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Congress certified the 2020 election results shortly before 3:45 a.m. Thursday morning. The certification came after a day of insurrection and riots delayed the process for several hours.
Here are the top news stories in Virginia politics for Thursday, January 7.
An insurrection took place in D.C., Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidates respond – Virginia Scope
Chase then took it even further on Wednesday night when she called Capitol Police murderers and referred to the insurrectionists as patriots. “A veteran who was brutally murdered by Capitol Police today,” wrote Chase, after identifying the woman that died after being shot inside of the Capitol on Wednesday. “These were not rioters and looters; these were Patriots who love their country and do not want to see our great republic turn into a socialist country. I was there with the people; I know. Don’t believe the fake media narrative.”
Response to insurrection from Virginia leaders – Virginia Scope
While Virginia Representatives Cline, Griffith, Good, and Wittman have supported efforts to try and overturn the election results, they all joined the rest of the Commonwealth’s congressional delegation and condemned the actions that took place at the nation’s Capitol on Wednesday.
Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol, with one woman killed and tear gas fired – Washington Post
By Rebecca Tan, Peter Jamison, Meagan Flynn, Carol D. Leonnig and John Woodrow Cox.
As President Trump told a sprawling crowd outside the White House that they should never accept defeat, hundreds of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in what amounted to an attempted coup that they hoped would overturn the election he lost. In the chaos, law enforcement officials said, one woman was shot and killed by Capitol Police. The violent scene — much of it incited by the president’s incendiary language — was like no other in modern American history, bringing to a sudden halt the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
Congress rejects first effort to overturn election results; 4 dead in riot – Associated Press
After pro-Trump mobs attacked the Capitol and forced lawmakers to flee, both houses of Congress resoundingly rejected challenges to Biden’s election win in Arizona; result in state will stand. Four people died as supporters of President Donald Trump violently occupied the U.S. Capitol. Police said they included a woman who was shot by the U.S. Capitol Police, as well as three others who died in “medical emergencies.”
Virginia U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin says Trump engaged in sedition and ‘must be impeached’ – Virginian-Pilot
by Sierra Jenkins
As he waited for the U.S. Capitol to become safe again, U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin said he didn’t know how dangerous the pro-Trump mob outside was until it was almost too late. “You knew there were protesters on the ground, you knew that things were happening, but you didn’t know the severity of it until (security officers) started whisking us away,” he said Wednesday evening.
‘Use it or you lose it’: Northam says Virginia must speed up rollout of COVID-19 vaccine – Virginia Mercury
by Kate Masters
Gov. Ralph Northam acknowledged Wednesday that Virginia needs to speed up the pace of its COVID-19 vaccinations, announcing a “you use it or you lose it policy” prodding health care providers to administer the shots to more residents. “I want you to empty those freezers and get shots in arms,” he said. “When you have vials, give out shots until they’re gone. No one wants to see any supplies sitting unused.”
Dickenson Co. Deputy Jony Baker to run for state Sen. Ben Chafin’s seat – WJHL
by Slater Teague
Dickenson County Deputy Sheriff Jony Baker will run for the Virginia state Senate seat previously held by Sen. Ben Chafin, who recently died from COVID-19, a campaign spokesperson confirmed exclusively to News Channel 11. Baker, a Republican, plans to formally announce his bid for the District 38 seat on Thursday.
Va. has released the outlines for who’s next in line for COVID-19 vaccines. Here’s what they are – Richmond Times-Dispatch
The Virginia Department of Health released a more detailed outline on Wednesday of who will be eligible for vaccinations in the next two phases of the state’s efforts. The first round of vaccinations, which Virginia is currently in, prioritizes health care workers and long-term care residents and staff.
Candidate news:
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McClellan’s statement on the violence in Washington, D.C.
“I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the violent rioting and destruction happening in Washington D.C. These events are in no way justified or excusable. The President needs to call on his supporters to leave the Capitol immediately. We are a nation of laws and those who have sworn to uphold the Constitution need to do so. Anyone who rightly spoke out against lawlessness and violence last summer cannot with integrity be silent now. We all have a duty to speak up.
“The peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of our republic, key to the ongoing and sustainable success of a representative government. The reality is that Joe Biden is set to become the next President of the United States under our Constitution. The lawless actions taken today are an affront to that process and, therefore, an affront to the republic. I am both heartbroken and angry at what is happening. America is so much better than this. My sincere prayer is for the unending and matchless mercy and love of our God to rain down on this country at this moment.”
Statement of Kirk Cox on events in Washington D.C.
“I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the violent rioting and destruction happening in Washington D.C. These events are in no way justified or excusable. The President needs to call on his supporters to leave the Capitol immediately. We are a nation of laws and those who have sworn to uphold the Constitution need to do so. Anyone who rightly spoke out against lawlessness and violence last summer cannot with integrity be silent now. We all have a duty to speak up.
