Former President George W. Bush said he was sickened and heartbroken at the "mayhem" transpiring at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Bush is seen here in July 2020 a the funeral of the late Rep. John Lewis. Alyssa Pointer/Getty Images
George W. Bush, the only living former Republican president, said he was "appalled" by the actions of some political leaders since the election, and called the "mayhem" at the U.S. Capitol "a sickening and heartbreaking sight."
"This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic – not our democratic republic," the former president wrote in a statement released Wednesday evening. "I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement."
Without mentioning President Trump or other leaders by name, Bush's statement rebuked Trump's behavior since losing the November election as well as his inciting of the violence currently gripping the American capital.
"Insurrection could do grave damage to our Nation and reputation," Bush continued. "In the United States of America, it is the fundamental responsibility of every patriotic citizen to support the rule of law. To those who are disappointed in the results of the election: Our country is more important than the politics of the moment."
The full text of the statement from George W. Bush:
Laura and I are watching the scenes of mayhem unfolding at the seat of our Nation's government in disbelief and dismay. It is a sickening and heartbreaking sight. This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic – not our democratic republic. I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement. The violent assault on the Capitol – and disruption of a Constitutionally-mandated meeting of Congress – was undertaken by people whose passions have been inflamed by falsehoods and false hopes. Insurrection could do grave damage to our Nation and reputation. In the United States of America, it is the fundamental responsibility of every patriotic citizen to support the rule of law. To those who are disappointed in the results of the election: Our country is more important than the politics of the moment. Let the officials elected by the people fulfill their duties and represent our voices in peace and safety. May God continue to bless the United States of America.
Gabriel Sterling, Georgia's voting system implementation manager, fact-checks President Trump's false claims about voting at a news conference Monday. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Over the four years of Donald Trump's presidency, people in charge of elections in both major parties have warned that his continued peddling of falsehoods about elections could one day lead to violence.
Now, as a mob took over the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, those predictions have come true.
"Every elected leader who helped spread lies about American elections paved the way to today," said Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.
While many Americans looked at their televisions in shock Wednesday, those in charge of elections seem to have seen it as the natural evolution of a growing problem: A large portion of the country now falsely believes that the electoral process is rigged and that therefore there may be no other alternative than taking to the streets.
It's a theme that predated Trump within the Republican Party and one that will probably plague American democracy long after Joe Biden is sworn in as president on Jan. 20.
A month ago, a top election official in Georgia, Gabriel Sterling, begged his fellow Republicans to stop spreading conspiracy theories about voting, as it was leading to death threats against officials overseeing that state's recount.
"Someone's going to get hurt, someone's going to get shot, someone's going to get killed," Sterling said at the time.
But Trump, as well as many other Republicans in Congress, didn't heed those warnings. In a phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over the weekend, Trump listed a number of debunked conspiracy theories, many of which spawned from extremist corners of the Internet.
On Wednesday, House Republicans mentioned some of those same conspiracy theories in objecting during the Electoral College vote-counting process. And less than two hours later, windows were shattered, at least one person was fatally shot and the entire Capitol building was overrun.
It all could have been avoided, experts say, if those in power told the truth about the legitimacy of the vote.
"WHAT DID THEY THINK WOULD HAPPEN?" tweeted Chris Krebs, a Republican who led the federal government's election security efforts before being fired by Trump in November. "They own this."
Krebs oversaw an effort by the Department of Homeland Security to fact-check some of the most pervasive lies about the election over the past two months.
"Yet the President & his campaign/lawyers/supporters fanned the flames for their own selfish reasons," he said.
Trump has given no indication that Wednesday's events will change how he talks about the election. He tweeted a video on Wednesday evening in which he called the extremists at the Capitol "special" and continued to falsely claim that he is the winner.
The question now is whether congressional Republicans will do the same.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said earlier Wednesday that if elections in the U.S. were overturned by "mere allegations" from the losing side, then "our democracy would enter a death spiral."
"I hope [Republicans] can look themselves in the mirror and say, 'Was this really worth it?' " said Josh Douglas, an election law professor at the University of Kentucky. "They should have known better. They should have known that they were spouting anti-democracy rhetoric and really undermining one of the core tenets of our democracy."
Rep. Ilhan Omar, seen here in 2019, said Wednesday that she is drafting articles of impeachment against President Trump, as pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Rep. Ilhan Omar said she is drafting articles of impeachment against President Trump. She blamed him for his supporters' attempt at an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
"Donald J. Trump should be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate," wrote Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota. "We can't allow him to remain in office, it's a matter of preserving our Republic and we need to fulfill our oath."
I am drawing up Articles of Impeachment.
Donald J. Trump should be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate.
We can’t allow him to remain in office, it’s a matter of preserving our Republic and we need to fulfill our oath.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 6, 2021
In remarks to his gathered supporters on Wednesday at the Ellipse behind the White House, Trump falsely claimed that "this election was stolen from you, from me, from the country" and also incorrectly declared that he won "in a landslide."
Trump's supporters had gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest Congress' certification of the Electoral College vote, which was won by former Vice President Joe Biden by a large margin.
Even as his supporters occupied the U.S. Capitol building, Trump released a video message on Wednesday afternoon in which he told them to "go home now," while continuing to falsely claim the election had been "stolen."
The House of Representatives, where Democrats hold a majority, already voted to impeach Trump in December 2019. The articles of impeachment then included abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, related to Trump's push for Ukraine to conduct investigations that could help him in the 2020 election. Less than two months later, the Republican-controlled Senate voted to acquit him.
There were already calls from some, including Omar, to impeach Trump over his Saturday phone call to Georgia's secretary of state, a call in which the president urged state officials to "find" votes that could overturn his loss there during November's presidential election.
