Elections

D.C. Updates: Capitol lockdown ends after deadly riot, curfew in place

Published

2 years ago

January 6, 2021

Staff Writer

Screen Shot 2021 01 06 at 11.59.39 AM scaled

Updated

Pro-Trump rioters have swarmed the grounds and buildings of Capitol Hill on Wednesday afternoon following President Donald Trump‘s rally in front of the White House and Vice President Mike Pence‘s refusal to overturn President-elect Joe Biden‘s 2020 victory at the day’s scheduled tallying of Electoral Colleges votes casts by the states.

Congressional offices were first told to evacuate and to head down to the underground tunnels in order to escape the ensuing chaos. The Capitol was later on complete lockdown as rioters have breached the building, broken windows, and enter the Congressional chambers.

The Sergeant at Arms later cleared the Capitol, but the building is reportedly back on lockdown, according to congressional sources.

There are also reports that a woman was shot, a D.C. paramedic source told Fox 5 D.C.’s Lindsay Watts. Officials told the station that the individual was transported to a local hospital, where she was reportedly later pronounced dead.

BREAKING: DC paramedic source tells me one person shot in Capitol. CPR in progress
— Lindsay Watts (@LindsayAWatts) January 6, 2021

BREAKING: The woman has died, several law enforcement officials say – @PeteWilliamsNBC https://t.co/jE1Kpl3Sid
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 6, 2021

As the nation and the world watch this situation unfold, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) announced at 3:29 pm (ET) that he’s sending Virginia National Guard members to the District of Columbia as well as 200 state troopers, per D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) request. Trump will also be deploying the National Guard and other federal law enforcement officers, per White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

Bowser has also implemented a 6:00 pm curfew Wednesday night.

My team and I are working closely with @MayorBowser, @SpeakerPelosi, and @SenSchumer to respond to the situation in Washington, D.C.

Per the Mayor's request, I am sending members of the Virginia National Guard along with 200 Virginia State Troopers.
— Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 6, 2021

At President @realDonaldTrump’s direction, the National Guard is on the way along with other federal protective services.

We reiterate President Trump’s call against violence and to remain peaceful.
— Kayleigh McEnany 45 Archived (@PressSec45) January 6, 2021

Meanwhile, explosive devices were reportedly discovered at the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic National Committees and the buildings were evacuated, sources told The New York Times. Both buildings are situated a few blocks away from the U.S. Capitol.

The Times reports that the device found at the RNC, a pipe bomb, was successfully destroyed by a bomb squad, according to an RNC official.

The device discovered at the DNC, a top Democrat briefed on the situation told The Times, has yet to be identified.

https://twitter.com/breaking911/status/1346890333343379457?s=21

Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said she had evacuated her office and reported that the rioters were assaulting Capitol Police, including a video in her tweet of a clash between them in a congressional building.

Just evacuated my office in Cannon due to a nearby threat. Now we’re seeing protesters assaulting Capitol Police.

This is wrong. This is not who we are. I’m heartbroken for our nation today. pic.twitter.com/jC9P0YfSLQ
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) January 6, 2021

The Capitol Police couldn’t be immediately reached for comment. The story will be updated if and when one is received.

Jennie Taer contributed to this report.

You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @Douglas_P_Braff.

Elections

Judge orders Biden’s DHS to release files on agents accused of censoring election ‘misinformation’

Published

17 hours ago

January 27, 2023

Sara Carter Staff

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry made headway in countering federal agents involved in suppressing what liberal tech labeled “misinformation” on social media.

The Attorneys General moved to release testimony from five Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) employees after learning of their participation in the Biden administration’s counter-“disinformation” efforts. On Wednesday, a Louisiana judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the files.

Court documents dated Jan. 19 show the agents participated. The judge’s motion Wednesday could shed light on a “switchboarding” tactic employed during the 2020 election, according to the order.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants, which include the named individuals as well as President Joe Biden and top officials from a variety of federal agencies, “colluded and/or coerced social media companies to suppress disfavored speakers, viewpoints, and content on social media platforms by labeling the content “dis-information,” “mis-information,” and “mal-formation.”

The Daily Caller reports that the five CISA employees allegedly served as a “switchboard” to route requests from federal agencies to censor disinformation to various social media companies, according to the documents.

Switchboard work employed “an audit official to identify something on social media they deemed to be disinformation aimed at their jurisdiction,” top CISA election security agent Brian Skully testified in a deposition released Thursday.

“They couldforward that to CISA and CISA would share that with the appropriate social mediacompanies.”

UPDATE: The judge granted our motion to compel. CISA has 14 days to comply. https://t.co/2bhwQQJTG6

— AG Jeff Landry (@AGJeffLandry) January 25, 2023