January 6 United States Capitol Attack: 2021 mob attempt to prevent Presidential electoral vote count

They went in to support Trump's demand for Vice President Mike Pence and Congress to reject President-elect Joe Biden's victory. The protests soon became riots as thousands of Trump supporters broke into the United States Capitol, damaging the building. Presidential historian Michael Beschloss called the attacks an attempted coup d'etat by the President. The attack of the United States Capitol building was the worst at that place since the War of 1812.

January 6 United States Capitol attack
Part of the 2020–21 United States election protests and attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election
Top to bottom, left to right: crowds gathered outside of the Capitol; Donald Trump speaking to supporters at the "Save America" rally; tear gas being deployed against protesters outside the Capitol Building
Date	January 6, 2021 (2021-01-06)
Location	United States Capitol, Washington, D.C., United States 38°53′23.3″N 77°00′32.6″W / 38.889806°N 77.009056°W / 38.889806; -77.009056
Caused by	Opposition to the results of the 2020 United States presidential election Trump's false claims of election and voter fraud Trump's incitement of his supporters to fight and physically disrupt the Electoral College vote count
Goals	Disrupt, delay, and change the Electoral College vote count in Trump's favor Capture and destroy the certificates of ascertainment of the Electoral College votes Pressure Congress and Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election results in favor of Trump and decertify former vice president Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 United States presidential election Ransack, vandalize, and overrun the United States Capitol building Summary execution of Vice President Mike Pence Summary execution of Congressional members Take Congress hostage
Methods	Rioting, vandalism, looting, assault, shootings, arson, and attempted bombings
Resulted in	Attempts to overturn election results in favor of Trump failed Damage to United States Capitol property, including vandalism and looting of offices and chambers Delay of counting electoral votes by several hours Resignations of Trump administration officials Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Chief of the Council of Economic Advisers Tyler Goodspeed Chief of Staff to the First Lady Stephanie Grisham White House Social Secretary Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Mick Mulvaney Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger Resignations of Capitol security officials Chief of the Capitol Police Steven Sund Sergeant at Arms of the Senate Michael C. Stenger Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives Paul D. Irving Installation of new security fencing around the Capitol and heightened security measures Suspensions of Donald Trump's social media accounts Efforts to remove Donald Trump from office
Casualties and arrests
Death(s)	5 dead 4 rioters 1 police officer
Injuries	Unknown number of rioters injured, at least 5 rioters hospitalized 56 officers injured
Arrested	80+ rioters arrested

First, protesters came to the Ellipse for a planned rally. There, Rudy Giuliani called for "trial by combat," then later, Donald Trump told his supporters to march to the United States Capitol "to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard today," while also asking them to "show strength" and to "fight like hell" for Republicans to "take back our country."

The Trump supporters broke into the Capitol. Congress was in session at the time. All congressmen, lobbyists, news reporters, visitors and Vice President Mike Pence were evacuated to a secure location.

A Trump-supporting female rioter was shot by Capitol Police during the storming. At that time, she was climbing through a barricaded door near the entrance to the hall for the House of Representatives; she died later that day. Three people also died from medical emergencies that day, said the Washington D.C. police. The New York Times said that attackers hit a police officer with a fire extinguisher until he died, but that was later proven not true; it did not really happen.

The attack on the Capitol has been referred to as domestic terrorism.

During the attack, several rioters carried Confederate battle flags or Nazi symbols. For the first time in U.S. history, a Confederate battle flag was flying inside the U.S. Capitol building.

Trump responded to the storming by writing messages on Twitter. In a video, he told protesters: "This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You're very special. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But go home and go home in peace." In another message, he wrote: "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long." He continued: "Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!"

5 people died during or shortly after the event: four rioters and one police officer. Fifteen police officers were sent to the hospital, and more than 50 were injured. Members of the mob hit Capitol police officers in the head with lead pipes and other weapons, including flag poles. Howard Liebengood was a Capitol Police officer on duty during the attack. He died by suicide three days later. Jeffrey Smith defended the capitol as part of the Metro Police Department. He killed himself soon after.

Trump was impeached for a second time because of this attack. Some people even wanted Vice President Pence to use the twenty-fifth amendment to remove Trump from office.

The House of Representatives formed a committee, the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, to investigate the attack and recommend changes that would prevent such an event from happening in the future.

Prison sentences for protesters

More than 750 people were charged with crimes because of the Capitol attack. More than 200 of these people pleaded guilty, meaning that they agreed not to have trials in exchange for smaller punishments.

Prison sentences have been as long as 22 years (in prison).

On July 20, 2021, one protester was sentenced to 8 months in prison; the trial was held in federal court.

One protester was sentenced to 3 years and 5 months in prison; Jake Angeli also got a 3 years 5 months sentence.

One protester was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in prison.

Sentences since 2023:

• 18 years in prison; Stewart Rhodes is one of the founders of Oath Keepers.
• 17 years in prison; Joe Biggs was a leader of the Proud Boys [a group of activists].
• 22 years in prison; Enrique Tarrio was a leader of the Proud Boys. His indictment said that he had a role as a coordinator (or someone helping) the attack in 2021; Tarrio was not at the Capitol during the attack.

Trials

On March 8, 2022, a jury said Guy Wesley Reffitt was guilty of five crimes, including trying to stop Congress from doing its job (counting the votes) and bringing an illegal weapon (a pistol) into the Capitol. Prosecutors showed the jury a video that Reffitt had made of himself breaking into the Capitol and telling other rioters to hurt Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Reffitt's son testified against him.

On March 22, 2022, a judge said Couy Griffin was guilty of one crime: Illegally going inside the Capitol. Griffin had asked to be tried by only a judge instead of a judge and jury.

• 2023 invasion of the Brazilian Congress (inspired by the Capitol attack)