Without the support of the House leadership, Omar's efforts are likely to go nowhere, and Trump has just two weeks left in office before his term ends and Biden is inaugurated as president.
Facebook on Wednesday removed a video message by President Trump, citing "the risk of ongoing violence."
Facebook executive Guy Rosen called the pro-Trump mob swarming the Capitol an "emergency situation," suggesting the president's video message had the potential of worsening the chaos.
"We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence," Rosen tweeted.
Twitter did not go as far as removing the video, which was also posted to its site. But the platform did restrict the video's reach over concerns of "a risk of violence."
In the video, Trump told his supporters who have stormed the U.S. Capitol to "go home now," but the president also baselessly claimed the election was stolen and told his angry backers: "We love you. You're very special."
Twitter restricted engagement on the tweet, blocking retweets, likes and comments on the platform. But Twitter still allowed the video message to be quote-tweeted. Many users did just that, allowing the material to spread around the social network. In the hour after Trump posted it, the video was viewed more than 11 million times on Twitter.
This is not the first time the company has added layers of friction to the president's tweets to slow their spread across the platform. In the runup to the November election, Twitter added warning labels to dozens of Trump's tweets for promoting falsehoods about voter fraud.
But this time, critics called on Twitter to do more, such as suspending Trump's account for repeatedly stoking violence over his unfounded claims over his election loss. Others demanded that the president's accounts on both sites be permanently banned.
"Twitter and Facebook have to cut him off," tweeted Alex Stamos, a former top security official at Facebook.
Officials at Twitter declined to comment on further action they might take.
"We are also exploring other escalated enforcement actions and will keep the public updated with any significant developments," the company said in a statement.
Trump's short video address followed hours in which the president remained silent as a melee ensued on the Capitol. His supporters violently entered the building, causing lawmakers to be rushed out to safety and law enforcement to draw their guns.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other foreign leaders condemned the violence in the U.S., which they decried as a threat to democracy. Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 7:08 p.m. ET
World leaders condemned pro-Trump extremists' storming of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as members of Congress attempted to accept the Electoral College ballots for President-elect Joe Biden.
"Disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress," Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain tweeted. "The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power."
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned President Trump to accept the results of the U.S. election, saying, "Insurgent words turn into violent acts."
"The enemies of democracy will be delighted at these terrible images from Washington DC," he tweeted. "Trump and his supporters must accept the decision of American voters at last and stop trampling on democracy."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was monitoring the situation closely and with concern.
"I think the American democratic institutions are strong, and hopefully everything will return to normal shortly," Trudeau told the News 1130 Vancouver radio station, according to Reuters.
"These are not 'protestors' — this a direct attack on democracy and legislators carrying out the will of the American people," British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer tweeted, calling the scenes "horrendous."
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's minister for foreign affairs, called for the situation to be quickly resolved for the good of the U.S. and other democratic countries.
"While people in Palestine & in many other places in the world are struggling to achieve democracy, there are those in the US who are actively sabotaging theirs," Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi tweeted. "Despots everywhere thrive on repression, oppression, & violence."
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid tweeted he was "deeply saddened and shocked" at the events.
"We hope to see order restored and the transition of power completed," he wrote. "America needs to go back to being a role model for democracies across the world."
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wrote that the "outcome of this democratic election must be respected."
Senior Turkish officials offered reactions that were described as "peak trolling" on social media.
The speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Sentop, tweeted that in Turkey "we have always been in favor of the law and democracy and we recommend it to everyone."
The comment was seen as ironic, coming from a senior member of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party. In May of 2017 it was members of Erdogan's security detail making headlines, when they physically attacked demonstrators protesting Erdogan's invitation to the White House to meet President Trump.
A presidential spokesman said Turkey was "following developments in the US with concern," while the foreign ministry warned Turkish citizens in the U.S. to avoid crowds.
Irish lawmaker Brendan Howlin referred to the events as "the inevitable final phase of Trumpism."
NPR’s Peter Kenyon contributed to this story from Istanbul.
U.S. Capitol Police hold protesters at gunpoint near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Andrew Harnik/AP
Federal and state authorities scrambled to send forces to help secure the U.S. Capitol after it was overrun by pro-Trump extremists who stormed the building on Wednesday.
The FBI deployed agents from its Washington Field Office in response to a request for assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police, which is responsible for securing the Capitol complex. The FBI also said it responded to reports of "suspicious devices" and that it continues to investigate.
Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also took part in the response. The agency said it deployed a Special Response Team, its version of a SWAT unit, as well as agents from its Washington and Baltimore field divisions to help out at the Capitol.
The Justice Department said acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen is coordinating with the department's law enforcement partners to provide support for the Capitol Police.
The Defense Department, meanwhile, said the D.C. National Guard has been mobilized to support the security response.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said on Twitter that the acting defense secretary, Christopher Miller, has been in touch with congressional leadership, while Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy has been working with the local Washington, D.C., government.
Hoffman said the law enforcement response will be led by the Justice Department.
Reinforcements were also being deployed from the neighboring states of Virginia and Maryland.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said on Twitter that he is sending 200 state troopers and a contingent from the state National Guard. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said that he's sending state troopers to help out as well and that he's also instructed his state's National Guard to call up a "rapid response force to support law enforcement and restore order."
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy later joined the governors in announcing a contingent headed for the District.
At the request of DC officials, I am deploying the @NJSP to the District of Columbia to facilitate the peaceful transition of power & protect our democracy. We are prepared to deploy the @NJNationalGuard upon request.
May God Bless America and our brave men and women in uniform.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) January 6, 2021
It was not immediately clear when those reinforcements would arrive. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a curfew for 6 p.m. in the District as authorities sought to restore order on Capitol Hill and its environs.
Supporters of President Trump climb the west wall of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Jose Luis Magana/AP
Updated at 7:08 p.m. ET
After a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, President Trump downplayed the violence of the day and repeated his fraudulent claim that the election was stolen, but he also urged them to "go home."
