L I V E   C O M M E N T A R Y

In the final days of Donald Trump’s presidency, he has finally topped every shameful and disreputable action he has done in the last four years. Today’s actions, his actions, will go down in American history as the most dangerous and dastardly display by protestors aided and abetted by an outgoing U.S. president.

The melee between Pro-Trump supporters and Capitol police has resulted in injuries. Gunshots have been reported.

In a Washington rally held earlier, Trump told protestors to march on the Capitol. Following their irrational, demagogic leader, those anarchists breached the barricades and assaulted the Capitol building.

Built on lies and false conspiracy theories, Senate and House Republicans were in the process of formally objecting to the election results as thousands of protestors approached the Capitol building.

Trump supporters are no longer protestors, they are anarchists violently breaking windows and entering the halls of the Capitol in support of the president’s lies about a rigged election.

“This is insane,” tweeted Representative Dean Phillips, Democrat of Minnesota, The New York Times reports.

A woman is in critical condition after being shot in the chest on the Capitol grounds.

This has been inspired by a disgraceful president and shameful Senators who are objecting to the election results, delaying the final vote on the election presided over by Vice President Pence who should make a public statement condemning this insurrection.

This is the time for conservatives, liberals, former presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton and Carter to make public pleas for restraint and peacefully leave the Capitol building — a symbol of what the United States stands for.

Throughout it all, the most vocal advocate for supporters, Donald Trump, needs to make a public statement to put an end to the violence, stop the anarchy.

This is what insurrection looks like. This is what happens in authoritarian countries and now... the United States can be added to the list.

Trump tweets: “Stay Peaceful.” Too little, too late.

Lawmakers demand that Trump make public statement to call off protestors. But Trump only cares about himself, remains in the White House, watching but taking no direct action.

Asked to denounce radical protestors like the Proud Boys at the presidential debate, Trump said, “Stand Back and Stand BY!” We are now seeing the consequences of those and too many other statements.

Capitol police struggle to gain control as protestors enter lawmakers’ offices.

Republican Mitt Romney: “This is what the President has caused.”

National Guard has been called out to assist Capitol and local police. Military forces have been called in to help quell the riot.

President Elect Biden calls on President Trump to publicly call off this insurrection. “President Trump, step up!”

This is a direct attack on Respect, Responsibility, and Democracy.

Where do we go, today? How can we restore the deep divisions that have now manifested into ugly, angry, out of control violence.

Stoked by misinformation and lies, Trump continues to remain in the White House. No public statement.

If these attacks by thousands of anarchists can take place today, what will happen tomorrow and the day after and the week and month after that?

Trump releases video statement repeating his refrain that “the election was stolen…” “…this was fraudulent…” And said that “…it was a landslide.”

He calls insurrectionists, “very special,” before adding that they “go home.” To the end… Donald Trump will not admit that he lost a fair and accurate election. “Very Special”? This is how Trump has characterized radical supporters since he took office.

What will Senators Cruz, Hawley and others who are challenging the results of an election that was certified by every state, what will they do now? What are those Senators going tell their children about this insurrection?

ALL Republicans need to make a joint video statement calling on anarchists to stop; that the election has been decided and that WE, as Republicans, have a responsibility to move forward with the peaceful transition of power.

While riot police are beginning to move protestors out of the Capitol building, Republicans need to make that joint statement now!

In the past, Trump has called peaceful protestors “thugs.” The real thugs, supporters of Trump have not only assaulted one of the greatest symbols of Democracy but have assaulted the Constitution.

Ivanka Trump tweeted that protestors are “American Patriots,” before deleting, The Washington Post reports.

Before the Trump mob reached the Capitol building, Donald Trump, Jr., speaking from the White House said, “To those Republicans, many of which may be voting on things in the coming hours: You have an opportunity today,” Donald Trump Jr. told the crowd gathered for the “Save America March” on the White House Ellipse. “You can be a hero, or you can be a zero. And the choice is yours. But we are all watching. The whole world is watching, folks. Choose wisely,” Politico reported.

If Senate and House Republicans do not rescind their objections they should resign their seats and allow those who respect the democratic processes to fill them.

As of 5:00 pm, Washington has settled down in the presence of national troops.

Several White House staffers have announced their resignations, CNN reports, but has not been confirmed.

5:40pm in Washington and a large number of rioters still on the Capitol grounds surrounded by police and DC National Guard along with military troops from Virginia.

If you look at television coverage, few, if any supporters are wearing masks and none are socially distancing. Another  super-spreader event.

In a blistering statement, Nebraska Senator and Republican, Ben Sasse, called out Trump, The New York Times reported.

“Today, the United States Capitol — the world’s greatest symbol of self-government — was ransacked while the leader of the free world cowered behind his keyboard — tweeting against his vice president for fulfilling the duties of his oath to the Constitution. Lies have consequences. This violence was the inevitable and ugly outcome of the president’s addiction to constantly stoking division.”

Washington Post columnist, Philip Bump, writes, that Ted Cruz’s “electoral vote speech will live in infamy.”

6:02 pm DC curfew now in effect. Anarchists are still present held back by Homeland Security troops and DC National Guard.

The woman shot inside the Capitol has died, according to police.

Former Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, speaking on CNBC, said, “What the hell was law enforcement on Capitol Hill thinking by not having secured the Capitol today? Everybody knew that there would be a disturbance.”

CNN’s John King read a statement by former President George W. Bush:

“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.”

CNN also reports that Facebook has removed President Trump’s video from earlier today where Trump encouraged supporters to march on the Capitol.

A source tells CNN that serious discussions are taking place between cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment that would immediately remove Trump from office before the end of his term as a direct result of inciting a riot.

Lawmakers to resume electoral count in two hours. First order of business: Republicans need to rescind statements of objection to election results.

Social media giant, Twitter announced that it has locked President Trump’s account for 24 hours.

Former president Barack Obama said in a statement that history will remember violence “incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election.” But he also blamed “a political party and its accompanying media ecosystem” for playing along with Trump’s falsehoods, saying Republican leaders can either continue down a dark path or “choose reality,” The Washington Post reports.

Melania Trump’s chief of staff submits resignation as a result of the march on the Capitol building. Others should follow or be labeled cowards to the democratic principles they purport to believe in.

Donald Trump has reached the pinnacle of disrespect, dishonesty and dishonor. It is time for all Washington lawmakers to not only stop the farce of objecting to the results of the election, but unequivocally condemn this man’s words and actions to tear down the principles of this country, in particular… that all power emanates from the people not a vain, self-serving, dishonest demagogue.