Riot at US Capitol, one person killed
Pro-Trump protesters clashed with police, forcing authorities to lock down the entire Capitol building and warn of a security threat inside the building.
On January 6, the US Congress held a joint session to count the electoral votes and officially announce who was elected President and Vice President for the new term. The event was interrupted as soon as it began because thousands of President Trump's supporters tried to enter Congress to protest the election results.
Just before the session took place, President Donald Trump spoke to 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 will 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 debate separately. However, the 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 Capitol building. They clashed with police and authorities had to lock down the entire Capitol building, warning of a security threat inside the building.
Initial information shows that one protester was killed. In related developments, Mr. Trump spoke out to protect the protesters.
Twitter said it would suspend President Trump's account for 12 hours, warning for the first time that it could be suspended permanently. And First Lady Melania Trump's chief of staff resigned.
Private debates in both houses of Congress were also suspended due to the possibility of protesters storming the Capitol building. In response, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a curfew from 6 p.m. on January 6 to 6 a.m. on January 7./.