In a Wednesday evening tweet, Trump wrote: "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long."
"Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!" he added.
And in a short video earlier posted to social media Wednesday afternoon, Trump sympathized with protesters, saying "I know your pain. I know your hurt.
"We had an election that was stolen from us," he said, repeating debunked claims that election fraud had ruined his fictitious "landslide election."
"But you have to go home now," he said. "We have to have peace. We have to have law and order. We don't want anybody hurt."
One person, however, died after suffering a gunshot wound at the Capitol amid the violent occupation.
"This was a fraudulent election," Trump claimed baselessly again, "but we can't play into the hands of these people. So go home. We love you. You're very special."
Twitter took the extraordinary step of not allowing replies, retweets or likes on the video.
"This claim of election fraud is disputed, and this Tweet can't be replied to, Retweeted, or liked due to a risk of violence," a warning on the tweet said.
Facebook took an even stronger stance, removing the video. "We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence," Facebook executive Guy Rosen tweeted.
Earlier Wednesday, in a speech from the Ellipse outside the White House, Trump urged his backers to march to the Capitol, saying he would go with them, but instead he returned to the White House as the insurrection unfolded.
Rioters gather outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Violent pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol after demonstrations Wednesday in Washington, D.C., prompting the Capitol Police to lock down all building within the U.S. Capitol complex.
Listen to NPR's live special coverage on this page, on your local member station or on NPR One. Follow more updates on NPR.org.
Police have alerted individuals in the Capitol to shelter in place, citing a "security threat inside the building."
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew from 6 p.m. Wednesday until 6 a.m. Thursday.
The riots came hours into a joint session of Congress to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over Trump.
Ahead of the violence, Trump addressed his cheering supporters and urged them to march to the Capitol, once again baselessly alleging widespread fraud that rigged the election against him. His supporters later pushed back against security barriers and forced Congress into a recess while members, staff and press took shelter.
In a tweet, Trump called on his supporters to "remain peaceful. No violence!"
I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021
President-elect Joe Biden said U.S. democracy is "under unprecedented assault" in remarks on the storming of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump extremists on Wednesday. Above, he speaks at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., on Tuesday. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 4:22 p.m. ET
President-elect Joe Biden called the violent protests that engulfed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday an "assault on the most sacred of American undertakings: the doing of the people's business" and called on President Trump to immediately demand that his supporters stop the violence.
In a somber address, Biden called on Trump, who had not publicly spoken since a rally earlier Wednesday, to "go on national television now to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege."
Shortly thereafter, Trump released a prerecorded video urging protesters to go home.
The president-elect spoke hours after a mob of extremists loyal to Trump stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, bringing to a halt Congress' counting of the electoral votes to confirm Biden's election victory. Police evacuated some lawmakers from the building in a chaotic scene that shook the very foundation of American democracy.
Biden said that the words of a president matter. At their best, he said, they can inspire. But at their worst, he added, they can incite.
The president-elect described the conduct of the pro-Trump extremists on Wednesday as an "insurrection" and said the behavior "borders on sedition."
Protesters supporting President Trump break into the Capitol on Wednesday. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has ordered a citywide curfew starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Win McNamee/Getty Images
As pro-Trump extremists clash with police and breach the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser has ordered a citywide curfew starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
"During the hours of the curfew, no person, other than persons designated by the Mayor, shall walk, bike, run, loiter, stand, or motor by car or other mode of transport upon any street, alley, park, or other public place within the District," her statement reads.
The curfew will last until 6 a.m. on Thursday.
Today, I'm ordering a citywide curfew for the District of Columbia from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7. pic.twitter.com/lp6Pt3DcYC
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 6, 2021
It does not apply to essential workers, including media with outlet-issued credentials.
The curfew comes after thousands of Trump's supporters and far-right rioters stormed the Capitol, prompting the House and Senate to swiftly go into recess as Capitol Police locked down the building.
Their action was in response to a joint session being held in Congress to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College win over Trump. Various Republican lawmakers are objecting to the Electoral College results.
Trump addressed his supporters on Wednesday. After his speech, many of his supporters pushed past barriers erected on the U.S. Capitol, yelling, "Whose Capitol? Our Capitol," as NPR's Hannah Allam reports.
Demonstrators breached security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 electoral vote tally on Wednesday. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 6:50 p.m. ET
The U.S. Capitol was the scene of chaos on Wednesday, as supporters of President Trump responded to his call to head to the complex and then breached it, leading to unprecedented violence in the seat of America's federal government.
A woman was shot and killed during the assault on the Capitol, according to Washington, D.C., police.
Her identity was not made public, and it was not clear who might be responsible.
The insurrectionists interrupted proceedings in the House and Senate, as members of Congress were tallying President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory. The counting of the votes is normally a relatively pro forma session.
But for two months, Trump has falsely and continuously claimed the election was stolen from him, and dozens of fellow Republicans had planned to object to slates of electors from various states they considered contested.
Police with guns drawn face off with protesters trying to break into the House chamber at the Capitol. J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Lawmakers were debating an objectionto Arizona's results — a state Trump lost narrowly — when the sessions were recessed as the U.S. Capitol Police attempted to put the complex on lockdown.
Violent protesters were seen smashing windows and occupying the House and Senate floors and various offices. Police were seen with guns drawn in the House chamber, pointing their firearms at windows that were smashed.
People inside the building were told to shelter in place, and congressional leaders were taken offsite. Members of Congress were told that tear gas was being used in the Capitol rotunda and that they should get ready to put on masks on.
Trump urges peace but doubles down on election falsehoods
On Twitter, Trump asked people to remain peaceful. He then posted a video on social media, asking people to go home — but not before reiterating his baseless claims about the election being stolen and saying: "You're very special."
