Members of Ohio鈥檚 congressional delegation are scattered across the U.S. Capitol campus as pro-Trump extremists storm the Capitol building and surrounding offices, including the House and Senate chambers.
Many members and staff are able to communicate only through Twitter and other social media as the Capitol complex is locked down and they shelter in place.
"This disruption to the orderly functioning of our government is inexcusable," Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus) said in a It's unacceptable that these individuals were able to get this close to the Capitol."
An attack on the orderly functioning of our government is inexcusable. This is absolutely ridiculous.
— Joyce Beatty (@RepBeatty)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) tweeted at 3:21 p.m. that he and his staff were safe and called for an end to the violence. "The lives of countless workers 鈥� journalists, staff, and Capitol Police are being put at risk by this attack on our democracy," Brown wrote.
My staff and I are safe.
— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown)
The violence at the Capitol needs to end now.
The lives of countless workers 鈥� journalists, staff, and Capitol Police are being put at risk by this attack on our democracy.
Public calls to end the protests that quickly turned violent came from members of both parties, including from Rep. Jim Jordan, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump. Jordan was among the Republicans who planned to challenge the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory. "Stop the violence," Jordan around 3 p.m.. "Support Capitol Police."
Jordan issued a followup tweet almost three hours later: "Americans support peaceful protests, First Amendment activity, and the men and women of law enforcement. What happened today is wrong and is not what America is about."
Americans support peaceful protests, First Amendment activity, and the men and women of law enforcement.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan)
What happened today is wrong and is not what America is about.
Republican Rep. Troy Balderson, who did not support the effort to stop the certification, urged Trump to speak out.
"These behaviors are deeply un-American and threaten the very foundation of our Republican," Balderson wrote in a . "Central to our beliefs as Americans are compromise and honor. The egregious display at the Capitol today t hreatened these core values and in addition put the safety of thousands at risk."
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat, the president for what transpired on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon, when the U.S. Senate was supposed to be accepting the votes of the Electoral College but instead was evacuated from the chamber as protests outside escalated.
This, all of this, is on Donald Trump. His rhetoric and actions to incite such mayhem for political gain is reprehensible and dangerous. This is not our America.
— Marcy Kaptur (@RepMarcyKaptur)
Republican Sen. Rob Portman also decried the violence from the pro-Trump extremists, calling on the presidentto 鈥渃ondemn this unacceptable vandalism and violence.鈥� Portman said he would not support the efforts to block the Electoral College results.
The right to protest peacefully is protected under the Constitution but the actions by violent mobs against our law enforcement and property at the building today are not. should condemn this unacceptable vandalism and violence.
— Rob Portman (@senrobportman)
Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge, who in December was to Biden's Cabinet, called the situation 鈥渁 sad day in the history of this great nation鈥檚 democracy鈥� in a statement released around 3:30 p.m.
鈥淭his is a day that will live in infamy. The very people who believe they are protecting our country have succeeded in destroying it,鈥� Fudge said.
Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan was reportedly 鈥渟heltering in place鈥� on Capitol grounds, a call for prayers and confirming at 3:08 p.m. he was safe. "This is not ok," Ryan said. "We are a nation of laws."
Republican Rep. Anthony Gonzalez also for prayer and a swift end to the violence on Capitol Hill in a statement from Chief of Staff Tim Lolli.
鈥淐ongressman Gonzalez is safe and is following guidance provided by [U.S. Capitol Police],鈥� according to the statement. 鈥淗e encourages everyone to pray for the health and safety of our country in this extraordinarily difficult time. He unequivocally condemns all violent protestors.鈥�
In a statement around 4:20 p.m., a spokesperson for Republican Rep. Bob Gibbs confirmed the congressman鈥檚 safety and condemned the actions of the protesters.
鈥淭hese violent and illegal actions must be met with swift justice,鈥� the statement from Gibbs鈥� office said. 鈥淗e is urging everyone not engaged in violence to leave the Capitol area and let law enforcement do their job. This is shameful and un-American.鈥�
Shortly after Trump addressed the nation and the protesters in a brief, recorded statement, asking them to 鈥済o home now鈥� while repeating his false claims of election fraud, Republican Rep. Dave Joyce addressed the president , saying the statement was 鈥渘ot enough鈥� and calling the protesters at the Capitol Building 鈥渃riminals.鈥�
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called the insurrection on Capitol Hill 鈥渁n embarrassment to our country鈥� and 鈥渁n affront to our Constitution鈥� in a 4 p.m. emailed statement.
鈥淭his must stop immediately,鈥� said DeWine, himself a Republican former senator and member of the U.S. House. 鈥淭he stopping of the count of the Electoral College votes has occurred because the security of the U.S. Capitol has been breached by a violent mob. As a nation of laws, this is simply not acceptable. Lawlessness is not acceptable.鈥�
"Peaceful demonstrations outside the Capitol are within the First Amendment rights of all Americans, DeWine added, but 鈥渟topping the constitutional process by which we elect the president is not.鈥�
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.