembled again
On the very same day
To support and defend the Constitution of the United States
So may God bless the Lost
The injured
And the heroes forged on this day
May God bless all
Who serve here
And those who protect this place
And may God bless the United States of America
Let's get back to work
As far as the majority leader the majority leader in the Democratic
Later be allowed to speak and at the time not count against two hours of debate in relation
To the objection raised on the site of Arizona
Without objection sorter
Waterside of the American people
United States Senate will not be intimidated
We will not
Be kept
Out of the chamber
About Thug
Mobs
Or threats
We will not bail
The lawlessness
Or intimidation
We are back at our post
We were discharged our duty under the Constitution
And for our nation
And we're going to do it
Tonight
This afternoon Congress began the process of honoring the will of the American people
I'm counting the Electoral College votes
We fulfilled a solemn Duty
Every four years
For more than two centuries
Weather Nations been at War
Oar peace
Under all manner of threats
Even during an ongoing ongoing armed rebellion and the Civil War
The Clockwork
Of our democracy
Has carried on
United States
And United States Congress that place down in much greater threads
Then the unhinged crowd
We saw today
We've never been to church before
And will be not deterred today
They tried to disrupt our democracy
They fail
PayPal
They failed to attempt to obstruct the Congress
This failed Insurrection only underscores how crucial
The task before us is
For our Republic
Our nation was founded precisely
Show that the free choice
Of the American people
Just what shapes are self-government
Undetermined
The destiny
Abomination
Not fair
Not force
But the peaceful expression
Other popular will
Now we assemble this afternoon to count our citizens votes and to formalize their choice
Of the next president
Now we're going to finish exactly what we started
Will complete the process the right way
By the book
We'll follow our presidents our laws
Had our constitution
To the letter
And we will certify
The winner
Of the 2020 presidential
Electric
Criminal Behavior will never
Dominate the United States Congress
This institution is resilient
Are Democratic Republicans strong
The American people
Deserve
Nothing less
Democratic leader
Mr. president
Mr. president is very very difficult to put into words what has the transfer
Fire today I have never lived through or even imagine
Experience like the one
We have just witnessed in this capital
President Franklin Roosevelt set aside December 7th 1941
As a day that will live in infamy
Unfortunately we can now add January 6th 2021
To that very short list of dates in American history that will live forever in infamy
This Temple to democracy was desecrated its Windows smashed
Start offices vandalized
The world saw Americans elected officials hurriedly ushered out
Because they were In Harm's Way
The House and Senate floors were places of shelter until the evacuation is was ordered
Leaving Riders
To stalk these hallowed Halls
Lawmakers in our stabs average citizens who love their country serve it everyday
Feared for their lives
I understand that one woman was shot and tragically lost her life we mourn her
And feel for her friends and family these images or project
Actor to the world foreign embassies cables Home their Capital their home capitals to report
The harrowing scenes at the very heart of our democracy
This will be a stain on our country
Not so easily washed away
The final terrible in indelible Legacy
Of the 45th president of the United States
Undoubtedly our worst
I want to be very clear
Those who perform these reprehensible acts cannot be called protesters
No
These were Riders an insurrectionist goons and thugs
Domestic terrorist
They do not represent America
They were a few thousand violent extremist to try to take over the Capitol building and attack our democracy
They must and should
Be prosecuted to the full extent of the law
Hopefully by this Administration
If not
Certainly by the next
They should be they should be provided
No
Leniency
I want to thank the many of the Capitol Hill Police and Secret Service and local police who kept us safe today
And work to clear the capital
And returned it to its rightful owners and its rightful purpose
I want to thank the leaders Democrat and Republican
House and Senate
It was speaker Pelosi leader McConnell leader McCarthy in myself
Who came together and decided that these thugs would not succeed
That we would finish the work of our Constitution that our constitution requires us to complete
In the very legislative chambers of the House and Senate
That would desecrated
But we know always
Belong to the people
And do again
Tonight
But make no mistake make no mistake my friends
Today's events did not happen spontaneously
The presidential promoted conspiracy theories that motivated these thugs
The presidential exhorted them to come to our nation's capital
Egg them on
He hardly ever discourages violence
And more often encourages it
This president
There's a great deal
Of the blame
This mop
Was in good part
President Trump's doing
Incited by his words
His lies
This violence in good part
His responsibility
His Everlasting shame
Today's events
Certainly certainly
Would not have happened without him
Now January 6th will go down
As one of the darkest days in recent American history
A final warning to our nation
About the consequences of a demagogic president
The people who enabled him
The captive media that parrots is lies
And the people
Follow him
As he attempts to push America
To the brink
A Bruin
As we reconvene tonight
Let us remember in the end
All this mom has really accomplished is to delay our work by a few hours
We will resume our responsibilities now and we will finish our task tonight
The House and Senate chambers will be restored good as new
And ready for legislating
In short order
The counting of the electoral votes is our sacred Duty
Democracies roots in this nation are deep they're strong
And they will not be undone ever
By a group of thugs
Democracy will Triumph
As it has for centuries
So to my fellow Americans who was shocked and appalled by the images on there telling
Auditions today
And who are worried about the future of this country
Let me speak to you directly
The divisions in our country clearly Run Deep
But we are resilient
Forward-looking and optimistic people
And we will begin the hard work
I'm preparing this nation tonight
Because here in America we do hard things
In America
We always overcome
Are challenges heal the floor
Brother later he'll 2 minutes to the center of Oklahoma senator Lankford
Senator from Oklahoma
The vice-president you said things more eloquently than how we stayed in Oklahoma
Oklahoma weed say something like why in God's name would someone think attacking law enforcement
Define United States capital is the best way to show that you're right
Why would you do that
Writers and thugs don't run the capital where the United States of America
We disagree on a lot of things and we have a lot of Spirited debate in this room
But we talked it out and we honor each other
Even in our disagreement that person that person that person is not my
Anime that's my fellow American
Why we disagree on things and disagree strongly at times
We do not encourage what happened today
Ever
I want to join my
Fellow senators and saying thank you to the Capitol Police a law enforcement National Guard the Secret Service who stood In Harm's Way by
While we were here debating
They were pushing back
And I was literally interrupted mid-sentence speaking here
Because we're all in aware of what was happening right outside this room
Because of their faithfulness
And because what they have done
And I want to thank you then thank them
Ronald Reagan once said
Peace is not the absence of conflict
It is the ability to handle conflict
By peaceful means
Peaceful people in my state in Oklahoma want their questions answered but they don't want this what happened today
I want to do the right thing
And they also want to do it the right way
They want OnStar the Constitutional process but they also won't have debate about election security because they want to make sure it's right
Which is why it's an important issue that still needs to be resolved transparency in government just doesn't seem like a bad eye
Idea
Obviously the commission that we have asked for is not going to happen at this point and understand that
And we're headed towards tonight towards the certification of Joe Biden to be the president of the United States
And we will work together in this body to be able to set a peaceful example
The days ahead are you the floor Democratic leader
Senator from Nevada senator Cortez masto
Mister vice president
I know that this room is full of leaders of both parties who love this country
And many believe that for America to succeed our politics must find common ground
And that has never been clearer than today when armed rioter
Stormed the US Capitol emboldened by President Trump's false and inflammatory rhetoric
About the 2020 elections
I believe that we in this chamber have a special Duty as Leaders to work together to lower
The temperature of our politics and I hope that my colleagues would question the
Legitimacy of this election in Arizona and all of these other states now see the dire
And dangerous consequences of sowing doubt and uncertainty
I also know that as US senators we all take solemnly the oath we swear to support and defend
The Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic
At this moment in history I can think of nothing more patriotic than renewing our faith
In the charters of Freedom that our founding fathers crafted for our Republic
Starting with a fundamental American principle in our Declaration of Independence that governments derive their
Just powers from the consent of the governed the people have spoken in this
Selection and our only job here today is to do what they ask it is not to our
Argue election security that's not the place for what we are doing today
A constitution specifically reserves to the people the right to meet in their respective States
And vote for the President and Vice President as a result individual states overseen
Implement the election process not the federal government to guard against fraud or irregularities in the vote
Process the states are required to have robust election security measures likewise
State legislators have the opportunity to examine evidence of voter fraud before they certified their Electra
Carroll College votes and our court from district courts to the United States Supreme Court
Adjudicate legal challenges at election disputes all of those things
Happened after the 2020 election
Steakhouses in courts across the country took allegations of voter fraud seriously and follow the Constitutional process
That's to hear challenges to this year's election no State found evidence of any
Widespread voter fraud and neither did any Court asked to review the state's finding in air
Arizona Republican Governor Doug Ducey Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs
Republican attorney general Mark brnovich and state supreme court Chief Justice
Robert brutinel all certified the results of the election on November 30th
Do we have heard Arizona's have been voting by mail for almost 30 years and Governor Ducey has express car
Confidence in the state's process numerous times in November he said we do elections well here in Arizona
The system is strong and that's why I have bragged on it so much he further stated we have some of the strong
Longest election laws in the country laws that prioritize accountability and clearly layout
What are procedures for conducting canvassing and even contesting the results and they are
Arizona has one of the most transparent election processes in the country with built-in
Accountability starting with internal auditing we have heard unfounded allegation
That voting machines in Arizona and elsewhere somehow change boat Ali's or somehow Improv
Rejected ballots were claiming to accept them these allegations all
Ignore the fact that Arizona counties conducted ballot audits by hand
Did double check the machine count and these audits found no widespread fraud or irregularities
Maricopa County the county were there more than 60% of the state population resides
Conducted a post-election hand-count audits in the week after the election
Which showed perfect 100% accuracy in the machine tabulations
Would we need my colleagues to call for a 10-day emergency audit to be conducted by a leg
Legislative commission when it's already been done by the state of Arizona
What happened to states rights the audit involve checking ballots for the presidential election but also
New Balance for Federal and State Legislative elections the audit report shows every precincts machine and
And hand count totals for each of the races audited and for every single race in every Precinct
Difference between the hand count in the machine count was 0
Report stated no discrepancies were found by the hand count audit boards
Seeking to find any reason the contestes results from their state Republicans and try to claim that Maricopa County fail to
Follow state law and conducting this audit by selecting voting Center locations to audit instead of
Voting Precinct this was wrong and this 212 Accord and
Rejecting this claim State Court in Arizona found that the county followed the properly issued guidance on how
And audit procedures from the Arizona Secretary of State
And the court found that Maricopa County officials therefore could not lawfully have perform the hand count audit the
Play the plaintiff wanted it done if they had done so they would have exposed themselves to Criminal
Punishment Senators 5 minutes is
Expired vice-president I would close by just saying please my colleagues do now
Not disenfranchise the voters of Arizona and certify their votes tonight thank you
Geordie later
Misread that I healed up to 5 minutes to the senator from Utah said early
Senator from Utah
Mr. president at the time I prepare my remarks for today seems like a lifetime ago
A lot's changed in the last 2 hours so I'm going to deliver some of the same remarks but has