Twitter and Facebook moved to restrict the reach of the video.
His response to the violence came just a few hours after a midday address to supporters outside the White House, in which he repeatedly denied the results of the election, claiming without evidence that it was rigged against his campaign.
"This election was stolen from you, from me, from the country," he said in the earlier remarks. He also urged his supporters to head to the Capitol, adding: "You'll never take back our country with weakness."
Protesters gesture to U.S. Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber inside the Capitol on Wednesday. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Vice President Pence more forcefully condemned the chaos, saying that the violence was an "attack on our Capitol" and tweeting that people involved must "immediately leave the building" and would be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Federal and local authorities scrambled to send forces to help secure the Capitol after it was overrun by the pro-Trump extremists. Reinforcements were also being deployed from the nearby states of Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey.
In a tweet, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany wrote that the National Guard had been called in at Trump's direction.
"We reiterate President Trump's call against violence and to remain peaceful," she wrote.
Law enforcement eventually gained control of the scene, ushering people out of the Capitol. The House Sergeant at Arms informed lawmakers and staff after 5 p.m. that the Capitol had been cleared.
Washington, D.C. instituted a 12-hour curfew that went into effect at 6 p.m. ET.
"It's insurrection"
In mid-afternoon televised remarks, Biden called on Trump to "go on national television now to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege" at the Capitol.
"Let me be very clear," Biden added, "the scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America, do not reflect who we are," he said, calling the violent protesters a "small number of extremists dedicated to lawlessness."
"It borders on sedition and it must end now," Biden said. "It's not protest; it's insurrection."
"The President bears responsibility"
The events came as thousands of pro-Trump and far-right protesters congregated in downtown D.C. to contest the results of the presidential election.
Many Republicans, who spent the summer castigating the mostly peaceful protests against racial police violence, had previously encouraged demonstrations calling to overturn the election results.
But Republicans and Democrats blasted those who breached the Capitol, with many — including some in his own party — also blaming Trump for inciting the mob through his repeated claims of a stolen election.
"President Trump incited his followers to violence," Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said. "They stormed the Capitol and stopped the House and Senate in session."
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier during protests at the U.S. Capitol. Julio Cortez/AP
"The President bears responsibility for today's events by promoting the unfounded conspiracy theories that have led to this point," Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., said in a statement. "It is past time to accept the will of American voters and to allow our nation to move forward."
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, a frequent critic of Trump, described the breach of the U.S. Capitol as "an insurrection, incited by the president of the United States."
Ben Sasse, a Republican senator from Nebraska, in a statement described the Capitol as being "ransacked while the leader of the free world cowered behind his keyboard."
He continued: "Lies have consequences. This violence was the inevitable and ugly outcome of the President's addiction to constantly stoking division."
"This is banana republic crap that we're watching happen right now," Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin said in a video message from lockdown in his congressional office. "This is the cost of countenancing an effort by Congress to overturn the election and telling thousands of people that there is a legitimate shot of overturning the election today, even though you know that is not true.
"We have got to stop this. Mr. President, you have got to stop this," he said. "The election is over. Call it off."
Congress had begun the process of officially recognizing the results of the presidential election. The process has been delayed for several hours after multiple Republican members challenged the results in Arizona, a move they are expected to do with several states.
Many members from both parties are urging leaders to reconvene for the joint session and proceed with the electoral count. Leaders have not yet made any announcement on plans for Wednesday evening.
NPR's Deirdre Walsh and Kelsey Snell contributed to this report.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell arrives Wednesday for the Electoral College vote certification for President-elect Joe Biden during a joint session of Congress. Kevin Dietsch/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., delivered blistering remarks Wednesday afternoon against President Trump and his Republican colleagues who are objecting to the Electoral College results, saying of Congress: "We cannot simply declare ourselves a national board of elections on steroids."
"We'll either hasten down a poisonous path where only the winners of an election actually accept the results or show we can still muster the patriotic courage that our forebears showed, not only in victory, but in defeat," he said.
His comments began debate in the Senate following an objection challenging the electoral results in Arizona, a state Trump narrowly lost, and the first of several GOP objections anticipated Wednesday.
"If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral," McConnell said.
McConnell, a staunchly partisan figure who has largely stood by Trump during his term, lambasted the president and his allies for undertaking an effort to reverse the results, a move that he said would "damage our republic forever."
"We cannot keep drifting apart into two separate tribes with a separate set of facts and separate realities," he said.
Trump and his allies have argued there was widespread election fraud in November's election. But election officials, as well as Trump's attorney general at the time of the election, William Barr, have said there is no evidence of widespread fraud in this year's election.
McConnell said he supported Trump's right to use the legal system after the Nov. 3 election.
"Dozens of lawsuits received hearings and courtrooms all across our country. But over and over, the courts rejected these claims, including all star judges that the president himself had nominated," he said. "Nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale ... that would have tipped the entire election. Nor can public doubt alone justify a radical break, when the doubt itself was incited without any evidence."
McConnell argued there was a double standard in the media coverage of past efforts by Democrats to challenge election results.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., spoke after McConnell, noting that his colleague has tried to tamp down the "insurrection" from Trump's Republican allies but warning the damage was already done and that an element of the Republican Party is trying to rely on an "attempted coup."
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wants an electoral commission that will investigate allegations of fraud. There have been no credible claims of fraud in the election. Brynn Anderson/AP
Republicans opposing Wednesday's electoral count have one proposal to deal with the controversy — that Congress delay action for 10 days so an "emergency" electoral commission can audit the results and investigate voter fraud claims in the contested states.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, cited public opinion polls about the fidelity of the presidential election as a reason for the establishment of such a commission.
