Riot at US Capitol, one person dead
Pro-Trump protesters clashed with police, forcing authorities to lock down the entire Capitol building and warn of a security threat inside the building.
The US Congress held a joint session on January 6 to count the electoral votes and officially announce who was elected as President and Vice President for the new term. The event was interrupted right at the start when thousands of President Trump's supporters tried to enter Congress to protest the election results.
Just before the session took place, President Donald Trump addressed hundreds of thousands of his supporters.near the White House, asserting that the election was stolen and that he would never accept defeat. Mr. Trump also said that Vice President Mike Pence, who is also the president of the Senate, should return the vote results to the states for re-certification.
A joint session of Congress is held under the chairmanship of Vice President Pence. The two chambers of Congress are expected to hear the certification of election results from each state in alphabetical order, and then be asked to object, which can only be accepted in writing and signed by one member of the House and one member of the Senate.
Within five minutes of the meeting, one Republican Representative and one Republican Senator objected in writing to the Arizona results, forcing the two chambers to discuss separately. However, discussions in both chambers were repeatedly interrupted as thousands of President Trump supporters caused chaos and tried to enter the Capitol building.
Protesters stormed the US Congress chamber. They clashed with police and authorities had to lock down the entire Capitol building and warn of a security threat inside the building.
Initial information shows that one protester was killed. In a related development, Mr. Trump spoke up to protect the protesters.
Twitter said it would lock President Trump's account for 12 hours, warning for the first time that it could be permanently locked. First Lady Melania Trump's chief of staff resigned.
Private debates in both houses were also suspended due to the possibility of protesters storming into the Capitol building. In response, District of Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a curfew from 6 p.m. on January 6 to 6 a.m. on January 7./.
