An hour-by-hour look at the assault on the U.S. Capitol -Breaking
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© Reuters. Trump supporters gather at the U.S. Capitol Building. Washington, U.S. January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith By Jan Wolfe
WASHINGTON (Reuters), Almost a whole year has passed since Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, in a failure to reverse his election loss. It was the largest assault on the federal seat of government since the War of 1812.
The day before the riot saw four deaths. Around 140 police officers sustained injuries during the multiple-hour attack by Trump supporters. Four other officers also lost their lives. Here are the main events from the day.
THE RALLY BEGINS
10:00 a.m.: Trump supporters converge in a park close to the White House. Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer, urges them all to participate in “trial and combat.”
“Fight LIKE HELL”
Twelve p.m.: Trump starts a 70 minute speech at the rally. He repeats false claims of a stolen election, and tells supporters to fight like hell.
CONGRESS CONVENES
12:53 p.m.: Lawmakers gather for a joint session of Congress to certify Joe Biden’s election win over the objections of some Republicans, as an initial wave of Trump supporters topples barricades on the west side of the Capitol and harasses police officers.
TRUMP’S PENCE IS REJECTED BY PENNE
1.02 PM: Vice President Mike Pence releases a letter stating that he won’t overturn the election results, despite having a legal obligation to do so.
POLICE EXECUTED
After Trump’s speech, thousands of protestors descend upon the Capitol at 1:30 PM. Police officers are surrounded by a mob on Capitol’s steps. The officers are forced to flee.
THE CAPITOL BREACHED
2.12 p.m. Rioters break through the Capitol Building’s windows, a floor below the Senate.
HURRIED EVACUATION
2:03 p.m.: Pence is evacuated by security agents to another office. Senator Charles Grassley pauses certification.
EUGENE GOODMAN’S STANDOFF
2.14 p.m.: Eugene Goodman (a Capitol Police officer) confronts protesters as they climb a staircase that leads to the Senate chamber. Goodman manages to get the mob out of the chamber and allows lawmakers and other officers to close the doors.
TRUMP EXPLODES
2:24 p.m.: Trump blasts Pence on Twitter (NYSE:), saying he “didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done.”
FATAL MOMENT
2:44 p.m.: A rioter, Ashli Babbitt, attempts to climb through the broken part of a door leading into an area known as the Speaker’s Lobby. Her body is shot and killed by an officer of Capitol Police.
‘REMAIN PEACEFUL’
3.13 p.m. Trump asks his followers to stop fighting, tweeting on Twitter that live TV is showing an unprecedented attack. There will be no violence!
“YOU’RE SO SPECIAL”
4:07 p.m. Trump posts a YouTube video in which he instructs the rioters that they should go home. He also states “we love” to them and repeats false allegations of electoral fraud.
THE NATIONAL GUARD IS NOW AVAILABLE
5:05 p.m. – The Capitol’s first National Guard troops arrive. The violence was almost over by that time.
CAPITOL SECURED
8:45 p.m.: Capitol Police makes the building safe, and Pence opens the Senate proceeding a short time later.
DEMOCRACY PREVAILS
January 7, 2013, 3:40 AM: Pence closes the certification for electoral votes. This confirms that Biden has won the presidency.
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