"I understand your concerns, but I urge you to pause and think what does it say to the nearly half of the country that believes the election was rigged if we don't even consider the claims of illegality and fraud," he told his Senate colleagues, many of who have criticized his efforts.
Cruz cited a 145-year-old precedent for such a panel. The 1876 presidential race between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden was also marred by allegations of widespread fraud. A stymied Congress decided to appoint an electoral commission — with five House members, five senators and five Supreme Court justices — to investigate and resolve differences over the count.
"What I'm arguing for is Congress ought to do the same thing. We ought to have a fair inquiry, a fair audit into these results, and we ought to resolve these claims — not just dismiss them out of hand," he told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday.
But there are some crucial differences between the 1876 electoral controversy and today's election. In the former, Congress received dueling slates of electors from three states — Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina. That hasn't happened this time. Only one official slate of electors has been certified by each state despite moves by some Republicans to send competing lists of names from several states.
Also, unlike in 1876, the many fraud allegations in this year's elections have been repeatedly disproven through audits, recounts, state investigations and in the courts. Judges, including some appointed by President Trump, have dismissed the allegations in dozens of cases.
On a more practical level, it would be almost impossible for a newly formed independent commission to delve into so many allegations and reach some agreement on the facts in only 10 days. It took the 1876 commission weeks of contentious negotiations to reach a deal, which effectively ended Reconstruction.
Even a staunch Trump supporter such as Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has dismissed the latest commission proposal as little more than a stunt.
"Proposing a commission at this late date – which has zero chance of becoming reality – is not effectively fighting for President Trump," he tweeted Sunday. "It appears to be more of a political dodge than an effective remedy."
It also wouldn't be the first time Trump and his supporters called for a commission to investigate baseless claims of widespread voter fraud. And it didn't end well. The president appointed a bipartisan panel shortly after his 2016 election in which he claimed between 3 million and 5 million people voted illegally. The commission was controversial from the start and only met twice before it was disbanded amid multiple lawsuits and complaints from state election directors about the panel's demand for sensitive voter files.
During its seven months of existence, the panel uncovered no evidence of widespread fraud.
President Trump arrives to speak to supporters near the White House on Wednesday. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 2:22 p.m. ET
President Trump, in an extraordinary speech as Congress prepared to certify Democrat Joe Biden's victory on Election Day, called on Vice President Pence to reject Biden's win and send the results back to the states, something Pence who is presiding over the joint session, has no constitutional authority to do.
Pence then issued a statement, saying he had no authority to do what Trump was asking him to do.
The dramatic developments in Washington played out on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Trump, speaking to supporters on the Ellipse behind the White House, falsely proclaimed that "this election was stolen from you, from me, from the country," and also falsely declared that he won "in a landslide."
Trump said that today "is not the end, it's just the beginning" and stated that he "will never give up, we will never concede."
In his statement, Pence said it is "my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not."
Trump repeatedly called on Pence to act, saying if he doesn't, "it will be a sad day for the country," while he torched other Republicans who oppose his efforts to overturn the November results, calling them "weak" and "pathetic."
He singled out by name Rep. Liz Cheney, the highest-ranking House Republican to reject Trump's call to overturn the election.
Trump called on his supporters at the rally to march on the U.S. Capitol, saying he would walk with them. Instead, he returned to the White House.
Many of those supporters are now on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and got inside the building as well.
Trump also listed a wide range of grievances, against the media, tech companies, as well as his former attorney general and the Supreme Court.
He said former Attorney General Bill Barr "changed" because "he didn't want to become my personal attorney."
Barr was among those who stated there had been no evidence of widespread fraud in the presidential election.
Trump went after the Supreme Court, including the three justices he appointed, which rejected his efforts to legally challenge the outcome of the election. He claimed they didn't want to do it, because the news media would say, "They're my puppet," and "The only way they get out of it is they rule against Trump."
His complaints extended to the Republican governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp for refusing to overturn the results of voting there, a state Biden won by fewer than 12,000 votes. He questioned his intelligence and even commented on his weight, essentially saying he was too skinny to have played offensive lineman as he claims.
Trump even castigated Oprah Winfrey for campaigning against him in the state four years ago, falsely claiming he was on her talk show in its last week.
"Once I ran for president," Trump said, "I didn't notice there were too many calls coming in from Oprah."
Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., objected to his state's electoral tally. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Updated at 2 p.m. ET
Republicans seeking to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's win in the November election have moved to challenge the results from Arizona, as Congress begins the usually pro forma process of counting each state's electors.
The Arizona challenge is being led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who is seen as a likely presidential candidate in the 2024 election, and Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz.
Dozens of Republican lawmakers broke out in applause when Gosar announced the objection.
Eight GOP senators and more than 50 Republican representatives signed on to Gosar and Cruz's objection.
Biden defeated President Trump in Arizona, winning the state and its 11 electoral votes by the narrowest margin in the country, 10,457 votes. Biden became the first Democratic nominee to win the state since President Bill Clinton in 1996.
Arizona GOP officials claimed Biden's win was the result of "massive election fraud," but a federal judge in the state threw out an attempt to overturn the results.
Cruz says he is challenging the outcome in Arizona not to overturn it but to push for a commission to investigate electoral fraud.
The challenge to Arizona's electors is expected to be the first of at least three such challenges to state certifications during a joint congressional session.
The House and Senate will each debate the Arizona challenge for up to two hours. It would require a majority in both chambers to uphold the challenge, which is all but certain to fail, given that Democrats hold the majority in the House and that most Republicans are expected to join Democrats in the Senate in opposition.
Vice President Pence finishes a swearing-in ceremony for senators Sunday at the U.S. Capitol. J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Updated at 2:20 p.m. ET
Vice President Pence said on Wednesday that he does not have the power to reject Electoral College votes, calling his role in the joint session of Congress to count the ballots "largely ceremonial," despite pressure from President Trump.
