For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Contact: Jonathan McNair, 202-288-0714, jmcnair@dccouncil.us
Washington, DC – Today, the President of the United States incited a violent insurrection at the United States Capitol. Trump’s supporters viciously disrupted Congress in a seditious attempt to prevent members of Congress from certifying the 2020 Electoral College results and the peaceful transition of power. Councilmember McDuffie vehemently condemns the violence incited by Trump and perpetrated by his followers. He implores federal officials to do everything within their powers to reign in President Donald Trump and prevent further armed revolts.
“If Vice President Pence and members of Congress take seriously their oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, they must hold Donald Trump accountable for inciting this assault on our democracy and impeding the peaceful transition of power,” said Councilmember McDuffie. “Vice President Pence should invoke the 25th Amendment and the Congress should immediately impeach President Trump to prevent him from instigating further violence.”
The Capitol Police apparently failed to prevent the mob from storming and breaching the Capitol and even appeared to allow some of the insurgents to enter and ransack the building. Remarkably, after the killing of George Floyd, the world watched images of law enforcement attack peaceful protestors with tear gas and rubber bullets to make way for President Trump’s photo-op.
“The extreme leniency of law enforcement is unacceptable and indicative of the double standard in policing that sparked national calls for racial justice and defunding of police departments across the country,” said Councilmember McDuffie.
Councilmember McDuffie is calling on the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as all relevant federal and state authorities, to conduct swift and thorough investigations of today’s seditious acts. He will work with his Council colleagues and the Mayor to ensure that residents are safe and that the violent extremists who trampled our democracy and broke upon our city’s laws are arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
