MADISON, Wis. — In social media messages, videos and network interviews, Wisconsin lawmakers are calling for calm as D.C. protestors breach the secured U.S. Capitol building.
Democrat Representative Mark Pocan said he was safe in his office working on prepared remarks, and promised updates throughout the day.
“Donald Trump at a rally today basically told his supporters to storm the Capitol today. And guess what, his supporters sheepishly, blindly followed what he said and have now broken into the U.S. Capitol building,” Rep. Pocan said in a video posted to Twitter Wednesday afternoon.
Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher told Jake Tapper on CNN that “We need [Pres. Trump] to call this off,”, asking him to get on Twitter and send his supporters home. In a video posted to his twitter account, he said he was sheltering in place in his office due to protestors storming the U.S. Capitol and clashing with police.
“We are witnessing absolute banana republic crap in the United States Capitol right now,” he tweeted. “@realdonaldtrump, you need to call this off.”
Milwaukee-area Democrat Rep. Gwen Moore tweeted saying she was safe and sheltered, but called the moment “incredibly disturbing” and shameful for the country.
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson joined in the calls for peace Wednesday afternoon, despite his expressed intentions to block Biden’s electoral victory in several states. Earlier on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that both Sen. Johnson and Rep. Tom Tiffany planned to object on Wednesday; Rep. Gallagher said he would not and had urged other Republicans to join him. Republican Rep. Steil, Rep. Grothman, and Rep. Fitzgerald did not respond to the AP on what their plans were.
News 3 Now is reaching out to other Wisconsin lawmakers; this coverage will be updated.
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