"It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not," Pence said in a letter to Congress.
His statement came as Trump urged him to take steps to overturn the election in a speech to supporters near the White House.
Trump's ongoing refusal to concede in the race, despite having lost both the popular and electoral vote, has animated much of his base, including a number of lawmakers who have vowed to contest the election's results during Wednesday's session.
In two Wednesday tweets, Trump called on Pence to "[come] through for us" and exhibit "extreme courage" by rejecting the certification process.
Despite Republicans' calls to dismiss millions of legal votes, Pence wrote that he would "keep the oath" he made to the American people by upholding the Constitution to the best of his ability. That, he said, included ensuring that all formal objections to the certification process were heard.
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) January 6, 2021
"President Trump has disrespected the American voters, has dishonored the election system and has disgraced the office of the presidency," Sen. Mitt Romney told reporters Wednesday. Here Romney arrives at the U.S. Capitol last month. Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images
Sen. Mitt Romney was called a "joke" and a "traitor" by supporters of President Trump in videos that went viral Tuesday.
But on Wednesday, the Utah Republican directed stronger words at Trump and others in the GOP who falsely suggest the presidential election results were illegitimate.
"I think that the gambit that we are seeing today — very disappointing," Romney told Capitol Hill reporters about many Republican lawmakers' planned objections to the election results. "President Trump has disrespected the American voters, has dishonored the election system and has disgraced the office of the presidency."
His comments came a day after Romney, a prominent critic of Trump, was confronted by a group at an airport while traveling for Wednesday's joint congressional session in which members are set to take up the Electoral College votes.
Romney was also treated to chants of "traitor" during a plane ride.
"That's sad — something I've gotten used to over the years," Romney told reporters about the exchange. "That's the nature of politics today, unfortunately."
In the airport video, Romney pleads with the individual filming to wear a mask since he says it is required at the airport. The individuals confronting Romney call him a "joke" and berate him for not supporting Trump in his false claims of voter fraud.
"That's not how the Constitution works," Romney told them.
Utah Patriots catch Rino Romney at Salt Lake City international airport! He thinks he’s above his constituents!!! Openly bashing @realDonaldTrump!!!
“These people won’t be able to walk down the street.”
VOLUME UP! ☝🏼 pic.twitter.com/Lntgozkajx
— Qtah (@Utah_17) January 6, 2021
Romney's comments also came as Republicans face tough news of Georgia runoff elections that could potentially give Democrats control of the U.S. Senate.
The 2012 Republican presidential nominee linked the Georgia contests to what he views as the costs of spreading disinformation as it relates to election results.
"It turns out that telling the voters that the election is rigged is not a great way to turn out your voters," Romney said.
The Associated Press has said Democrat Raphael Warnock beat his GOP opponent Kelly Loeffler, while Democrat Jon Ossoff has claimed victory over Republican David Perdue. The AP has not called that race for Ossoff, however.
Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, is one of the more than 100 House Republicans who say they plan to object to some states' election results during Wednesday's Electoral College vote counting process. Matt McClain/AP
On Wednesday afternoon, Congress will meet to count the Electoral College votes that have come in from across the United States.
But what is normally a simple bureaucratic step on the road to inaugurating a new president may drag on for many hours this year and feature more drama than usual, as many Republicans have signaled a willingness to go along with President Trump's false claims about election fraud.
To be clear, the outcome is already determined: Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States. But Wednesday's convening is yet another high-profile stage for Trump loyalists to raise doubts about an election that experts and officials in both parties agree was run fairly and competently overall.
More than 100 House Republicans have signaled that they plan to object to some states' results, and a smaller number of Republican senators, including Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, say they will do the same.
In doing so, they may lean on a number of debunked conspiracy theories that Trump has been pushing, some of which he has been tweeting about and some of which he mentioned in his now-public phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
A top Georgia election official spoke Monday in front of a poster that listed and debunked many of those conspiracy theories, including theories about voting equipment vendor Dominion and Atlanta's State Farm Arena, where many votes were cast and counted in the November election. Many of those conspiracy theories were spawned on extremist forums like 4chan and have been spread by QAnon followers, according to reporting by NBC News.
The objections by lawmakers are destined to fail, as there are already more than enough Republican and Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate who say they will honor the results that states have certified.
Still, experts worry that more high-profile bickering over the results will only lead to more Americans doubting the fairness of the process.
"When you have a fifth of the Senate and maybe 150 representatives saying that the system is rigged or is untrustworthy, then it begins to erode the basis for how a democratic republic is supposed to work," said Meredith McGehee, executive director of Issue One, a nonpartisan political reform group. "There's nothing much more [Trump] could do to make our foreign adversaries happier."
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is leading a group of GOP senators who plan to object to the vote tallies from some states. Brynn Anderson/AP
Roughly a dozen Republicans in the Senate and more than 100 GOP members in the House are planning to challenge the vote tallies from several states Wednesday, but the move has driven a deep wedge within their already-fractured party.
The all-out party battle will be on public display on the same day that Republicans appear poised to lose control of the Senate, ceding full control of Washington to Democrats for the first time since 2009. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other top GOP leaders have discouraged members from picking a fight over the Electoral College count, but many have chosen to forge ahead anyway.
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who has publicly and vehemently criticized those who plan to object, told reporters last week that McConnell privately told senators that this would be their most consequential vote.
"I see that as a statement that he believes it's a referendum on our democracy." Romney said.
The split comes as President Trump continues to spread false allegations of widespread voter fraud and misinformation about the 2020 election. Loyal Trump supporters, including Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., have led the effort to challenge the results reported by individual states.
Cruz and a group of 11 other senators plan to start their objections early in the vote-reporting process. It takes one senator and one House member to force additional debate on the electors from an individual state. Republicans have suggested they could object to as many as six states. The objections are not expected to have any impact on the outcome of a final vote to affirm the results of the election: that Democrat Joe Biden won.