Is a little bit of a different feel
Then it would have just a few hours ago my thoughts and prayers go out to the
Family members of those who have been injured or killed today
My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the Capitol Hill Police who valiantly defended our building and our life
Well it's true that legitimate concerns have been raised
With regard
The how some of the key Battleground States conducted their presidential elections
This is not the end of the story
We chapter remember that we've sworn an oath to uphold protect and defend this document
Written nearly two-and-a-half centuries ago by the way Wiseman raised up by God to that very purpose
That document makes clear what our rule is and what it isn't
It makes clear who does what when it comes to deciding presidential elections
You see because you know our system of government presidents are not directly elected their chosen by
Central Electric
The Constitution makes very clear under Article 2 Section 1
Bet the states shall appoint presidential electors according to procedures that their legislators develop
Then comes the 12th Amendment
That explains what we're doing here today in the capital explains that the president of the Senate the vice present of the United States
Open the balance MW shelvin be counted it's those words that can
Define define unconstrained every scrap of authority we have in this process
Our job is to open
And then count
Open bank account that's it that's all there is
There are of course rare instances instances in which multiple
Slate of electors can be submitted by the same state that doesn't happen very often
Happened the 1960 it happened in 1876 let's hope it doesn't ever happen again and those rare moments
Congress has to make a choice it has to decide which of the electoral votes will be counted in which will not that did not
Not happened here
Thank heavens and let's hope that it never does
Many of my colleagues have raised objections or had previously stated therein
Attempt to raise objections with regard to these
I expended enormous time on this issue over the last few weeks
Have met with lawyers
On both sides of the issue
I've met with lawyers representing the Trump campaign
Reading everything I could find about the Constitutional Provisions in question
And I've spent a lot of time on the phone with legislators and other leaders from the contested States
I didn't initially declare my position because I didn't get to have one I wanted to get the facts
And I wanted to understand what was happening I wanted to
Give the people
Serving in government in the contested States
Opportunity to do whatever they felt they needed to do to make sure that their election
Was properly reflected
I spent an enormous amount of time reaching out to state government officials in those States but in none of it
No not even one
Did I discover any indication
That there was any chance that any state legislature or Secretary of State or Governor or lieutenant governor
Had any intention
To alter the Slate of electors
That being the case
Our job is a very simple one
This simply isn't how our federal system is supposed to work
That is to say
If you have concerned with the way that an election
In the presidential race was handled in your state
The appropriate responses to approach your state legislators
First and foremost
These protests from hearing from those who have raised concerns
They should have been focused on their state capitals not their Nations pack capital
Because our role is narrow our role is Define our role is limited yes we are the election judges
When it comes to members elected to our own body and yes the House of Representatives they are the judges of their own race
We also have the authority to prescribe as a congress
Rules governing the time place and manner
Of Elections for senators and representatives
There is no corresponding at40 with respect to presidential elections none whatsoever it.
Doesn't exist Howard job is to convene to open the balance and account them
That's it
Thank you mr president ideas before
Democratic leader
Colorado mr. Bennet from Colorado thank you mr. vice president thank you
The surprising College it's been a terrible day for everybody here
And for our country one of the things I was thinking about today is something I often think of
But when I'm on this floor which is that the founders of this country the people that wrote
Our constitution actually knew our history better than we know our history
But I was thinking about that history today as we saw the mob riot in Washington DC thinking of
About what the founders were thinking about when they wrote our Constitution which was what happened to the Roman Republic
When armed gangs doing the work for politicians
Prevented Rome from casting their ballots
For consoles
For prayers
Four senators
These were the offices in Rome and these armed gang
Ran through the streets of Rome keeping elections from being started keeping elections from ever
Being called and in the end
Because of that
The Roman Republic fell and a dictator
Tickets place
And that was the end of
The Roman Republic or any Republic for that matter
Until this beautiful Constitution
Which written in the United States of America
So it is my fervent hope that the way that we respond to this today my dear
Is that we give the biggest bipartisan vote we can
In support of our democracy
And in support of our Constitution and introjection for what we saw today and what the room
Roman Republic store in its own time there's a tenancy around this place I think
To always believe that were the first people to confront something one that seldom the case
Into under appreciate what the effect of our actions will be
We need to deeply appreciate in this moment Our obligation to the Constitution
Obligation to the Democracy or obligation to The Republic
There are people in this chamber that have Twisted the words
Twisted the word
Bubba statue Britain in the 19th century that was meant actually settle our electoral dispute
To leave them with the state as the senator from Utah was safe to give us a ministerial
Except in very rare circumstances that's what that law
Isabel
Did the senator
Texas was talking about
And that's the law that says leading us to be asked to overturn the judgments of 60 Q
In America
Many of the courts in Arizona
Some of whom have have held the presidents lawyers out of the courtroom because there's no
No evidence of fraud
And by the way the fact that 37% of 39% of American think there's no evidence of
Broadsword 1837 support does not mean there is fraud
If you turned a blind eye
2 conspiracy theory you can't now come to the floor of the Senate and say you're ignoring
The people who believe the election was stolen
Truth
What does that every single member this Senate knows
This election wasn't stolen
And that we just as in the Roman Republic have a responsibility
To protect the independence of the Judiciary from politicians who will stop at nothing to hold
Power
There's nothing new about that either
That's been true since the first Republic
What's found
So now we find ourselves in the position just days after many senators Years War
Top hold and defend the Constitution every single member of the House of Representatives
For the same old thing as well
I think we got a solemn obligation and responsibility here
To prove once again
That this country
Is a nation of laws and not of men
And the only result
Then we can reach together
Is one that rejects
The claim of the senator from Texas and the other
Members of the House and Senate who seek to overturn the decisions that are made by the states
By the voters in the states and by the court if we follow what they've proposed
We will be the ones
It will have disenfranchised every single person
Who cast their vote in this election
Weather went they voted for the president
Or they didn't
I urge you to reject
This and I deeply appreciate
The opportunity to serve with every single one of you thank you mr. president
Majority leader of the center from Georgia Senator Loeffler senator from Georgia
Mr. president when I arrived in Washington this morning I fully intended to object to the certification
Electoral votes however the events that have transpired today have forced me to reconsider and I
I cannot now in good conscious objective the certification of these electors the vial
Balance the lawlessness and seized of the halls of Congress are important and stand is a direct attack on the
Very institution by objected my objection was intended to protect the sanctity
City of the American Democratic process and I think law enforcement for keeping us safe
I believe that there were last-minute changes to the November 2020 election process and serious irregularities that
It resulted in too many Americans losing confidence not only in the Integrity of our elections but in the power
Of the ballot as a tool of democracy too many Americans are frustrated at what they see as an unfair
System nevertheless there is no excuse for the events that took place in these Chambers today and I pray that
America never suffered such a dark day again though the fate of this vote is clear the future
Picture of the American people's faith in the core institution of this democracy remains uncertain we have the boss
Body must turn our Focus to protecting the Integrity of our elections and restoring every Americans faith
That they're both their voice and their boat matters America's a divided country was serious differences
But it is still the greatest country on Earth there can be no disagreement that upholding democracy is the OWN
Only path to preserving our Republic IO the floor
Democratic leader
Senator Booker and two-and-a-half minutes to Senator Kaine
In regards to our senator from Virginia
Applied the comments of my colleague from Georgia deeply my first job
After school was in Macon Georgia working for a federal judge Lanier Anderson
And I learned a lot about integrity
And a lot about law from him
I also learned some sad lessons
That in the history of Georgia and indeed Virginia and many states
So many people especially people of color have been disenfranchised over the course of our history
Or like friend John Lewis congressman from Georgia
Was savagely beaten
On Bloody Sunday just for Marching for voting rights
That act of violence inspired this part of the US Senate
To come together in March of 1965 and worked to pass in a bipartisan fashion
The Voting Rights Act
We should be coming together today
After acts of violence
As United States Senate
To affirm the votes of all who cast ballots
In November
Instead we're contemplating an unprecedented objection
That would be a massive disenfranchisement
Of American
Boaters
The Georgia result was very clear
A 12.000 vote margin
Two certifications by Republican officials
Four separate recounts and canvases
7 lawsuits
As any other states
If we objector results like this the message is so clear
We are staying two states
No matter how secure and accurate your elections are
Will gladly overthrow them if we don't like who you voted for
But more importantly what will be saying
Really what will be doing
Is as the body that acted together to guarantee
Americans the right to vote
We will become the agent of one of the most massive
Disenfranchisement
In the history
Largest country
So I urge all of my colleagues
Please oppose the objections
Thank you. Yield to my colleague from New Jersey
Senator from New Jersey
Vice president
I can only think of two times in American history that individuals late fees to our
Capital stormed our sacred Civic spaces and try to over rent on
End and overrun
This government one was in the War of 1812
And the other one was today
What's interesting about the parallel between the two is
They both were waving flags
Twas. Burn
Twin individual
Surrendering Democratic principles to the cult of personality one was a monarch in England
The other with the flags ice all over our Capital including in the hallways and in this room to a single
Person named Donald Trump
But that difference between these two times as one was yet another nation in the history of our country that tried to challenge
United States of America
But this time
We brought this hell
Upon ourselves
Akali from Texas said that this was a moment where
Unprecedented allegations of voter fraud yes that is true
They were on president when the president before the election even happen said if I lose this election than the election
Unprecedented
If I'm president before the 9th
Was even done that he called it rigged
And some pressing of the Hues Fanning the Flames of conspiracy theory to create a smoke screen in this Nae
Cover what he is trying to do which is undermine our Democratic principle but it's not just that
The shame of this day is it being aided
Abetted
I could Americans who are falling prey
Poor choosing Trump over truth
Horse for rendering
The Passion of Lies as opposed to standing up and speaking truth
The power who are trying to fundraise
Off of the shame of conspiracy theories as opposed to doing the incalculably
Valuable
Patriotic thing to speak truth to our nation
Our democracy is wounded and I saw it when I saw pictures of yet another Insurgency
Flag of another group of Americans who tried to challenge our nation I saw the flag of the Confederacy there
What will we do how will we confront this shame how will we confront this dark
Second time in American history
I pray
Did we remember a Georgian
His words all I can say is
We must experience going together like those
Georgians
A bridge called The Edmund Pettus to join hands were called threats to our democracy who were called
Outrageous epithets
When they sought to expand our democracy to save it to heal it
When they joined arm and arm and said what we should say now commit ourselves to that ideal
Get together we shall
Overcome
Majority Leader spread up in 5 minutes that sooner from their bras
Cusco Center size
Senator from Nebraska
Mr. president thank you and mr. vice president let me just say before begin
Thank you for the way you were fulfilled your constitutional duties in your oath of office today and obviously
Hasn't been easy
Today's been ugly
And when I came to the floor this morning
