Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) released the following statement after a violent mob incited by President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol during a Joint Session of Congress:

“Yesterday’s storming of our Capitol was a direct attack on our democracy—and it was incited by President Trump. We have to call it what it was: domestic terrorism.

“After orders to shelter-in-place, I stayed in a House office building with another Congressmember and two staffers. We barricaded ourselves in with a couch, turned off the lights, shut the curtains, and remained silent. Due to COVID precautions, we were the only ones in the office. After about six hours, we emerged from the office in search of Capitol Police, as none had confirmed our whereabouts and safety. We are safe, albeit shaken.

“I was able to join colleagues to finish certifying Joe Biden’s election early in the morning, but our work is not done. Congress has serious work to do to provide the necessary accountability so this doesn’t happen again. Here is how we move forward:

“First, the House Oversight Committee must conduct a full investigation of the violent, unlawful events yesterday. The American people rightly have questions about how this happened, why government agencies failed to coordinate, and why Capitol Police wasn’t adequately prepared and failed to secure the seat of our democracy. The Oversight Committee is the best forum to get those answers.

“Second, the President must be removed from office. If a majority of the cabinet and two-thirds of Congress will not invoke the 25th Amendment, the House must proceed with articles of impeachment. President Trump is an imminent danger to our democracy.

“It would be a mistake to wait for the President-Elect’s inauguration in an effort to put this behind us. Our duty demands that we act today to provide accountability.”

###