Republican leaders have warned that the objections would force a full up-or-down vote on the electors — creating a public display where Republicans will be asked to either vote their loyalty to Trump or side with precedent and their constitutional duty.
The states will be announced alphabetically and Cruz is expected to object first to the results from Arizona, according to a person familiar with the planning who was granted anonymity to speak freely about private consultations. Cruz is expected to use his time to call for the creation of an election commission to investigate claims of voter fraud.
Cruz told conservative talk show host Mark Levin that he plans to object to states' electors to push Congress to "consider serious claims of voter fraud."
"That's why I assembled a coalition of 11 senators that we are going to vote to object to the electors — not to set aside the election," Cruz said. "I don't think that would actually be the right thing to do — but rather to press for the appointment of an electoral commission that can hear the claims of voter fraud, hear the evidence and make a determination as to what the facts are and the extent to which the law was complied with."
However, multiple federal agencies and Attorney General William Barr have all disputed claims of widespread election fraud and the claims underlying Trump's push to overturn election results in some states are based on misinformation.
Roughly two dozen Republicans — double the number Cruz has assembled — have announced plans to vote with Democrats to affirm the election results. Many, like Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., say they are simply upholding their constitutional duties.
"Under the Constitution, Congress does not have the legal authority to change the outcome of the presidential election," Boozman said in a statement. "These principles are enshrined in the Constitution to ensure the American people, not the party in control of Congress, have the power to choose their president."
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, pictured at the U.S. Capitol on Dec., is among the Republican lawmakers planning to object to Congress' tally of the Electoral College votes on Wednesday. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
A significant share of Republicans plan to object to Electoral College vote results, slowing down the inevitable that Joe Biden will be next president.
Their objections stem from false allegations of widespread voter fraud in an election that experts say went smoothly and the results of which all 50 states and the District of Columbia have certified. President Trump has continued to push conspiracies of irregularities and called on Republicans — including his own vice president — to challenge the results.
By this week, the tally of those planning to raise objections has reached more than 100 House Republicans and more than a dozen GOP senators.
They include Republican Reps. Mo Brooks of Alabama, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Louie Gohmert of Texas, who were among the first wave of members of Congress to say they would object to the results. Dozens more have joined the ranks.
Other House members expected to object Wednesday include Ohio's Jim Jordan, New York's Elise Stefanik, Georgia's Jody Hice and South Carolina's Joe Wilson. Several freshman Republicans have also said they will join in the plans.
Notably, top House GOP members have remained mum on the plan publicly, though Brooks claims he has the support of the chamber's minority leader, Kevin McCarthy.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other Senate GOP leaders had urged their caucus not to take part — a member of the upper chamber is needed to join a House member's objection for it to move forward. (Here's more on how that works.)
However, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley was the first to publicly break ranks last month, and he was soon followed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and others. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who is facing a tough first election run in the Georgia Senate runoff races, was among the most recent additions to the group.
In a recent statement, Cruz said he joined forces to raise objections "disputed states" along with Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Steve Daines of Montana, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and Mike Braun of Indiana.
Several newly elected senators who began their terms on Sunday are also in the group with Cruz, including Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.
GOP sources familiar with the discussions say the Republican lawmakers planning to object on Wednesday are focused primarily on Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. They are also weighing challenges for Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin.
President Trump is putting public pressure on Vice President Pence to overturn election results during Wednesday's joint session of Congress — something Pence cannot do by law. Susan Walsh/AP
President Trump had a very public and direct message for his vice president on Wednesday morning ahead of the joint session of Congress at which Mike Pence is set to formally announce that President-elect Joe Biden won the Nov. 3 election.
Instead of Pence's plan to "follow the law and uphold the Constitution," Trump told him on Twitter that it was "a time for extreme courage" and urged him to overturn the results, something which Pence does not have the powers to do.
States want to correct their votes, which they now know were based on irregularities and fraud, plus corrupt process never received legislative approval. All Mike Pence has to do is send them back to the States, AND WE WIN. Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme courage!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021
The situation is fraught for Pence, who is believed to have his own presidential ambitions. Trump's badgering on Twitter sets up his wingman to take the blame when Trump's quixotic quest to overturn election results fails and Congress certifies Biden's win.
Trump has lashed out at other Republican leaders who have rejected his quest to stay in the White House in spite of losing the election, calling them "weak and ineffective" and the "Surrender Caucus." He has vowed to back primary opponents in 2022 to Republicans in South Dakota and Georgia whom he views as insufficiently loyal.
Some party leaders, such as House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney, are emphasizing the importance of following the law.
We have sworn an oath under God to defend the Constitution. We uphold that oath at all times, not only when it is politically convenient.
Congress has no authority to overturn elections by objecting to electors. Doing so steals power from the states & violates the Constitution.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) January 6, 2021
That is something that Pence could be remembered favorably for, said Joel Goldstein, an expert on constitutional law and the vice presidency at St. Louis University.
"If people don't like you because you refused to break the law or you insisted on telling the truth or following your constitutional and legal duty — shame on them, not shame on you," Goldstein said.
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they try to storm the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. Demonstrators breached security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 electoral vote certification. Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images
Updated 3:08 p.m. ET
Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, prompting the House and Senate to abruptly take a recess as the U.S. Capitol Police locked down the building. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew from 6 p.m. on Wednesday until 6 a.m. on Thursday.
Protesters had amassed in Washington, D.C., to reject the results of the Nov. 3 election, cheering as President Trump himself addressed the crowd and urged them to protest what he falsely claims was a rigged election before marching to the Capitol and pushing past security barriers there.
The protests are timed to coincide with Congress' certification of the Electoral College votes and aim to pressure Republican lawmakers into supporting Trump's effort to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's electoral victory.
