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Pelosi made his comments at his weekly press conference and follows Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer in saying he would fire the current Senate Sergeant-at-Arms when he becomes Majority Leader.
“If Senate Sergeant Arms Stenger has not left his post by then, I will fire him as soon as the Democrats have a majority in the Senate,” Schumer said in a statement.
Michael C. Stenger was appointed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Schumer was expected to eventually replace him when the chamber returned to the Democrats. But Schumer makes it clear that Stenger must resign or be fired as a result of the events that have transpired, part of the growing backlash to the mob that has stormed Capitol Hill.
Earlier Thursday, Capitol Police officials provided the first details of the deadly incident that has left lawmakers and staff fearful for their lives.
In a statement released Thursday morning, Police Chief Steven A. Sund detailed the violent actions of the rioters, saying that Capitol Police and other law enforcement officers were “actively attacked” with pipes metal and other weapons.
“They were determined to enter the Capitol building causing great damage,” Sund said.
Capitol Police shot an adult woman as “protesters made their way to the chamber of the House where members of Congress were taking refuge.” The woman was later pronounced dead after being taken to a nearby hospital. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending a joint investigation with Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Sund also said Capitol Police responded to reports of homemade bombs and a suspicious vehicle in the southeast corner of the Capitol, adding that Capitol Police “determined that the two devices were, in fact , dangerous and could seriously harm public safety “.
The FBI is further investigating the incident.
Capitol Police have revealed for the first time that 13 people have been arrested for “illegally entering” the Capitol complex, in addition to the owner of the suspicious vehicle. Police said additional charges may be filed pending further investigation.
More than 50 Capitol and Metropolitan Police officers were injured in Wednesday’s attack, and several were hospitalized with “serious injuries,” according to Sund.
“The violent attack on the United States Capitol was unlike any I have experienced in my 30 years of law enforcement here in Washington, DC,” said Sund. “Maintaining public safety in an open environment – especially for First Amendment activities – has long been a challenge.”
Lawmakers say they are puzzled by law enforcement’s lack of preparedness, given that President Donald Trump has been known for weeks to be promoting a rally he said was aimed at preventing the certification of Joe Biden’s victory.
Representative Mike Quigley, an Illinois Democrat who was locked in the House chamber during an armed confrontation between Capitol Police and a rioter, praised the officers in the building who put their life threatening to protect lawmakers. But Quigley has made it clear they are outnumbered and law enforcement is ill-prepared.
“The Capitol Police I was in did an incredible job under difficult circumstances,” Quigley told CNN. “I wasn’t worried about the bravery of the Capitol Police. It was that an hour before the debate started, I watched the crowds of people surrounding the different sections of the Capitol – and I said we don’t have enough security. “
Quigley added: “I am not a security expert, but you can say we were passed in an hour before the debate,” referring to the work of Congress to certify Biden’s victory.
Others who were in the House bedroom with Quigley also described the heartbreaking scene. After a rioter smashed a window in the door to enter the bedroom, several police officers from the Capitol drew their weapons and warned the individual to back off. A desk and chairs had been propped up to block the entrance to the riot, but lawmakers had no way of knowing if the person was armed or possessed explosive devices that could make the scene deadly.
“It was the closest I could think of there was a possibility that I could die,” said Representative Raul Ruiz, a Democrat from California. “All we heard was the movement and the intensity. At any point someone could have rushed in the door with a semi-automatic.”
Immediately when there was a security breach, senior leaders, including Pelosi, were evacuated. Then the House lawmakers who were on the lower level were evacuated. But there were 11 Democrats who sat at the top level of the chamber.
“It was one of those situations where you are in this situation, what would your prayer be?” Ruiz said. “And I prayed. It was one of those times, where I said, ‘If you want to take me home, take me home.’”
This story was updated with further developments on Thursday.
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