My plans to talk about the lesson of 1801 cuz I'm kind of a history nerd and I will
I wanted to celebrate the glories of the peaceful transition of power across our nation's history feels a little naive
Now to talk about ways that Americans Civics might be something that could unite us and bring us back together 1801
Montbleu everybody's mind all over the world by the way John Adams loses to Thomas Jefferson and
Adams willingly leaves the executive mansion and moved back to Massachusetts and Jefferson peacefully
Assumes power and people all over Europe said those must be that must be fake news those must be bad report
There's no way any executive would ever willingly lay down power
Annette Adams in defeat
Did something glorious to give all of us a gift I wanted to celebrate that and it feels a little bit harder now
This building has been desecrated blood has been spilled
I was with octogenarian members of this chamber that needed to have troops and police
Please stabilize them to get down the stairs at a time when a lot of our stabs were panicked and under the
They're destined not knowing what was going to happen to him it was ugly today
But you know what it turns out that when something's ugly talking about beauty isn't just permissible
I'm a beauty it's obligatory and a time like that why
Why would we talk about beauty after the ugliness it today
Because our kids need to know
This isn't what America is what happened today isn't what America is
They've been given a glorious inheritance is the 59th presidential election vice president was in the chair and if the Press
President Pro Temp was Ida made some joke that Chuck grassley's has voted in two-thirds of those 59 presidential election
Busy laughing it's not as good as dear dear
Your dad but it's still got a Grassley laugh I don't think we want to tell the Americans that come after us
But this Republic is broken but this is just a Banana Republic that our institutions can't be trusted
I don't think we want that we don't want that in this body we don't want that in our hometowns I don't think we want to tell our kids that Americas
Best days are behind us because it's not true
That's not who we are America isn't Hatfields and McCoys blood Feud forever
America the Union
There's a lot that's broken in this country
But not anything that's so big that the American people can't rebuild it
But freedom and community and entrepreneurial effort and that neighborhoods can't rebuild nothing that's broke
Penis so big that we can't fix it
Generations of our forefathers and foremothers find out a word RNC
Have spilled blood to defend the glories of this Republic
Why would they do that because America is the most exceptional nation in the history of the world and because of the constant
Tuition is the greatest political document that's ever been written most governments in the past instead
Might makes right and we saw some of that hooligan nuttery today
Might makes right now it doesn't
God gives us rights by nature and government is just our shared project to secure those right
America has always been about what we choose to do together the way we reaffirm our car
Constitutional system
But the heart of America is that government the son of America is not Washington DC the center of America's the name
Neighborhoods were 330 million Americans are raising their kids and trying to put food on the table and trying to love their neighbor that's the center
America that we're not supposed to be the most important people in America we're supposed to be servant leader to try to maintain a framework for
Ordered Liberty so there's a structure that back home where they live they can get from the silver frame
Structure in order to the Golden Apple at the center as Washington would have said it which is the things that they build the
Together the places where they coach little league the places where they invite people to synagogue or church sometimes the big things we do
Together our governmental like chicken Hitler's a sore like going to the Moon soon as there is governmental stuff
But the heart of America is about places where moms and dads are raising kids and we're supposed to serve them
But maintaining order about rejecting violence
You can't do big things like that if you hate your neighbors
You can't do big things
Together As Americans if you think other Americans are the enemy
There's a lot of uncertainty about the future I can get it there's a lot that does need to be rebuilt
But if you're angry
I want to beg you
Don't let the screamers who monetize hate have the final word
Neil has become your drug dealers there are some who want to burn it all down we met some of them today
But they aren't going to win
Don't let them be your profits instead organized persuade but most importantly love your neighbor
Visit the widow or down the street who Lonely No One tell anybody that his wife died and he didn't have a lot of friends shovel somebody's
Neighbor somebody's driveway you can't hate somebody who just shoveled your driveway the heart of life is
About community and neighborhood and we're supposed to be servant leaders the Constitutional system is still the greatest order for
Any government ever and it's our job to Stewart it and protect it let's remember that today when we vote
Democratic leader
Senator Durbin senator from Illinois
In March of 1861
Springfield lawyer caught a train to Washington
His name is Abraham Lincoln it wasn't his first trip here it's served as Congressman 15 years before Andy Reid
Return I'm going to getting of the Civil War to serve as president it was a different place than you
Nunes Congressman in 15 years and changed a lot the spring boarding house across the street which is now the library
Congress was gone in this building was changing big changes their bill
Building a dome on the capitol but they were also in the earliest days of war in prison
Lincoln was counseled stop building the Dome cost too much money we can't spare
Any more time on it and he said no we're going to build that Doman we're going to finish it
That dome in this building will be a symbol of this country that will survive the Civil War
More and come back strong so they built the Dome they were
Won the war and since those days that dome in this building have been assembled to this country
Symbol of unity and of Hope
Tours come through here before covid-19 by the tens of thousands and if you've ever noticed there
Tours they're often shushed people are saying show some respect for this building
We know this building in the Rotunda is a place where some of the Greatest American Heroes
Both political parties lie in state and we go there to honor them we know this building
Because we work here we enact laws here that changed America We Gather for state of
Union messages from presidents and honor the people in the gallery this is a special
Place this is a sacred place but this sacred place
Was desecrated by a mob today on our watch this
Just Temple to democracy was defiled by thugs roam the halls and set it
In that chair Mister vice-president the one that you vacated at 2:15 this afternoon set and posed for
Pictures those who were roaming around this chamber what brought this on
Did this mob spring spontaneously from America no
This mob was invited to come to Washington on this day by this president for one
One reason because he knew the Electoral College vote was going to be counted this day
He wanted this mob to disrupt the Constitutional process which we are part of
This mob was inspired by a president who cannot accept defeat if
If you wonder whether I'm going too far and when I say just read the transcript with the secretary of state from
Georgia and listen to this presidents wild conspiracy theories one after the other
Swatted down by that Republican elected official in his attorney is having no basis in fact
This President begs he coaxes even threatens
That's Secretary of State to find the votes he needs in any other venue that would be a
Simple obvious crime the links you'll go to her obvious
The Texas senator says to us well many people still agree with him you know when he gets down to the bottom line
Many people have fallen for this presidential position that it may
Must have been a rigged election if I lost well I would say that after
We lost code 57 lawsuits 62 lawsuit I've read so many numbers after 90 differ
Judges after this president took his case the best he can put together to the highest
The land across the street where he is personally chosen three justices on the Supreme Court
I seen senator from Texas you know much more about that court than I do I don't believe they let that paper that
He sent up there even hit the desk before they laughed and out of the quarter and that's the best he had to offer
No evidence whatsoever of this rigged election in this fraudulent
Texas says we just want to create a little commission 10 days we're going to audit all the states
In Contention here and find out what actually occurred and it really draws
Parallel 1876 Hazen Tilden don't forget what that commission that's
So-called political compromise achieved it was not just some ordinary governmental Commission
It was a commission that killed Reconstruction that established Jim Crow
But even after a Civil War which tore this nation apart entry enslaved African-Americans
It was a commission that invited the voter suppression we're still fighting today in America
Let me close by saying this
We're going to have here is a clear choice of whether we are going to feed the beast of ignorance
Or we are going to tell the truth to the American people we saw that Beast today roaming
U-Hauls let's not invited back
Majority Leader senator from Kansas city marshal
Senator from Kansas
Thank you mister president
Freedom of speech is now 9 p.m. on the east coast and this is been a tragic
Historic Day in the United States as lawmakers gathered to count the votes to ensure a peaceful
Transition of power President Trump riled up his supporters for more than an hour and then
Swarm the US capital moments after Republican lawmakers began challenging
Arizona it was a violent takeover the mob broke in past Capitol Police sadly we know
At least one woman was shot and killed in the hall that are meant to symbolize aardema
Lisa Desjardin is at the Capitol now she has been there for your ball day
Now and Artemisia Ostendorf is at 3 a.m. Lisa and we've been watching
The zoom in the United States Senate tonight
Whether or not the electoral votes to be counted from the state of Arizona but much of
The discussion has turned back to the events of this day we had several Senators say they will no longer objective
Did they go to the formal counting of the votes they will allow the certification to go forward
Because of what happened today who
Really the worst political day of her career her short career and US Congress
Had perhaps one of her most notable moments when she said she will no longer of
React to the Georgia recount or the Georgia counting because of what happened today and I think the entire
Higher tone of this debate which this is the debate about the president's the presidency and the Electoral
This is when we this we thought was going to be about the claims of fraudulent voting
All of that no Instead This is really about the soul of America and about where we are why
We are here and Senators searching how to get past it I think we will be having this moment for a long time
And I think the house is about to come into session my TV is on full blast excuse me
Yeah we are watching at the same time that the Senate has been in session the house just now coming back
Back into session for have to want to dip into that for just a moment Lisa and then will come back to you
Collection of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
For that reason Congress has returned to the capital we always knew that this responsibility
But take us into the night I'm going to take as long as it takes
Purpose will be accomplished
We must and we will show to the country
And it did to the world that we will not be diverted from our duty
That we were spectera responsibility to the Constitution
And to the American people
On Sunday was great my great honor
Be sworn in as speaker to preside over a sacred ritual of renewal
As we gathered under the Stone Temple of democracy to open the 100
17th Congress
I said that was who as we were sworn in
Then
We accept the responsibility as daunting and demanding as any previous
Generation of leadership
Has ever faced
We know that we're in difficult times
But little could we have imagined the assault that was made on our democracy
Today
To those who struggle
For my responsibility
You have fails
To those who engaged in the gleeful desecration of this our Temple of democracy
American democracy
Justice will be done
Today January 6th
Is the Feast of the Epiphany
On this day of Revelation
Let us pray that this instigation to violence
Will provide an epiphany
For a country to heal
In that Spirit of healing I vote the song of Saint Francis I usually do Saint Francis is the patron saint
Find my city of San Francisco and she is song St Francis is our anthem
Lord Make Me a Channel of thy peace
Weather is Darkness may I bring light
Where there is hatred that is spring
Love
Where there is despair
Let us bring hope
You know that we would be part of history in a positive way today every 4 years
When we
Demonstrate again the peaceful transfer of power
Someone president to the next
And despite the shameful actions of today we still will do so
We will be part
Of a history that shows the world but America is made of
That these
This is salt
This is salt is just that it shows the weakness of those who
Had to show through violence
What their message was
My colleagues it's time to move on I wear this 10 quite frequently actually I gave it
Up2us
Play Robert John Lewis just a weekend before he
Weekender so before he left us and it's a flag of our country
The flag of the United States of America
I want on it it says
One country one destiny
Sitting on the flag that was also what was embroidered
And Abraham Lincoln's
Coat that he had on that fateful night
Lincoln's party
Lincoln's message
One country one destiny
Someone this holiday of epiphany let us prey
