'An absolute disgrace': Pa. delegation reacts to violent storming of U.S. Capitol

Mike Doyle has served in Congress since 1995. The Democrat from Forest Hills said he has never seen a day like Wednesday when protesters stormed the Capitol and created a violent scene that caused House and Senate members to flee.

“This looks like something that would happen in a Third World country, not in the United States,” Doyle told the Tribune-Review. “I’ve been here long enough to serve four presidents, and it’s been a sad day for America as the world watches this and shakes their heads.

”It was an insurrection created and spurred on by President Trump.”

Because of covid-19 restrictions, Doyle was not on the House floor during the violence because it was limited to only those who were speaking. Instead, Doyle was in his office at the Cannon House Office Building near the Capitol Complex. He was planning to go over to the House floor later in the afternoon when it was his turn to lead the debate on Pennsylvania during the Electoral College count.

“I can see the Capitol from my office, and I saw the Capitol police lining the House steps and the Senate steps and the Capitol steps where the rotunda is. And then I saw people breaching the fence and trying to come up the steps.

“They overwhelmed the police, and I thought the police showed restraint.”

Doyle said the Cannon Building offices were evacuated at 1:30 p.m. because of a bomb scare. Once he was allowed back in, Doyle said he was sheltering in place until the Electoral College count resumed.

“It is our intention to finish this (Wednesday) night,” Doyle said. “We could be here early (Thursday) morning. This kind of behavior is not going to be rewarded. We’re not going to let this or anything else stop us from counting the electoral votes.”

Other members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation issued urgent calls Wednesday to halt the violent chaos overwhelming the U.S. Capitol.

“This is an absolute disgrace,” U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, said in a statement issued shortly after 3:30 p.m. “I appreciate the work of the U.S. Capitol Police under difficult circumstances. I am currently safe as are the few members of my staff that are currently at the Capitol Complex.”

Toomey had been speaking on the Senate floor about the importance of certifying President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election shortly before Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, smashing windows, breaking into the offices of lawmakers and brawling with police and security officers as the complex went on lockdown.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler — who had joined President Trump in calling for overturning Biden’s election victory — urged everyone at the Capitol to refrain from violence.

“We know there is a lot of anger over this election and what’s happening in America, but this is not who we are,” said Kelly, noting he and his staff were safe. “We resolve our disputes peacefully under the rule of law. This must stop now.”

U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon, took to Twitter to criticize Trump for claiming to promote law and order, suggesting that Wednesday’s events proved otherwise.

“Arrest & prosecute the people who invaded our Capitol & let’s get back to work,” Lamb tweeted.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, was the only member of his team in the Capitol Complex on Wednesday, and he “is safe and taking direction from the U.S. Capitol Police,” a spokesperson said Wednesday afternoon. Casey could not immediately be reached for comment.

Horrible day for our country. We're all angry. But people like @WhipClyburn faced much worse & refused to give up. He refuses to give up even as these criminals are not arrested.

We will not give up.

Arrest & prosecute the people who invaded our Capitol & let's get back to work https://t.co/oeJTDlTofr

— Conor Lamb (@ConorLambPA) January 6, 2021

Update from Casey staff: Senator Casey was the only member of our team in the Capitol complex today. He is safe and taking direction from the United States Capitol Police.

— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) January 6, 2021

While they condemned the violent confrontations Trump supporters engaged in as they stormed the Capitol steps, two local Republican congressmen were mum about their earlier attempts to have the results of the state’s presidential election set aside.

“Our nation was founded on the resolute principles of freedom of speech and peaceful demonstration. Violent protest is always unacceptable. Like so many Americans, I am deeply saddened by the unlawful attacks on the U.S. Capitol, the People’s House. God bless the brave U.S. Capitol Police and law enforcement,” U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-Blair County said in an email statement issued shortly after Trump released a video message urging his supporters to go home, after previously inviting them to mass in Washington.

On Dec. 31, Joyce released a statement that “for the sake of our liberty and our American values, I will stand up for President Trump — and our American democracy — by objecting to the Electoral College certification” on Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters, did not respond to request for comments.

Reschenthaler, who had joined Joyce and a group of six other Pennsylvania congressmen seeking to set aside the state’s Electoral College votes, tweeted two hours before Wednesday’s violence erupted that Trump “is the BEST president since Lincoln.”

.@realDonaldTrump is the BEST president since Lincoln.

— Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (@GReschenthaler) January 6, 2021

He took to Twitter again shortly after protesters clashed with Capitol Police.

“The violence happening at the Capitol is unacceptable,” he wrote. “Today’s reckless events do not advance conservative values. Thank you to the Capitol Police and all law enforcement for your bravery. Please pray for these heroes.”

The violence happening at the Capitol is unacceptable. Today’s reckless events do not advance conservative values.

Thank you to the Capitol Police and all law enforcement for your bravery. Please pray for these heroes.

— Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (@GReschenthaler) January 6, 2021

“I know my office has received several calls asking if I’m safe. I am,” U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, posted to Twitter shortly before 3 p.m. “I ask for your prayers and thoughts for the police who are working to restore a safe environment inside the People’s House, the Capitol.”

State lawmakers also condemn violence

Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, and House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, a Republican who represents Centre and Mifflin counties, issued a joint statement asserting that “any act of violence or destruction is a crime and should be treated as such.”

“Peaceful transitions of power are something our country has responsibly proceeded with since our founding and should serve as an inspiration to the rest of the world,” their statement said. “… We strongly condemn any act of violence and destruction and pray for all those impacted today.”

State Rep. Matthew Dowling, R-Uniontown, issued a statement shortly before 4 p.m. similarly lamenting the situation.

“Americans have the right to protest — peacefully. This is a right I have defended for all citizens,” Dowling said. “What is happening in Washington, D.C., right now is no longer peaceful and — like any protest that uses violence — only hurts the cause of those causing that violence. This must stop and our democratic process must be protected.”