A rioter holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol near the Senate chamber on Wednesday, January 6.
In pictures: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
A rioter holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol near the Senate chamber on Wednesday, January 6.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Updated 0246 GMT (1046 HKT) January 08, 2021

In a stunning display of insurrection, supporters of President Donald Trump breached the US Capitol while Congress was meeting to certify the Electoral College's votes for president and vice president.

The Capitol was put on lockdown and the certification vote was paused after the rioters stormed the building on January 6. It took several hours for the Capitol to be secured. Vice President Mike Pence was moved to a safe location, as was congressional leadership.

This was the first time the US Capitol had been breached since the British attacked and burned the building in August of 1814, during the War of 1812, according to Samuel Holliday, director of scholarship and operations with the US Capitol Historical Society. Congress returned to the Capitol in the evening to resume the certification process.

Congress' counting of electoral votes is typically little more than an afterthought. But this year's joint session was expected to be a contentious affair. Some Republicans objected to the count, delaying the inevitable certification of President-elect Joe Biden's win.

Their push was destined to fail. Democrats and a significant number of Republicans voted down all of the objections, and Biden's victory was certified. Before the Capitol was breached, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered a forceful rebuke of Trump's baseless claims of widespread election fraud, warning his fellow Republicans that failing to certify the election results could "damage our republic forever."

