Thread by @JaneLindholm

.@vprnet is in special coverage, following the breaking news of the alarming situation at the US Capitol, where armed rioters have breached the building. @PeterWelch speaking now. We're also monitoring TV coverage. Images are unfathomable.

@vprnet @PeterWelch Welch says House members were told to lie down on the floor, told to don gas masks. "I heard the crashing sounds of battering around the main entry door" and saw guns drawn by Capitol police as they tried to put barriers up against the door against "the incoming mob".

@vprnet @PeterWelch "They got us all out, and they got us out safely," Welch says of House members, saying that his understanding is that the "mob" was able to get into the House chamber shortly after members were removed.

@vprnet @PeterWelch Welch says he wasn't anticipating violence today. Knew it would be contentious today, but didn't anticipate the violence. "This is something the President has been fomenting, since before the election." Says Trump has "incited these folks to do this."

@vprnet @PeterWelch Speaking on @NPR now, Welch says of his Republican colleagues: "In all candor, they participated as willing co-conspirators with Donald Trump" in fomenting the violence being seen today.

I'm listening in to a press call that @PeterWelch has convened with journalists from around Vermont. Will tweet what he says to us. "Never in my wildest dreams," did he expect something like this. Says the House was in the middle of a "heated debate."

Says he knew something was seriously wrong when Stenny Hoyer and Speaker Pelosi were escorted out of the chamber. Says a police officer made an announcement to tell them that protestors had breached the building.

Welch: "I was very very surprised; stunned really, that protesters were able to get into the chamber; it's very secure." Said Capitol police told House members to put on their gas masks because of tear gas in the building. His understanding is that it came from the "protesters."

Welch said they heard what could have been gunfire (he now believes it was). Says they were told to lie on the floor. Then told to "in effect make a dash for it." Had to move quickly to get to the exit they were directed to, but then stopped and told to "hit the floor."

Started to hear crashing sounds, which were protesters who had managed to get to the House chamber. Said Capitol Police were directing them, trying to avoid putting Reps/press/others in harm's way by taking them out directly into rioters.

Said they all "made a dash for it" and were able to get out.

Welch says he is with others now, in an undisclosed location awaiting directions. Says Congress will still "do our job" to make sure Joe Biden is installed as the next president. But damage has been done, he says.

Of Trump, Welch says: "He bears maximum responsibility."

Says Trump "has been inciting people to believe it was a stolen election, before the actual results."

"Terrible day. Terrible day," Welch says, but that when this ends, Biden will be the next president and the US can begin to do the work to repair the damage that has been done.

Of the Capitol Police, Welch says "they were really wonderful, when their lives were insecure." Says they were calm and protected the House members as they did their job.

"This is a crime" incited by President Trump, Welch repeats. Says Trump has encouraged rioters for weeks to come to Washington, DC.

"When the floor of the House is clear, we're going back" Welch says, says Congress will do their job to certify the votes of the American people.

"President Trump has done significant damage, but our job is to undo it." --@PeterWelch.

Welch says he has not been in touch with VT Senators Leahy and Sanders, wants to know if they're safe. But hasn't heard reports of any senators currently in harm's way.

Asked by reporter Pat Bradley about how he stayed so calm in the video he tweeted out while in the middle of the chaos, Welch says, "I think it's called raising a family."

Welch repeating praise for the professionalism of the Capitol Police.

"We were all in fear for our safety," Welch says. Says when those in the House chamber were told to lie on the ground, and police had guns drawn, and they could hear people trying to batter down the House door, and he saw something come through the door itself, "that was scary."

Welch getting a report now from the head of the Capitol Police that the intruders are still occupying parts of the Capitol. "We're all waiting in hopes that we can get back to our work...but the criminals...have not currently finished theirs."

Welch calls for those who have participated in this violence to be prosecuted.

I'm so sorry folks--Welch still taking questions from reporters, but I am late to pick up my children and don't have any backup (pandemic!) so I will keep listening but need to step away from live tweeting.

Welch wrapping up anyway! But ends by saluting the press that were there in the Capitol today. "We can't have a democracy without a free press." Acknowledges that these reporters were still trying to get information out to the public while their own lives were in peril.

From Senator Leahy:

https://twitter.com/senatorleahy/status/1346932326924767233

Also, I haven’t seen or heard anything directly from Senator Sanders himself, but his son tweeted this an hour ago:

https://twitter.com/Celentra/status/1346914314108755978

“President Trump should resign or be removed from office by his Cabinet, or by the Congress.”
 
Full statement from @GovPhilScott on the events of this afternoon here:

https://twitter.com/twittersafety/status/1346970431039934464

Two @dartmouth political science professors calling for the immediate removal of Donald Trump from office.

https://twitter.com/brendannyhan/status/1346964244412194818

And Senator Sanders has released a Twitter statement.

https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1346960922615685121

More statements from #vtpoli. This is what the @VTGOP just put out.

Here’s the statement from the soon-to-be-inaugurated lt. gov., @mollyforvermont:

And here’s @SenatorLeahy’s official statement.