U.S. Capitol forced into lockdown as pro-Trump mob breaches building

Pro-Trump protesters entered the Capitol building and engaged with riot police as Congress held a joint session to count the Electoral College votes which would clear the path to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration later this month.

All times are adjusted to the Eastern United States.

• Reporters were advised just after 2:30 p.m. to “be prepared to get down” in their chairs and to relocate, Axios’ Kadia Goba reports. She was in the chamber when members bolted the door and watched Capitol police draw their guns and point at the door. 
• At 2:31 p.m., everyone was evacuated from the floor.
• A police officer stood in the center of the Cannon office building and shouted: “Everyone out, right now… we’re evacuating.”
• Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Chuck Grassley were escorted to a secure location.
• DC Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew from 6 p.m. tonight until 6 a.m. tomorrow.
• At 3:13 p.m. President Trump urged protestors to remain peaceful and respect officers. “WE are the Party of Law & Order,” he tweeted.
• The National Guard launched to DC as chaos continues.
• At 3: 30 p.m. a woman has been shot at the U.S. Capitol by law enforcement. The victim has been hospitalized.
• 4 p.m. Democratic leadership calls on Trump to demand protesters leave.
• President-elect Joe Biden calls on the mob to ‘pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward.’
• 4:30 p.m. Trump calls for his supporters to ‘go home.’ Says he ‘loves [them].’
• 4:50 p.m. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew where only essential workers will be allowed in public after curfew goes into effect at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
• 6 p.m. Washington DC’s city wide curfew goes into effect. It will not be lifted until 6 a.m.
• NBC’s Pete Williams reports that the woman who was shot inside the Capitol building has died.
• US Officials now say the building is secure.

The Senate recessed its Electoral College debate on Wednesday afternoon after protesters outside of the Capitol building forced a lockdown. Vice President Mike Pence was evacuated from the building.

Congressional counting of the Electoral College vote has been halted due to deteriorating security situation in and around the U.S. Capitol due to Trump supporters’ efforts to storm the building.

Protestors are everywhere in the nations capitol claiming the election was rigged while chanting Donald Trump was the visitor. As his supporters storm the U.S. Capitol, President Trump tweets that “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered remarks in the Senate on Wednesday during the joint session of Congress to count the 2020 Electoral College votes. He stated that overturning the results of the election would put democracy into a “death spiral” and that he will “vote to respect the people’s decision and defend our system of government as we know it.”

This is a developing story.