I'm a big believer in pair
Let us pray that they will be peace on Earth
And that it will begin with us
Let us pray
That God will continue
To bless America
Without let us proceed with our responsibilities to the Constitution to which
We have just within 72 hours taken the oath to uphold
But what purpose does the gentleman from Maryland Seacrest recognition
In opposition to the objection
Bottom speaker it is a sad that we are watching both chambers of the United
Red States Congress to house you see on the left of where steny Hoyer Who is the
Number to leader in the house of the majority leader in the house and on
Right we're watching out the Senate chamber in both houses they are debating the
Action that was put forward
Many hours ago earlier today to the calling to the counting of votes electoral votes from
State of Arizona we're watching this go for we are waiting to see whether there will be further objections to others
States or weather
This is the end of it given
The violence
The Assault on the US Capitol today the death
Of a woman who apparently was one of the protesters Justine extraordinary
Chain of events that unfolded that led to both Chambers having to adjourn
Let's turn now for this moment to retired Navy Admiral Mike Mullen he's a former chairman of the joint
Chiefs of Staff thank you so much for talking with us and
Terrible set of circumstances under which
To have a conversation
But as you watched
Today's events unfold served in Washington for a number of years you were appointed by a
Public and president to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs you continue to serve under a democratic
President from George
Bush George W bush to Barack Obama
What do you make of where we are right now in this country
Where to place that I never imagined we could be juvie when you here
The air filled with
The words like traitor sedition insurrection
It's just one of those things I could not have imagined that we be here but we are here
And where I
Think we are is what we're very close
Are we came very close to the brink today and
And we need to in my view we need to recognize how close
We are not say that this is something that can be immediately repaired not say that this wasn't
Every bit as bad as anything I've seen in my entire life with respect
To our democracy and we need to act
Accordingly
And we need to react and act
Accordingly to protect
Our democracy we oftentimes talk about this
Sometimes maybe even in the abstract that it's fragile
I think today showed
How fragile
It can be and it is really important for leaders
Across the country to
To stand up now as many have spoken tonight as I listen to the chambers
And support the Constitution and make sure that in that support
We can move forward
With the
Duly elected
President-elect
As tabulated over and over
Throughout the country
In terms of election results and do it in a way that starts to heal
What do you mean react accordingly what do you think should be done right now I mean I hear you saying move forward with
The counting of these electoral votes
Are you saying the Congress should should there should be no more objections put forward
Well I certainly would like to see
There be no objections at this point I think it's it's it was they would characterize as a
A futile effort upfront it wasn't going anywhere and certainly
If today's events
I met anything we should you know withdraw from those positions
In light of
What's happened to support what we need to do
In the future I honestly Judy reacted went when I watched sort of the totality
And quite frankly the leadership
Our commander-in-chief the presidents who
Things from my perspective incited this stayed with it
I'm one of the first thoughts I had
Many hours ago now was a 25th amendment and I know that's been discussed
In terms of how do we get from here to January 20th because they're still 14
More days
Ing
As I thought about this in recent days
Judy I tried it's hard for me to
Get my head into how to think about this but I've actually thought about how dictators Act
And how they pull
In countries that have seen all over the world
How they pull the levers of their government to keep themselves in power and I worry
The bat will continue
Now with this President until
He no longer is in power because I think he's obviously desperate
And he is
Do everything he can to
To hold onto that power
Even to the point of
What I consider to be
Are grossly illegal actions today
Well we know there's discussion of the 25th Amendment there's some reporting tonight that some cabinet members
I believe CBS News reported some cabinet members have been discussing
Invoking the 25th Amendment which would call for the removal of the president
For a variety of reasons do you think this President is a danger to the country and should be removed
Before let me know soon as possible
Well it's certainly not for me to decide I certainly think
Based on the behavior recently but really culminated today which resulted in that mode
Action
And very sadly someone losing their life
Is an indication that that he's not in a position to lead
Over the next 14 days the decision to do that obviously rests
In the cabinet
And obviously with with the vice president
Although it those are all individuals who've been very loyal to him and as you know very well there's been a great deal of turnover
Especially at the place you know very well the Pentagon they've been through a succession of secretaries
Defense there
We've had the president though attacking his own vice president today I mean you know this city
Pretty well
Do you see horses
Do you see the potential for the forces to come together
To invoke the 25th Amendment and to remove him by 1
One method or another
I think certainly is I said earlier I think we're very close to the brain can that were
We're at a place where that discussion is really really
Important I take your point he's got nothing but
Loyalists around him that I would hope as I have seen now in both chain
Chambers some of those who've been loyal in the past
I seem to be distancing themselves from the president and I would hope that those are closest to him
Would recognize
The potential catastrophe that faces us
Even over the next 14 days after this because I don't think I don't think we're done
I don't think today was it
And I think we need to act in a preventive way to make sure
That nothing else happens and if that means the 25th if that means invoke
The 25th then I would hope that they would do that
Well we will we are certainly watching to see on that front but we're also watching on the international front there been tensions
Is rising tensions between the United States and Iran there was a comment
Yesterday by the individual overseas
Antar the nuclear weapons program who was saying if if President Trump
Ordered him
To use nuclear weapons or Conventional Weapons against Iran he would
Feel that he needed to do so if he thought it were legal order me there they're all sorts of questions being raised
Right now
About that
I'm going to ask you to hold on for just a moment because on the floor
Of the Senate right now is Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has been one of the leaders of those objecting to the electric
So that there would be in the words of Abraham Lincoln no appeal
From Dallas
2 bullets
Which is what we saw unfortunately attempted tonight
There's no place for that in the United States of America
And that's why I submit to my colleagues at what we're doing here tonight is actually very important
Because for those who have concerns about the Integrity of our elections those who have concerns about what happened in November
This is the appropriate memes this is the waffle place
What does objections and concerns should be heard
This is the Forum that the law provides for our laws provide for for those concerns to be
You're not through violence
Not buy a peeling from ballots to bullets but here in this lawful process
And so to those who say that this is just a formality
Today
Antique ceremony that we've engaged in for a couple of hundred years I can't say that I agree
I can't take it our presidents suggest that I actually think it's very vital what we do the opportunity to be her
To register objections is very vital because this is the place where those objections are to be heard
And dealt with debated and finally resolved
In this lawful means peacefully
Without violence
Without attacks without bullets and somewhat surprising let me just say now briefly in lieu of speaking about it later
What about Pennsylvania
Which is the state that I have been focused on
Ejected to
As an example of why people are concerned millions of Americans concerned about her election integrity
State of Pennsylvania quite apart from allegations of any fraud you have a state constitution
It is been interpreted for over a century to say that there is no mail in battling permitted except for a very narrow
No circumstances that's also provided for in the law and yet last year
Pennsylvania elected official passed a whole new law
That allows Universal mail in balloting
And did it irregardless of what the Pennsylvania Constitution said
And then when Pennsylvania citizens
Tried to go and be heard on this subject before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
They were dismissed
On grounds of procedure timeliness
In violation of that Supreme Court's own precedent
So the merits of the case have never been heard
The constitutionality of the statute actually has never been defended I'm not aware of any court that is passed on its constitutionality actually not aware of any
Anybody who has defended the constitutionality and this was what this was the Statute that governed
This last election in which they're over 2.5 million mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania this is my point
That this is the Forum
Pennsylvania Supreme Court hasn't heard the case
There's no other court to go to to hear the case in the state
And so this is the appropriate place
For these concerns to be raised
Which is why I have raised them here today and I hope that this body
Will not miss the opportunity
To take affirmative action to address the concerns of so many millions of Americans to say to millions of Americans to
Tonight but violence is never warranted
Violence will not be tolerated at those who engagement will be prosecuted
But this body will act to address the concerns of all Americans across the country we do need an investigation
Into irregularities fraud we do need
A Way Forward together we need election security reforms
I got my friends on the other side of the aisle don't disagree with that
We need to find a way to move forward on that together
But the American people from both parties all walks of life can have confidence
In their elections
And we can arrange ourselves
Under the rule of law that we share together
Texas prison for
Democratic leader
Just been listening to Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri who has been one of the chief Republican members
The Senate objecting to the counting the formal counting of
The electoral votes which is a process that the Senate and the house together are supposed to take
Care of on this day on January 6th when he brought up this is the period when the House and Senate
Are supposed to be debating objections in Arizona so the fact that Senator Holly went ahead and brought up Pennsylvania
Which is the state he was later
Reported to be planning to objectively said he was going to ask Jack to May indicate the
But he is going to drop that objection later we're reading some tea leaves here but the fact that he would bring that up now and
And say it's something that Congress needs to look at a house Pennsylvania dealt with its mail-in ballot
Downloading legal changes maybe a hint that he is not
Not going to eject when it comes to Pennsylvania we have yet to hear from Ted Cruz
About tonight about the debate on Arizona but if Kelly Loeffler has dropped her abs
Injection on Georgia and if Holly is dropping his on Pennsylvania we may have no
No more states that you have agreement between the Senate and the house to inject to that could mean that the process
Will move through smoothly now I want to turn quickly back to Admiral Mike Mullen the former chairman of the joint
My apologies again for interrupting our conversation we did want to hear what senator
Holly had to say because of his role in all this and as we say we're trying to understand what that means but I
I was about to ask you about International concerns you raising questions about Danger
Any danger posed by President Trump for the remaining 14 days that he's in office and I think it's fair to
They say that extends to
What he might do on a global front
Well I think that bad concerning and specifically Judy I know you asked about a wrong and that's been a
No our country is in the Forefront with respect to this Administration in terms of focus
And in some ways that's just fine because Ron is still up
A country very it is led by a very bad the group of people and
They still espoused
The kind of both rhetoric and they are developing systems which are very very dangerous I was
Encourage the other day when the Nimitz was turned around
And it seemed to settle things and
Things seem to be
Quieter than they were as Nimitz was pulling out just a few days ago
But I know this has been an area that the president is Miss tration is focused on
It is I
Continue to believe a very dangerous time with respect to that
And I just hopeful that the totality of those individuals
Around the president
Can can convince him to restrain himself at this particular point in time with respect
Taking any action which could spin out of control
Are in that part of the world I think as far as the globe is concerned that probably the hottest point
Right now but it is worthy of continue to watch and concern
I certainly something that when present like Biden gets in he's going to have to address very quickly
I am and very very pointedly
Because Ron will continue to present a challenge
Sobering words from the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike
Vermaelen very good to see you again and thank you so much for talking with us tonight we appreciate it
2019.