Trump supporters, many wearing red MAGA hats but no face masks, gathered at The Ellipse where the president addressed them midday Wednesday. The crowd faced the White House and a stage was flanked by two big "Save America March" signs swayed to the beat of the Village People song "Macho Man" and Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean."
President Trump speaks at the "Stop The Steal" Rally on Wednesday. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
After the speech, they pushed past barriers onto the Capitol grounds, while yelling, "Whose Capitol? Our Capitol," NPR's Hannah Allam reports. Police and other security put up more barriers and security layers as protesters breached the initial security layer. Protesters climbed the scaffolding, looking for any way in to get to the Capitol, Allam said, and armed police rushed in tackling them.
As thousands of Trump supporters climbed up the side of the Capitol to get inside, bursts of what appeared to be gas cannisters are being fired though it was not clear who was firing them.
Earlier, the mood was celebratory though the rhetoric was angry with speaker after speaker telling the crowd, "We can't back down. This is just the beginning." The president's son Donald Trump Jr. greeted the crowd with: "Hello, Patriots!"
Outside the U.S. Capitol, several dozen Trump supporters waved flags and prayed for "angel armies" to intervene, calling on lawmakers inside to "reject" the election.
A huge contingent of Proud Boys marched in, some chanting "storm the Capitol" and "1776!" and massed for the Capitol building.
For many in the crowd, it was inconceivable that Congress would certify the November vote, as it's expected to. Echoing the president's words, they pledged to fight, some calling for a rebellion and others vowing to refocus energy on the 2024 race. And they made it clear that Republicans who didn't back Trump would pay a price.
"We're not moving on," said Lawrence Ligas, a 55-year-old from Chicago who said he used to be a Democrat before Trump "earned" his vote.
"I am the 2020 election," said 28-year-old Lisa Hayes, who was part of the crowd gathered in Washington on Wednesday. Hannah Allam/NPR
"We are not Republicans. We are the MAGA party. We are patriots," he said.
Nearby, 28-year-old Lisa Hayes was attracting a crowd with her outfit: a white tulle ballgown covered with mail-in ballots marked "STOLEN."
"I am the 2020 election," Hayes said.
As she was explaining that the importance of election integrity brought her to Washington, a bystander interrupted and gestured toward her thin outfit in 43-degree weather.
"You're not freezing?" he asked Hayes.
"My blood is boiling, so I'm fine!" she replied.
Mayor Bowser had said Wednesday that her city was ready to keep protests peaceful and protesters safe, even though Trump tweeted that Wednesday's protests would be "wild."
"I think it's unfortunate that the president himself has incited violence," said the mayor.
I am asking Washingtonians and those who live in the region to stay out of the downtown area on Tuesday and Wednesday and not to engage with demonstrators who come to our city seeking confrontation, and we will do what we must to ensure all who attend remain peaceful.
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 4, 2021
Police stablished a bigger "traffic box" a perimeter where vehicle traffic is restricted, she said, and, "we have our entire police force activated" along with National Guard and with help from other nearby jurisdictions, the mayor said.
"All of that is very expensive," said Bowser, "we incur overtime costs when we do that."
The nation's capital is a cradle of protests, and Bowser says it's the city's responsibility to provide support for the movements of the president and the many demonstrations taking place in the Trump administration. The federal government hasn't paid its public safety bill in two years, but Bowser says she's confident that D.C. will be reimbursed.
"The federal government owes us about $100 million," she said. "We will continue to work with the Congress to make sure we're made whole for our emergency fund."
Bowser also praised D.C. police for the arrest earlier this week of Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, leader of the far-right group Proud Boys. Tarrio has been barred from the District and is facing misdemeanor destruction of property charges and two felony counts of possession of high capacity firearm magazines.
According to court documents obtained by NPR, the magazines are AR-15/M4 compatible with a capacity of 30 rounds each, and every magazine is labeled with the Proud Boys insignia.
"I sell on my site," Tarrio told the officers who found the magazines in his bookbag. "I had a customer that bought those two mags, and they got returned 'cause it was a wrong address. And I contacted him, and he's like, 'I'm going to be in D.C.,' so I'm like, 'OK, I'll take 'em to you.' "
Proud Boys members typically dress in black and yellow, but are planning to wear all black, to mimic Antifa, a loose affiliation of far-left activists. The two groups have violently clashed in the past.
The U.S. Park Police confirmed that permits for Wednesday's rally at The Ellipse had all been approved, including an amendment from 5,000 people to 30,000 people.
Every city police officer is on duty, and the city has also mobilized 300 members of its National Guard. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department issued a traffic advisory that includes parking restrictions and street closures around downtown, a larger perimeter than in previous pro-Trump protests.
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Protesters later breached security and entered the Capitol. John Minchillo/AP
"My level of anxiety is high," D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine said in an interview with CBS News. "My preparation is even more intense than that."
Racine's office is working with the FBI and others, but his main concern is that the Proud Boys will "pick fights, create damage and then act in a very threatening way."
Oren Segal, vice president at the Center on Extremism at the Anti-Defamation League, has been working and advising the D.C. government in preparation for Wednesday's protests.
"The stakes are higher today," he said.
Segal says that Trump rallies appeal not only to extremists seeking to leverage a crisis, but also to people who show up merely in support of Trump, like the Muellers from Texas.
The concern was that nonviolent Trump supporters at these protests will "get wrapped up in the tactics and violence of the extreme fringes" because they are at a protest at the same time, he said.
Segal anticipates some disruption during the protests, but he's optimistic.
"Some individuals will seek to gain attention to themselves and their cause by engaging in violence," he said. "[But] even at this sort of last hour, I remain hopeful that most of the people who show up will be peaceful."
NPR National Security Correspondent Hannah Allam and reporter Tom Bowman contributed to this report.
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