“The peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of our republic, key to the ongoing and sustainable success of a representative government. The reality is that Joe Biden is set to become the next President of the United States under our Constitution. The lawless actions taken today are an affront to that process and, therefore, an affront to the republic. I am both heartbroken and angry at what is happening. America is so much better than this. My sincere prayer is for the unending and matchless mercy and love of our God to rain down on this country at this moment.”
Gubernatorial Candidate Terry McAuliffe Releases Statement on Attack on U.S. Capitol; Calls on Pence to Invoke 25th Amendment, Remove Trump from Office Immediately
“Today has been one of the darkest and ugliest days in our nation’s history. As a direct result of Donald Trump’s calls to invalidate our fair and democratic president election – and many Republicans’ continued support of his efforts – terrorists have attacked our nation’s capitol with deadly consequences.
“This isn’t the first time Trump has incited violence in our streets and his statement today of ‘love’ for these violent extremists makes him a continuing threat to our democracy. Vice President Mike Pence must immediately invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Donald Trump from office before more Americans are harmed.
“Thank you to President-Elect Joe Biden and Governor Ralph Northam for their leadership for our country and Commonwealth. Our nation is hurting right now and our institutions are being tested, but our democracy will undoubtedly prevail. Ours is the greatest democracy on Earth, and I look forward to January 20 when President-Elect Joe Biden is inaugurated as part of the peaceful transfer of power that is fundamental to who we are as a nation. He and Vice President-Elect Harris will unify us and lead America through this dark and painful time.”
Democratic candidate for Governor Jennifer Carroll Foy calls for the 25th amendment.
“Invoke the 25th now. Reports coming out of the White House indicate a President who is increasingly isolated and unhinged. While we know he has been unhinged for quite some time, it’s more clear than ever that the threat he poses to our democracy is not theoretical. Every hour that passes with Donald Trump in office is one more hour Americans are at risk. This is why I believe the Cabinet must invoke the 25th and remove Donald Trump from office immediately. Absent the invocation of article 25, we need to move quickly towards impeachment.”
LG candidate Tim Hugo (R) statement on violence in Washington D.C.
“America is a nation of laws and the violence we are seeing in DC has no place in our society. Anyone who attacks law enforcement or commits acts of violence is a criminal and deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law.
I hope Virginians of all political backgrounds will join me in praying for our first responders and police in DC as they work to restore law and order in our Nation’s Capitol.”
Del. Hala Ayala’s Statement on Violence in Our Nation’s Capital
“This is an attack on our Democracy and everything our country stands for. President Trump has undermined our security, threatened our Constitution, and endangered public servants,” said Delegate Hala Ayala. “Thank you to the Capitol Police and all law enforcement officials who put themselves in danger to protect everyone who works in our U.S Capitol.
”I am grateful for Governor Northam’s leadership and actions to help keep our nation’s Capitol safe. We need leaders who are willing to put our country above politics to do what is right. Tonight I extend my thoughts and prayers to the U.S Capitol employees, our Representatives, their staff, and law enforcement, but most of all, our country, during this most difficult time. I have hope that our Democracy will prevail.”
Democratic LG candidate Elizabeth Guzman responds to violence in Washington D.C.
“We woke up this morning to good news. Here in Virginia, we saw two Democrats win their special elections to the House of Delegates, and in Georgia we saw what democracy is supposed to be. Voters who had long been disregarded — rural voters and Black voters and Latinx voters and Asian voters — turned out for Rev. Warnock and Jon Ossoff and gave Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote for Democrats in the U.S. Senate. This is history.
“But we also saw one of history’s darkest moments today. We saw a culmination of Donald Trump’s threats to democracy over the last four years, and especially the last few months. We saw an insurrection against the United States government. I am praying for the safety of everyone at the Capitol, but these domestic terrorists will not win. They will not defeat our democracy and they will not defeat our government. The silence of Virginia Republicans, many of whom have enabled this moment, is deafening. If you do not speak out and condemn this attempted coup against the United States, if you do not accept Joe Biden as the winner of this election, if you do not call for Donald Trump to be removed either by impeachment or the 25th Amendment, then let the history books note your names for your grandchildren to read.”
“If we can’t change your minds, we will change your seats. In 14 days, this nation’s healing will start. Special thanks to President-elect Joe Biden for addressing the nation and acting as a commander-in-chief in the absence of one.”
Over three dozen Henrico County Republican Leaders Endorse Kirk Cox for Governor
Over three dozen Republican leaders from Henrico County endorsed Kirk Cox for Governor on Wednesday, including former Delegates Jimmie Massie, John O’Bannon, and Peter Farrell, Henrico Supervisors Pat O’Bannon and Tommy Branin, the 2019 Republican nominee in House District 73 Mary Margaret Kastleberg, past President of the Virginia Society for Human Life Louise Hartz, and Republican grassroots leaders Eddie Whitlock, Scott and Connie Daniels, Ernesto Sampson, and Janet Riddick.