The campaign's claim and you and we are watching Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania on the floor
Score of the house Democratic senator we are told that over in the house the Republicans
Leader Kevin McCarthy is on the floor is that right is McCarthy still on the floor if so we should listen
To what he has to say
Thank you for the
Looking back on the past few hours
It is clear
This Congress will not be the same
After today
And I hope
It will be the better
I hope not just this institution but I hope every American
Pauses for that moment
And thanks among themselves
The we can disagree with one another
But not dislike each other
We can respect the voices of others
There's many times we debate on this body and we should
There's many times we can get heated
I still consider steny Hoyer a very good friend
There's times I get upset I'll call him at home
To express
But things I may not see Fair
Adjust
But that's the way we should handle things
The majority leader is right we are all Americans first
What should we also think for a moment
What do we put on social media
What are we convey to one another
Just because you have a personal opinion different than mine
You have a right to say it
But nobody has a right to become a mop
And we all should Stand United
The condemning the mob together
We solve problems before a nation not to destruction
But through debate
That is the heart of this democracy
I know what we debate today is tough
But it's just it's right
This isn't the first side of the aisle
It's ever debated this issue
I thought would Madam speaker said back in 2005
This is democracy at its best
When they talked about a presidential election
In Ohio
These are the moments
Do we should raise the issue about integrity
Accountability
And accuracy in our elections
But you know what we should do the next difference
Not just raised the issue
Would work together to solve the problems
Now is the moment
Now is the moment to show America
We can work best together
I will tell you
The size of the majority is Slim
So gives us the opportunity
To make that happen
The only thing that can hold us back
Is the we love one another to do it
The side of the aisle always believes
The working with anybody who wants to move it forward
That does not mean that we're going to agree a hundred percent of the time that does not mean or voice cannot be heard that does
Does not mean we cannot be treated fairly we should be
That may mean on the size of committees that means that our ability to offer an amendment
It means when our ability to have our voice
But the end of the day it helps us come to a better conclusion
Returning
Here to complete the work we are sent to do we are proving that our democracy cannot be disrupted by Criminal
Behavior
We will not falter we will not Bend and we will not shrink from our duty
Let me be very clear mobs don't rule America laws rule America
It was true when are
Cities were burning the summer and it's true now
OneAmerica
Romaric has go to bed tonight their lasting memory should not be a congress overrun by rioters
It must be a Resolute Congress conducting healthy debate
We may not disagree on a lot in America but tonight we must show the world
Then we will respectfully but thoroughly carry out the most basic duties
A democracy
We will continue with the task that we have been sent here to do
We will follow the Constitution and the law on the process for hearing valid concerns
About election integrity
We'll do it with respect
We will respect your opinion
Who respect what you say
And we're willing to listen to it
I think the nation will be better for it
On both sides of the aisle
Let's show the country
The mob did not win
We have a job to do it
Let's do it with pride
Must be better
When the Sun rises tomorrow
Without IO back Madam speaker
What purpose is the gentleman from Arizona seek recognition
Opposition to the objection
We've been listening to the House minority leader Kevin McCarthy of California
For the leading Republican in the house I speak about the events of today saying mob don't rule
America was real America but then he did go on to say we want to continue tonight to do
Our job through the with the Constitution calls on us to do saying we need to continue
To hear these objections to the counting of the electoral vote so we'll see where that goes whether he mean
There will be debate on those objections or not just moments ago and perhaps he still is
The senator from Utah on Mitt Romney has been speaking on the floor
Of the Senate at one point he accused President Trump of being complicit
Any events of today when the mob
Took over the capitol salted the capitol woman was killed in the aftermath of that
High-end where we're going to try to bring you Senator Romney's remarks notable
I am particular because of Senator Romney was shouted at
At an airport is he took off to come to Washington yesterday and on the plane
The people the people shouting at him called him a traitor so I think we now have
Most of Mitt Romney Senator Mitt Romney's remarks let's go to that
Congressional audit
Is ever going to convince these voters
Protect me when the president will continue to say that the election was stolen
The best way we can show respect for the voters who were upset is by telling them the truth
That's the burden
That's the duty of leadership
The truth is that president-elect Biden won the election
President Trump lost
I bet that express myself it's no fun scores of Courts
President's own attorney general state election officials both Republican and Democrat of Regis that unequivocal decision
And in light of today's sad circumstances I ask my colleague do we wear on political fortunes more heavily the
We weigh the strength of our Republic
The strength of our democracy and the cause of Freedom what's the weight of personal acclaim
Compared to the weight of conscience
Leader McConnell said that the vote today is the most important in his 36 years of Public Service
Think of that
Authorizing to lures
Boat again to impeachments
He said that not because the vote reveals something about the election
It's because this vote reveal something about us
Average by colleagues to move forward
With completing the Electoral count
To refrain from further objections and he unanimously affirmed the legitimacy of the
Special election
Thank you mr. president that was
Senator Mitt Romney who has been one of the very first Republicans to renowned
What President Trump has been trying to do and insisting the election was rigged and that he was robbed
This election that he actually won Senator Romney has been saying almost from the beginning
He was one of the very first senators are Republican Senators Republican members of Congress
To congratulate Joe Biden on his victory he is stuck in that position he's been
Alone figure
In the Republican party for many many weeks until now there are more Republicans joining him in
And there's a few moments ago I you didn't hear it just them but a few moments ago Senator Romney said
President Trump is complicit
In the tragic and violent events of today the assault on the US Capitol
Are you Michel send or is that the White House you makes you been there all day and all night ended
The night some interesting developments taking place around
People who work
Any administration of this president
But are questioning their role in it any longer
That's right Judy we saw president without vice president Pence reaches limit today when he said
That he would not disrupt the count of them of the Congress and now we're seeing tonight is a number
Of White House officials looking at the violence that is a consequence of President Trump's false accusations false
Claims of voter fraud and saying that they can no longer work here so the people that we've now seen leave our Stephanie
Gresham C is the first lady's Chief of Staff she was a longtime aide for President Trump Sheehy she worked on the
President presidential campaign all the way back in 2015 we also saw the White House social secretary resign
Also White House Deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews is gone and there are some reports we haven't confirmed
All of them but there are some reports that possibly the National Security advisor Robert O'Brien he is thinking of leaving as long as well
Well as his Deputy I'm there also report that Elaine Chao the transportation secretary and I should say wife of Senate majority
40 leader Mitch McConnell who delivered a blistering speech against President trumps rhetoric and and his claims
She is also possibly thinking about leaving and what we see really is a white house that is now bleeding Stafford that is filled with
People who have looked at President Trump's actions today and I should say his inaction his inability to come before
Cameras to really have a robust response to this and say they can no longer work at this white house and I should also
The alcohol this is happening your now seeing social media companies trying to limit the communication of President Trump
Twitter has said that they're going to lock his account for 12 hours of and possibly permanently ban him because he's continued
Disinformation Facebook is also said that he will not be able to post a 24-hours he's also being locked out of
Instagram still all of the ways that President Trump has communicated to the American people without going through the media are now being
Take it away from him because these companies much like White House staffers are saying the president has gone too far
And you mean there's also been conversation about the cabinet the president's cabinet
Having conversations about invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution which of course allows
House for the removal of the president what are you hearing what kind of reporting are you hearing about that
There was a report earlier today that the visit there were groups urging vice president Pence
To have those conversations with cabinet members we know tonight the vice president
Is that the capital presiding
Over the Senate as a as a carry-on this debate needs to bathe
That's right I've talked to someone that's official to say that there's early early discussions of the 25th Amendment mainly because
Cuz people are wondering whether or not President Trump can go on for 14 days but there hasn't been anything formally presented device
President pence in my understanding is that there are people in this White House close to the president who feel like Judy he's he's quote on quote
Lofted therapy were telling me that they he is living in a reality created of his own doing and he's surrounded himself
Selfish people who are loyal and we're not challenging him someone also told me today Judy that the president wants to hold onto
Power by any means necessary meaning but it doesn't matter to him that there are windows being broken at the
The US Capitol today are people being shot in the capital the headquarters of the Congress that the president is more concerned
About holding on to those to those people who have come to the Capitol holding onto his supporters
Then he is making sure that that that the government of the United States that the headquarters in DC that day that we are all
Call Steve in the city so what we see from the president here is someone who is focus solely on staying in powered solely on
His own political fortunes and there are people around him people that have stuck with him through all sorts of chaos who are free
Finally I've been getting to the point where they are genuinely scared I've been tell you to be have not heard people around the president
As concerned as they have sounded today and that's saying a lot because we've lived through all sorts of things with this president
I don't even know what to say in response to what you just said to me I mean that it says the astonishing
At the very least
That their people saying the president would do anything to hold onto power I mean where we think of dictate
Tater ships countries around the world that don't have anything close to democracy they don't
They don't count votes where where their leaders just stay in power as long as they feel
Like at weather is Russia or I can name any number of countries where the person in
Power in no way receive answers to the people of that country and to hear you say
That there are people around the president of the United States
Who believed that he
Would do anything
To stay in power is truly alarming
It is alarming Judy and there are people who are telling me that the president is looking at the people who stormed the capitol
And in some ways he doesn't want the capital to be completely destroyed but in some ways they tell me the president is feeling
Feeling as though she's being justified in his outrage that these are people that are essentially having his back because
These are people who listen to the presidency did come before then and speak for more than an hour and say now we're going to go to the Capitol
