2021 United States Capitol attack

2021 United States Capitol attack was a violent incident that occurred on January 6, 2021, when a mob of Donald Trump supporters, including members of the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and QAnon, stormed the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., seeking to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election results, which saw Joe Biden defeat Donald Trump. The attack resulted in the deaths of Brian Sicknick, Ashli Babbitt, Kevin Greeson, Rosanne Boyland, and Michael Fanone, and injured many others, including Daniel Hodges and Eugene Goodman. The incident was widely condemned by Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, and other prominent Democratic and Republican leaders, including Mike Pence and Lindsey Graham.

Background

The 2020 United States presidential election was marked by controversy and allegations of voter fraud by Donald Trump and his supporters, despite numerous court rulings and election audits confirming the integrity of the election process, as noted by Justin Levitt and Richard Hasen. The Electoral College votes were certified by Congress on January 6, 2021, with Joe Biden receiving 306 votes to Donald Trump's 232 votes, prompting Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and other Republican lawmakers to object to the certification of the results, citing concerns about voter suppression and election security, as discussed by Hans von Spakovsky and John Fund. The Stop the Steal movement, which included supporters of Donald Trump, such as Roger Stone, Alex Jones, and InfoWars, organized a Save America Rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., featuring speakers like Rudy Giuliani, Mo Brooks, and Paul Gosar, and attended by thousands of Donald Trump supporters, including members of the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and QAnon.

The Attack

On January 6, 2021, a mob of Donald Trump supporters, including members of the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and QAnon, stormed the United States Capitol building, breaching security and causing chaos, as described by Alec Baldwin and Anderson Cooper. The attackers, some of whom were armed with firearms, pepper spray, and other weapons, clashed with Capitol Police officers, including Eugene Goodman and Daniel Hodges, and Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officers, resulting in the deaths of Brian Sicknick and Ashli Babbitt, and injuring many others, including Michael Fanone and Kevin Greeson. The attackers also vandalized property, including statues and artwork, and stole or damaged government property, as reported by CNN and MSNBC. The incident was widely condemned by Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, and other prominent Democratic and Republican leaders, including Mike Pence and Lindsey Graham.

Aftermath

The attack on the United States Capitol resulted in a lockdown of the building and the surrounding area, with Congress members and staff evacuated or sheltering in place, as described by Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies launched an investigation into the attack, with Christopher Wray and Jill Sanborn leading the efforts, and Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms suspending or banning accounts linked to the attackers, including those of Donald Trump and Alex Jones. The incident also led to a security review of the United States Capitol complex, with Secret Service and Capitol Police officials testifying before Congress about the incident, as reported by The New York Times and The Washington Post. The attack was widely condemned by international leaders, including Justin Trudeau, Boris Johnson, and Angela Merkel, and human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Investigations

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies launched an investigation into the attack, with Christopher Wray and Jill Sanborn leading the efforts, and Congress launching its own investigation, with Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy appointing a bipartisan committee to investigate the incident, including Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson. The investigation has resulted in the arrest and charging of hundreds of individuals, including members of the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and QAnon, with prosecutors alleging that the attackers conspired to storm the United States Capitol and disrupt the certification of the 2020 United States presidential election results, as reported by Politico and The Hill. The investigation has also examined the role of social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, in facilitating the organization and planning of the attack, with Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey testifying before Congress about their companies' policies and practices, as discussed by Sheryl Sandberg and Vijaya Gadde.

Reactions

The attack on the United States Capitol was widely condemned by Democratic and Republican leaders, including Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, and Lindsey Graham, as well as international leaders, such as Justin Trudeau, Boris Johnson, and Angela Merkel. The incident was also condemned by human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The attack has been characterized as a domestic terrorism incident, with FBI Director Christopher Wray testifying before Congress that the attack was a terrorist incident, as reported by Fox News and CNN. The incident has also led to calls for greater security measures to protect the United States Capitol and other government buildings, as well as increased oversight of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Capitol Police, as discussed by Jerry Nadler and Zoe Lofgren. Category:2021 events in the United States