Congressional leaders have called a sudden recess while convening to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in his race against President Donald Trump, as right-wing pro-Trump rioters clashed with security officials and stormed the U.S. Capitol Building on Wednesday afternoon.
The surprise announcement came from Senator Chuck Grassley, who banged his gavel three times in the middle of another senator’s speech and said: “Senate will stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.”
A commotion then erupted on the Senate floor, with aides rushing to lawmakers who were quickly escorted out of sight. Some lawmakers were already sheltered in place in their offices across Capitol Hill, as rioters were seen attacking police and overtaking barricades behind the Capitol. Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding over the procedures in a mostly symbolic role, was nowhere to be found.
Just steps away from the Senate chambers, rioters were confronting officers as they held confederate flags. Some of the pro-Trump rioters appeared to be attempting to break the windows of the Capitol building in videos posted to social media by users inside of the facilities.
The vice president was evacuated from the premise, according to the New York Times, while representatives tweeted about being locked in their offices and receiving instructions to silence their electronic devices.
Photo Credit: Getty
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