We're going to fight and we're not going to concede so there are people who are looking at this and say this is what the president wanted essentially he didn't want of course
Someone to die either telling me that but he also wanted real Mayhem he wanted this to be chaotic he won
Wanted it to be a male that he wanted all of these things to happen in for everything to be upended and to stop the process on my way
Also note that there is some talk about what happens next when it comes to legally I've been talking to somebody and tradition official
They tell me that there could be multiple investigations into what we all witnessed today they said that FBI could be involved
The District of Columbia can lost his own investigation the house oversight committee could also look at its investigation is also talk
The fact that there are some protesters today that acted violently who did not get arrested invite anofficial transitional
Telling me that the FBI could take up to a year to arrest these people but there's all sorts of photos and videos
Even though people have not been arrested tonight they could be arrested in the future and therefore civil rights activist for saying so many
People hundreds of people got arrested when they were when they were peacefully protesting police violence so it was striking to
Some of these people walk out of the US Capitol and not being handcuffed
That's right a lot of reporting tonight about how few arrests there have been
Given the Mayhem but II and that is something we want a report on
But but you michon coming back
To what you said just before that when you
Cited people around the president saying he wanted there to be
Mayhem he wanted there to be a melee which means he didn't care if people were hurt
So
Again I'm just left speechless between that and the earlier your comment a few minutes ago when you
You said
He's prepared to do whatever it takes to hold onto power I mean it's
There are number of people who would say that's what it looks like but to hear you say that there people around the president
Who know him who are who are saying that to you or reporter
Is is pretty it's beyond disturbing
It's very disturbing and I talked with number with a number of officials who have used all sorts of words like disappointing
Farming scary unhinged out-of-control these are people who is dead by the president who are now seeing
Seeing him and saying that he has in some ways Drunk on Power we've seen is another countries we see this another countries were Frank
Immigrants come to America to try to avoid this was sort of leadership where you have someone who is so focused on say
Staying in power that he is willing to sacrifice his only in his own American citizens his own citizens of his country or her country
Tree and now we're seeing on us soil a president who is willing to stay in power willing to hand sew
Subway's justify people violently breaking into the capitol because he heard the president today yes he did say that he wanted peace
But we have to really also point out the President says that he loves these people that he feels their paint but they're spell
Special people those were the words of the president and that's why you hear people around the president saying that they're very very scared because
The president can't get around to quite condemning fully these people he can't get around saying stop it completely
You're completely wrong you should not have done that instead he's in some ways hedging and equivocating and justifying parts of
Trying to hold on for power
In fact he hasn't condemned them at all
I mean he said please stop we don't want
Anybody else to get hurt but
As you said he goes on to praise them
And to say that they're good people special people
Singling them out for praise
When
What they've done is break the law
And an in an historic move taken taken down the capital
Ineffective mean storming the US Capitol running through it freely
Walking through the chambers of the house and the Senate
And again
Putting themselves and others at risk
And again the shooting that man we now know is led to the death
Of of one woman so it's it's beyond
It was something we knew that
There would be anger today yamiche we knew there were people who would come to Washington
Frustrated they've been accepting president trumps
Conspiracy theories they've accepted the idea that something went wrong in the election but I don't think anyone
Expected that this was going to happen they were going to take over the Catholic clearly they weren't ready at the Capitol because it wasn't enough to
Security to keep them out
And and that's how events
Happened to unfold
Alright I'm going to let you go and continue continue your reporting
I think we're ready to go back to the floor and my right or
I'm trying to
Lisa Desjardin you are there at the Capitol watching all this Lisa pulled together what we're hearing tonight from
From both the house and the Senate
In terms of whether you expect there to be more objections to other states Electric
Vote counts besides Arizona which is what they're technically debating now
That's right that's the critical question Judy talkin to my sources I do not yet have a source in the Senate
Hotels me firmly that this will be the only objection that includes sources with the leadership offices
And I've reached out some of these Senators offices so I want to be careful what I say here this is bae
Based just on my reading of what I heard from Senator Hawley and from Senator Loeffler who were the two senators does a
I needed to object to the remaining States Pennsylvania and Georgia you said this after we heard from
My reading of their remarks is that they are very unlikely
Loeffler will not have Jacks the question isn't there someone else subject to Georgia and does send
Holly objective Pennsylvania my reading is it he likely will not he gave his
Remarks that gave his thoughts about the vote in Pennsylvania during this portion of the debate I tie my
Reading is that it is unlikely that we will have further objections after this one a reminder
Everyone about about what will happen here I've been asking how much time is left on the clock for both the house and the senate for the day
I think they should just said it should be getting pretty close to running out of debate time after that they go
Go to a vote on this objection whether to substation the objection or not now that
That could take some time because we're doing covid precautions and actually frankly any vote in the Senate takes sometimes cuz it's the US
They do a roll call I'm going to predict 20 to 30 minutes for that vote being optimistic and then
And the house will have its vote
We'll have to see when but that that will take longer because they there will be voting and covid formation and in groups
I believe 7 or so groups that could take an hour I think what I'm getting at here is that
I'm starting to see hopes for a horizon 4 when this very long day end of course we still need to confirm
That there will be no further objections but
My reading is that is the mood of these two chambers that is what I'm getting from these remarks these are not
Sharp protest of the election if anything I feel like the objectors are
Checking a box to say that they did this I feel like these are chambers that are ready to move on
And that's and that's the question I had because as you as you point out Kelly Loeffler is now so she's withdrawing her objection
And given what happened today she made a fairly brief but it was a very clear statement that she's no longer going to pursue this
I was Senator Hawley it was a little more difficult to discern but it was noticed that he made a point of bringing
Bring up Pennsylvania the fact that the state changed its law around maylands
Voting after years and years of saying mail-in voting there were strict very strict rules around mailing
Voting I made it much easier of this year due to the pandemic and he said this is something we need to look
Look at how somebody he said something to the to the effect I hope we can come together and look at which sounded to me
As if he was saying I'm dealing with that now right perhaps he was saying I won't be bringing out the formal
Objection to there's really no there's no reason he would be doing it twice in this circumstance with this
Kind of a problem I historic crisis at the US Capitol and it feels to me unlikely that he
He would do that twice and he has put out statements condemning the violence today and very strong words so I
Still that's where we're headed we have to see
One of those things you do you were talking to your musician great reporting on what's going on at the White House which is also
I pop in here there are the beginnings of conversations I've had a few sources contact me
Saying they're trying to weigh
This concept of whether the President should be removed now whether by the 25th amendment is cabinet or
Some other offered impeachment seems like that is unlikely for timing reason but there is
Some back-and-forth thinking of whether or removal of this president now and I can't believe I'm talking about this but
Weather removal this President could actually inflamed things at this moment that it could actually
Feed into on his ideas and the ideas of people who came to this Capital that are erroneous
That there's a plot against this president at now I don't think these conversations are settled but I think that's something that
Is under discussion right now out of course Congress does not have power over the
25th amendment removal that is up to the cabinet however many members here are in touch with those cabinet secretary so it
I think there is what's happening is there is
All of Washington is kind of thinking through these issues together quietly and for now
Hide I don't know how slowly or got feels like it's it feels like it's moving quickly but it could slow down again
No no question a lot of Washington conversation around that and as you mentioned closeness between the capitol
And the members of the president's cabinet no closer relationship I think it's fair to say than the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Who's married to a member of
The Trump cabinet
I and Elaine Chao the Secretary of Labor let's listen to a little of what we're hearing on the senate floor this is
The senator from the state of Maryland let's listen
Challenging issues of racial and social justice
I hope
We will learn from what happened today
The mob attack on this capital
The price we pay when we don't stand up
For the truth and for democracy James McHenry
Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention
Wrote about a famous Exchange in his Diaries
Between Elizabeth willing Powell and Benjamin Franklin
Wrote a lady asked Dr Franklin well doctor
What are we got
A republic or a monarchy
A republic replied dr. Franklin
If you can keep it
My colleagues this is a test
A weather will United to keep our Republic I hope we will pass the test together
Thank you
Majority leader
Misprinted I yield up to 5 minutes to the senator from South Carolina Senator Graham
Senator from South Carolina
Many times of my state has been the problem
I love it it's where I want to
David no time soon
Tim and I
Have a good relationship I love Tim Scott
1876 South Carolina Louisiana and Florida
Set to slate of electors
Tattoo governments by the way
And we didn't know what to do
Why did South Carolina Florida
In Louisiana do it
The hold
The country hostage
The end reconstruction
It worked
The commission was 827
It didn't work
Nobody accepted it
The way it ended is when he's did a deal
Were these three states
You give me the electors I'll kick the Union Army out
The rest is history
Atlanta Jim Crow you're looking for historical guidance this is not the one to pick
If you're looking for a way to convince people there was no fraud
Having a commission
Chosen by Nancy Pelosi Mitch McConnell and John Roberts is not going to get you to where you want to go
Hey there you go to work
So it's not going to do any good
It's going to delay
And it gives credibility to a dark chapter of our history
That's why I'm not with you
But I will fight to my death for you able to check you're not doing nothing wrong
Are the people of objective
I think it's a uniquely bad idea
To delay this election
Trumpet
We had a hell of a journey
I hate it then this way oh my God I hate it
My point of view is been a consequential president
But today
First thing you'll see
All I can say
Is count me out enough is enough
I tried to be helpful
But when does Wisconsin Supreme Court rule 423
That they didn't violate the Supreme the constitution of Wisconsin
I agree with the three but I accept the 4th if algora could accept 5-4 he's not president I can accept what
Wisconsin 43
Pennsylvania the second circuit so much for all the judges being in Trump's pocket
They said no you're wrong