Members of the DC National Guard stand outside the Capitol after the riots.
Members of the DC National Guard stand outside the Capitol after the riots.
John Minchillo/AP
Law enforcement officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House chamber after the Capitol was breached.
Law enforcement officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House chamber after the Capitol was breached.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
A rioter hangs from a balcony in the Senate chamber.
A rioter hangs from a balcony in the Senate chamber.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Trump supporters cover their faces after tear gas was fired in front of the Capitol.
Trump supporters cover their faces after tear gas was fired in front of the Capitol.
Leah Millis/Reuters
A Trump supporter <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/07/us/capitol-confederate-flag-fort-stevens/index.html" target="_blank">carries a Confederate battle flag</a> in the Capitol Rotunda. During the Civil War, the closest any insurgent carrying a Confederate flag ever came to the Capitol was about 6 miles, during the Battle of Fort Stevens in 1864.
A Trump supporter carries a Confederate battle flag in the Capitol Rotunda. During the Civil War, the closest any insurgent carrying a Confederate flag ever came to the Capitol was about 6 miles, during the Battle of Fort Stevens in 1864.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
US Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, comforts US Rep. Susan Wild, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, while taking cover in the House chamber.
US Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, comforts US Rep. Susan Wild, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, while taking cover in the House chamber.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Richard "Bigo" Barnett, the leader of a pro-gun rights group in Gravette, Arkansas, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/07/us/insurrection-capitol-extremist-groups-invs/index.html" target="_blank">sits inside the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.</a> Barnett later showed reporters an envelope that he said he took from Pelosi's desk.
Richard "Bigo" Barnett, the leader of a pro-gun rights group in Gravette, Arkansas, sits inside the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Barnett later showed reporters an envelope that he said he took from Pelosi's desk.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Papers and other materials litter the House chamber after it was evacuated.
Papers and other materials litter the House chamber after it was evacuated.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Congressional staffers evacuate the Capitol.
Congressional staffers evacuate the Capitol.
Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post/Getty Images
Congressional staffers put up a barricade inside the Capitol after rioters breached the building.
Congressional staffers put up a barricade inside the Capitol after rioters breached the building.
Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post/Getty Images
One of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/07/us/insurrection-capitol-extremist-groups-invs/index.html" target="_blank">the most recognizable figures in the crowd</a> was a man in his 30s with a painted face, fur hat and a helmet with horns. The protester, Jake Angeli — known by followers as the QAnon Shaman — quickly became a symbol of the bizarre and frightening spectacle. In recent months, Angeli has been a regular presence at pro-Trump protests in Arizona, including demonstrations outside the Maricopa County vote-counting center.
One of the most recognizable figures in the crowd was a man in his 30s with a painted face, fur hat and a helmet with horns. The protester, Jake Angeli — known by followers as the QAnon Shaman — quickly became a symbol of the bizarre and frightening spectacle. In recent months, Angeli has been a regular presence at pro-Trump protests in Arizona, including demonstrations outside the Maricopa County vote-counting center.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Tear gas is deployed as rioters gather outside the Capitol.
Tear gas is deployed as rioters gather outside the Capitol.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Capitol Police detain rioters outside of the House chamber.
Capitol Police detain rioters outside of the House chamber.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Trump supporters storm the Capitol during clashes with police.
Trump supporters storm the Capitol during clashes with police.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Members of Congress run for cover as rioters try to enter the House chamber.
Members of Congress run for cover as rioters try to enter the House chamber.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Congressional staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police SWAT teams secure the US Capitol.
Congressional staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police SWAT teams secure the US Capitol.
Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images
Rioters walk through the Capitol after breaching barricades to the building.
Rioters walk through the Capitol after breaching barricades to the building.
Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier outside the Capitol.
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier outside the Capitol.
John Minchillo/AP
A rioter sits in the Senate chamber.
A rioter sits in the Senate chamber.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
A crowd of Trump supporters can be seen from inside the Capitol.
A crowd of Trump supporters can be seen from inside the Capitol.
Cheriss May/Getty Images
A Capitol Police officer sprays a person who was trying to enter the Capitol.
A Capitol Police officer sprays a person who was trying to enter the Capitol.
Kevin Dietsch/UPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images
US Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard and Annie Kuster take cover while rioters were in the Capitol.
US Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard and Annie Kuster take cover while rioters were in the Capitol.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
Trump supporters climb a wall outside the Capitol.
Trump supporters climb a wall outside the Capitol.
Jason Andrew/The New York Times/Redux
A Trump supporter gestures to Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber.
A Trump supporter gestures to Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
People take shelter in the House chamber as rioters try to break in. House members were given gas masks that were under the seats, according to a pool reporter on the House floor.
People take shelter in the House chamber as rioters try to break in. House members were given gas masks that were under the seats, according to a pool reporter on the House floor.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Trump supporters walk through the Capitol's Statuary Hall.
Trump supporters walk through the Capitol's Statuary Hall.
Erin Scott/Bloomberg/Getty Images
People bring a ladder to help them break into the Capitol.
People bring a ladder to help them break into the Capitol.
Eric Lee/Bloomberg/Getty Images
People evacuate the House chamber as rioters attempt to break in.
People evacuate the House chamber as rioters attempt to break in.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier outside the Capitol. Shortly after 1 p.m., some pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they tussled with officers in full riot gear.
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier outside the Capitol. Shortly after 1 p.m., some pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they tussled with officers in full riot gear.
Julio Cortez/AP
Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol.
Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Capitol Police try to hold back people outside the east doors to the House side of the Capitol.
Capitol Police try to hold back people outside the east doors to the House side of the Capitol.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier.
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier.
John Minchillo/AP
Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi officiate the joint session of Congress early on January 6. Congress was meeting to count and certify the Electoral College votes before the Capitol was breached.
Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi officiate the joint session of Congress early on January 6. Congress was meeting to count and certify the Electoral College votes before the Capitol was breached.
J. Scott Applewhite/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Republicans applaud after US Rep. Paul Gosar, lower right, objected to certifying the Electoral College votes from Arizona.
Republicans applaud after US Rep. Paul Gosar, lower right, objected to certifying the Electoral College votes from Arizona.
Andrew Harnik/AP
The certification of Arizona's Electoral College votes is unsealed during the joint session of Congress.
The certification of Arizona's Electoral College votes is unsealed during the joint session of Congress.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blows a kiss to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell arrive for the joint session.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blows a kiss to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell arrive for the joint session.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Congress begins its joint session.
Congress begins its joint session.
J. Scott Applewhite/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Trump arrives to speak to his supporters at a rally on January 6. His speech included calls for his vice president to step outside his constitutional bounds and overturn the results of the election. "Hope Mike is going to do the right thing," Trump said at the rally. "If Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election."
Trump arrives to speak to his supporters at a rally on January 6. His speech included calls for his vice president to step outside his constitutional bounds and overturn the results of the election. "Hope Mike is going to do the right thing," Trump said at the rally. "If Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election."
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
People rally near the White House in support of Trump.
People rally near the White House in support of Trump.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Chamber assistants carry Electoral College ballot boxes at the Capitol.
Chamber assistants carry Electoral College ballot boxes at the Capitol.
Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
Trump supporters participate in a rally near the White House.
Trump supporters participate in a rally near the White House.
John Minchillo/AP