I accept the Pennsylvania second circuit the Trump's lawsuit wasn't wasn't right Georgia they said the Secretary of State
Took the Lord his own hands he changed the election laws unlawfully
A federal judge said no I accept the federal judge even though I don't agree with it
Fraud
They said there's 66000 people in Georgia under 18 voted
How did people believe that
Give me 10
And I had one
They said 8000 felons in prison in Arizona voting give me 10 had gotten one
Does that say there's
There's problems in every election
I don't buy this enough's enough
We got to end it
Vice president Pence
What they're asking you to do you want to because you can't
Talk about interesting times I associate myself with Rentall how many times will you hear that
The mob is done something nobody else could do to get me and ran their dream
Read this right
If you're a conservative this is the most defensive Concept in the world that is single person could disenfranchise
155 million people
The president said it shall in the presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives open all certificates
Send the boat Sheldon be counted the person having the greatest number of votes for president Shelby president
Where in there does it say Mike and say I don't like the results
I want to send them back to the States I believe there was fraud
To the conservatives who believe in the Constitution now is your chance to stand up and be counted
Originalism Count Me In
It means what it says
So Mike
Miss vice president
Just hang in there
I think they said we can't count on Mike all of us can count on the vice president
You're going to do the right thing you're going to do the Constitutional thing you got a son who flies F-35 you got a son-in-law
Small flies at paint F-18 flying
So that we can get it right here
Are people dying
To my good friend from Illinois to make sure we have a chance to argue among ourselves and when it's over it is over it
It is over
The final thing Joe by now travel the world with Joe
I hope they lost I prayed he would lose
He what
Pizza legitimate president of the United States
I cannot convince people
Certain groups
By my words but I will tell you by my actions
That maybe I among any above all others in this body need to say this
Joe Biden
And Kamala Harris are lawfully elected
And will become the president
And the vice president United States
On January 20th
Majority Leader Mitch patio back the balance of our time
All-time is expired
The question is shell the objections submitted
But the gentleman from Arizona
Mister gozar and the senator from Texas mr. Cruz and others
Be sustained
Is there a second
There is
Clerical call the roll
Miss Baldwin
Mr barrasso
Mr. Bennet
This is Blackburn
Mr. Blumenthal
Mister blunt
Mister Parker
Bozeman
Mister Braun
Mr. Brown
Disturber
Miss Cantwell
This is capital
Mr. Carden
Harper
Mr. Casey
Mr. Cassidy
Liz Collins
Mr. Coons
Mr. cornyn
Ms Cortez masto
Mister cotton
Mr. Kramer
Mr. crapo
Mr. Cruz
Mr. James
Miss Duckworth
Mr. Durbin
Lizards
We are listening to a vote on the objection that was raised by Senator Cruz and house members
To counting the electoral vote from the state of Arizona so far the only no
That I've heard or yes I should say the only yes I've heard to sustaining this objection is so
Senator Cruz himself other Republican Senators who came into this process supporting the
The idea of objection including Senator Braun and others so far have said
No but they would not support the objection but let's go
Continue to listen
Mr. Hickenlooper
Miss hirono
No
Mr. Hoven
This is height Smith
Mr. inhofe
Richard Johnson
Mister Kane
Mr Kelly
Mr. Kennedy
The king
Ms Klobuchar
Mr Lankford
Truly he
Mr.lee
Mrs. Loeffler
Wuhan
Liz lummis
Supermansion
Mr. Marky
Mr. Marshall
Mr. McConnell
Mr. Menendez
Mr. Merkley
Moran
Liz murkowski
Mr. Murphy
This is Marie
Interpol
Mister Peters
Mr. Portman
Mister Reed
Mr. risch
Mr. Romney
Miss Rosen
It surrounds
It's Rubio
Mr Sanders
Mister SAS
Mr. shots
Mr. Schumer
Mr. Scott of Florida
Mr. Scott of South Carolina
Mrs. Shaheen
Mister Shelby
The cinema
Miss Smith
Mr Avenue
Mr Sullivan
Mister tester
Mr Foon
Mr. Tillis
Mr tumee
Porterville
Mr Van Hollen
Listen Warner
Liz Warren
Mr. Whitehouse
The Wicker
Widen
Mystery Young
They are counting the votes in the Senate on the objection to
Accepting the vote count the electoral vote count from the state of Arizona we're about to here
The call of the chair the cooler was a majority
Against accepting
The objection but let's hear what the numbers are
The Senators we heard who
Except the objection are some of the original group of objectors that they include
Senator
Cruz of Texas hyde-smith
Of Mississippi Senator Kennedy of Louisiana Senator Marshall of Kansas
Senator tuberville of Alabama Senator Hawley
Of Missouri
It may be only those six
But we'll see
Not sure about Senator Lankford I couldn't Oklahoma I couldn't hear his vote
Question
So many of us have now is once the Arizona vote is determined
In both the Senate and the house
Will there be objections
To the votes
And other states electoral votes and if there are
Will that lead to an extended
Debate
We're seeing a report that Senator Hall
Senator Hawley of Missouri
Will object
To Pennsylvania but there will not be the
Drawn-out debate that we are seeing now 2 hours for each chamber
And so on
But we will see
Looks as if they're checking on some of the boats here before they call
The total
Unusual
Day in the Congress
Tumultuous day in the Congress
But at the end of the day it is
A little after 10 at night Eastern Time
The Congress is back in session carrying out what they started to do or early this afternoon
When I went into session
To begin to formally count the electoral votes
From all 50 states
And the District of Columbia
Knowing the plan in mind was for some Republicans to have jacked and therefore there to be a Breakout
Sessions in effect for both the house and the Senate where they would go off
And debate these objections
You see the
Video we are showing you now the right the Senate chamber as we wait for the vote
To be announced in the left the house
Hundreds of simultaneously
Is is continuing its debate
On Arizona they have not finished their two hours yet
Xperia can independent judges appear to have recognized what was put
Try to make sure that we are listening when they announced
The vote in the Senate
Where vice president Mike Pence as president vice president Pence under
A lot of pressure today from President Trump who he served very loyally to do something anything
To stop this electoral vote count from going forward but the vice president announced earlier today he was not
Going to do that thing was going to stick to his constitutional role which is simply to preside over
Over these proceedings not to interfere not to attempt to Cindy
Both back to the states which is what President Trump was asking him to do
This may be the vote just maybe the vote count coming now see
Lisa Desjardin you were watching this with me we do
Don't want to miss when they announce the vote result maybe you can read the the body
Language better than I can say is a paper they're handing pieces of PayPal around the tables at the front of the chain
This is unusual because he know usually what's happening now it was happening is your way
Waiting for one Senator or two senators who haven't voted yet I don't think that's a good thing I'm looking off to the side which is
Is where at my monitor is of the floor and I'm looking to see if that you're waiting for
One of them for the clerk to pass up a note to the vice-president and it looks like it's happened
Here we go I'll just go with the A's or six the Nazar 93 the objection is not sustained
Secretary will notify the house of the action of the Senate
Informing that body that the set it is now ready to proceed to Joint session with further counting of
The electoral vote for president and vice president
Majority Leader so we are we have a few
Two more speakers now as we wait for the house to finish their debate and vote
Expect the house to finish voting on Arizona between 1130 and
Goodnight to be in a period of mourning business with the following Center
Better to speak around for up to 5 minutes each Senator Toomey Senator Rubio senator
Call lunch and on our side Senators widen porono and cools
Finally Falling their remarks at Centerstone and recess so he's going to call the chair
We'll figure it out
Saturday and appear that morning business with the following Senators permitted to speak there and probably 5 minutes ish
Show me Rubio Collins
Rejection
So what we heard vice president
Announce
Scuse me one of my producers is talking to me
Excuse me I was
What I was trying to say was that the Senate what we've heard the Senate majority
McConnell say after vice president Pence announced the results of the vote which is essentially to
Opposed
The the objection
2
Opposed the objection to the Arizona vote count the vote was 93 against
The objection 264 in favor of the objection which is a significant
Introduction originally there were about 13
Republican Senators who said they were prepared to support objections that
Was reduced to 6 after the
Events of today the assault on the capital the violence and again ultimate
The death of a woman
Who was apparently one of the protesters and what we just quickly I can just repeat what the
Already leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate is now in what they called mourning process and Lisa Desjardin you can
You can clean this up for me but but basically saying they're going to allow some Senators to speak
But they will not be inactive
Session until
They go back into joint session where the counting of the electoral votes
Will continue
I just say I'm experiencing sort of a comfort as if I'm able to drink a nice cup of
Hot tea or something to explain process verses explaining the violence that happened at the Capitol so let's talk about this process
This is morning business-related means and opportunity for senators to speak before usually the Senate would be doing
Vote in our formal debates and notice there was at fascinating moment at least to me when
Senator McConnell said after those speeches we will recess subject to the call of the chair
And then you heard the Democratic side they wait wait no no don't know the hold on and then you heard one of the one of the
The officers involved one of thy think when the secretaries say
We'll work it out we'll figure it out I'll of this view of how it actually how actually legislation gov
Everything happens the reason I believe that they didn't want to recess subject to the call to tear is they wanted to give you up
Trinity perhaps for other Senators to speak should they choose I also want to point out these 66 Senators who are going to speak
Speak now we're waiting for the house to finish the Arizona debate and vote
None of them is an objector to the Electoral College count
So it'll be interesting to see what they say but these are all Senators including prominent Republicans to me and Colin
Especially who have really railed against the idea of objecting to me of course significant
Because his state Pennsylvania is one of them on the on the docket for possible objection and as you say
That does look like I jinxed us and Senator call Holly will impact of Jackson course we want the process to
Continue but also if you know it's been a long day
For it has been a long day and I'm Anton Senator Hawley where you and I were discussing earlier what
He was going to do whether he was going to go ahead with objecting to the to the Pennsylvania electoral vote
Account further reporting has it that he will object but then he will
Call for the vote to move ahead that it may not be the full 2 hours but we will see
This will all unfold it looks as if it's not going to end soon we just adjust the calling of states will pay
Will take some time the house continues its debate on the Arizona objection
That won't finish up until 11:30 or 12 according to Mitch McConnell the Senate Majority Leader
Oh that's eastern time and is you say Lisa the Senate stands in in a kind of a
Recess until until until the joint session gets underway
Nerdy fact knowing our viewers they probably picked up
Quickly on the fact that those votes 93 against the objection 6-4 substantive sustaining it do not
100 Senators many of our viewers probably understand why but for those who don't the reason is there are only 99 cent
At this moment Senator Perdue of Georgia his term
Ended on Sunday with the end of the previous Congress senator Loeffler remains and her see it because it was a
A special seat she was appointed to it so there's that one vote that we don't have on the floor is the vacant
Georgia State
Formerly occupied by Senator Perdue and now vacant until there is official certification
Patient of that'll of that election so that's why there's one vote short and also why
There's no one else from Georgia and other Republican who could object to the Electoral count from that state
That is Right Alright Lisa Desjardin following it at the capital let's go now to someone else's
I've been following the events of this day it's our unmanned Devon she was there just on the
Backgrounds of the capital for hour after hour on the out in that cold windy afternoon which
Came the evening and then you had to move farther away from the capitol because it became dangerous to stay there but now
Tell us where we are with the protestors they mom the mob
That descended on the capital what has happened in the aftermath of that
It's such a strange sentence to say isn't it Judy the mob that descended on the capitol was you can see we have
DeCamp to even safer ground we are respecting the DC city curfew which went into effect at 6 after filing
Our last report and our wonderful team that was out there all day with me witnessing that's real and disturbing scene
Is now safely at home we're continuing to report that when I wanted to share a few pieces of information I've been Gathering because
I'm watching this scene unfold with you and Lisa and Umesh and our team is calm orderly
Procedure stands in such stark contrast to what we saw unfold on the steps of the Capitol today
And I'm speaking to a number of election and Security in a democracy experts folks I've known for
Lyrics from it is a foreign correspondent who remind me that's the world the rest of the world is watching this very very closely and if you do it
Quick scan of all the foreign headlines right now I've I've seen so far the UK headlines a German headlines a French headlines
South African and Indian are all leading with news about what's unfolding right here in Washington DC right now
Capital stormed is one of the headline sarabeth live updates following the procedure on the floor so
America's democracy is one that's been watched very closely for a very long time that continues today but through a v
Very different lens similarly I'm I've been speaking with a number of law-enforcement sources those former senior officials and
Current senior officials were involved with the transition and one of the things they tell me Judy is that this should not have surprised
Prize many people you saw in our reporting earlier that it was very easy in a lot of ways for those Pro
Protesters to Simply move across the fences move through the capitol grounds move the barricades and adventure
We make their way up the stairs and into that into the capitol after breaching the doorway as well
Enforcement officials are now telling me they don't believe it adequate planning went into preparing for today's protest
We knew this day was coming officials knew that there would be protests we saw the president calling for
For people to come to Washington and do exactly what they ended up doing there and one of the things he
Officials tell me is that there's a process for these kinds of things when you have something of this magnitude unfolding in the nation
Capital the federal officials generally Take the Lead DHHS an FBI Untold should have been December
Emanating intelligence bulletins to State and local officials that didn't happen they should have been convening conference calls with all the
The principles involved so that state and local officials could discuss the threat measures and then take preventative measures.
That did not happen and also they say the regional feds Federal authorities they should have been facilitating planning to have
Handle all that potential for civil unrest because setting the size any specific intelligence to today's Act
You only have to go back to some of the protest we saw earlier in the year we saw protesters who were supporter
Have President Trump storm state capitals in protest of of math mandates and lockdowns during the
Pandemic we saw the domestic terrorists in Michigan who were calling for a storming of the steakhouse
Atlanta kidnapping of the governor there this is all been part of the Playbook this is all been part of the conversation
Station for quite some time and so it's very alarming to a lot of people that today's events unfolded the way that they
They did and we've all seen some of the videos from inside and of the Capitol Police who were so bravely to protect
One inside move those members and arjo and Lisa and her colleagues to safety but several steps should
Have been taken until by law enforcement officials to prevent any of that from ever happening to prevent those protesters
If I'm going up there in the first place the last point I'll make Judy is that is striking and surreal
As so many of today's events have been the other thing that I'm hearing from folks who follow democracy
Season election processes and governments around the world is that in anyways what we're seeing from the President should also not really
The surprises that for someone who has praised authoritarian leaders and praised dictators
And really tested the bounds of his own presidential Powers at every possible turn the react
Action that we're seeing right now from our own reporting about how he is doing everything he can to hold on to
How are none of this should surprise us so course we're all waiting and watching and Reporting on what happens next but
That's what we're hearing right now Judy
And I'm not what year were saying what you're reporting very much in keeping with what you mean
Is reporting at the White House what she's being told by people around the president Awards to that effect that he would
Say they fear he would do anything
Anything to hold onto power and then other words a little bit earlier this evening from the
The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff retired Admiral Navy Admiral Mike Mullen a saying there's a very
Very real concern about the president and whether the country is safe
With decisions he might make over the next 14 days so I'll all-in-all a disturbing day and
And this reporting I putting it all up pulling it all together deep concern
Well I'm not avasa remarkable work today are reporting from the capital under very difficult
Stan's isn't as you say so similar to the kind of reporting you did overseas covering
Governments covering movements in countries that aren't democracies but watching it unfold and
In our own United States today on the thank you very much at the end of this long day and we appreciate great reporter
Thank you it is a day to remember and to help additionally put it into some contacts time
I'm joined Now by historian Michael beschloss A friend of the NewsHour someone we turn to on import
Certain occasions Michael like elections and conventions and today a day that was going to be
Simply accounting of the electoral votes at which is turned into something very different
Storming of the capital we've been asking a lot of people this today if you've ever seen anything like it but he'll
Help please help put it into some understandable form for us
Well I love what you and Anna were saying because here's a case where you know if you watch the
Senate floor tonight if you want to take a benign nice point of view you can say Isn't it nice that after that
Senate chamber was desecrated
Are with people going in there without masks and throwing things around and vandalizing the space
Here they are tonight behaving as if nothing happened shows the durability of our democracy but there's there's also
Also one more ominous way of looking at and that is that if you listen to the Republican Senators
Particularly with one or two exceptions
They criticized the. Violence but you would think that the violence just sort of material is lies out of
Fan error which in fact
You're looking at what was unusual historically about what we saw today for the first time in American history over
Over two centuries we saw an American president President Trump around noon time talking to a bob
And urging them to march up to the capital this is the language in used up Pennsylvania Avenue take
Back our country stop a so-called stolen election that was not stolen
And a terrorist attack on our Congress
And our Capital that's what it was terrorism means you no use of violence against civilians especially
Political aims then after that began President Trump gives a video from the rose go
Garden sang we love you we think you're special
That's not exactly what any other president of the United States would have done anyone else would have said we've got to
Restore order without a clamp down on this instead just as you've all been saying for the last half-hour
Very few arrests we don't know why these people were let into the capital by law enforcement
We do not know how widely the planning and execution of this operation
Up this coup d'etat attempt a coup d'etat today was
And this is something that we Americans have to live with for the next 2 weeks because Donald Trump just as you and
You still going to be president
He is still going to be president although his week as we have been discussing through the evening with your mission with others there has
Been reporting and discussion around invoking the 25th Amendment their consideration
How that would happen how it would unfold the vice president would be involved of course members of the cabin
There's talk that some members of the cabinet or talkin of resigning over what happened today there's
Is also the the worried about what the reaction would be if the president were forcibly removed from office
Even with just a few days a few days left but Michael are so many questions coming out of
Today what a way to begin the end of this presidency to have this house
Happened to have this President as you just said call on people to march on the capital and then
As you meet reported there are some around the president who think he wanted this to happen he wanted there to be a man
Melee are there to be Mayhem at the capital so a lot of reporting will come
Sure
The question the questions are enormous
Yes do that that's for sure and whether we can live with the president about whom there are these questions
And if anyone was going to resign Judy from the other White House staff at a high level or from the cabinet
Did they need to see any more than I saw today they know what danger were living with you and I have children those
Children are endangered
The country there's questions about the country and now repeat what former chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Admiral Mike Mullen said there's a question about the safety of the country
Over the next for sure for the next 14 days
Hate to leave everyone hanging but we're just going to see whether our system works or not and
I love what you've been saying about the 25th Amendment or people resigning but hasn't happened yet 25th Amendment
Has been
In effect since the late 1960s has never been used people still argue about whether would work or not
Exactly right and and we will continue we will continue to wonder Michael beschloss thank you very much
Putting a. On this day a day like no other Michael beschloss thank
Thank you very much thank you
And it has been a day like no other in our memory we did witness an assault on our democracy we also Witness
A condemnation of of what happened today and yet we remain hopeful that this is a moment
In which we might as some of the Senators said and others we might come together no matter what
What are political beliefs we as journalist or witness to this and trying our best to report on its face
But not only are we facing a pandemic as a as an American people we're now facing a choice how do we
We move forward we are stronger when we are united and we're going to we know that as we just heard it
Again from historian Michael beschloss so now we're going to return you to regularly scheduled programming here on
PBS but you can continue to watch these debates at the capital unfold on our website
Like it's pbs.org NewsHour you can also watch on our social Channel we can tell you that we
We do expect the counting of the electoral votes to continue it will take another hour or so for the
The house to complete the vote on the State of Arizona the objection to the electoral vote there the Expo
Spectations is that there may not be debates further on other states where there had been a Jackson's
Georgia and Pennsylvania if so the process may move along more quickly than we had expected
But again if you want to watch that and you can watch it online pbs.org / NewsHour
On behalf of the entire NewsHour team doing a remarkable job today for all of us
From know you heard a moment ago reporting from the capitol grounds yamiche Alcindor at the
The White House Lisa Desjardin throughout the day covering the Capitol events
Inside bravely even as the Capitol Police were urging her to move on
So I'm so proud to be part of this NewsHour to you but with that I'm Judy Woodruff
It is the news hour and our special coverage for this night thank you
Please stay safe and we'll see you soon
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