Congress finalizes Biden's win after riot disrupts Capitol

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Melissa Mahtani, Veronica Rocha and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

Updated 5:15 p.m. ET, January 7, 2021
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6:23 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021

Woman shot inside Capitol pronounced dead, DC police confirm

From CNN’s Christina Carrega

The woman who was shot inside US Capitol during riots Wednesday afternoon was pronounced dead at an area hospital, a spokesperson with the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to CNN.

“Yes, the adult female that was shot inside of the Capitol was pronounced at an area hospital,” said spokesperson Dustin Sternbeck with the Metropolitan Police Department

Sternbeck said, “additional details will be forthcoming as this remains an active MPD investigation.”

CNN's Pamela Brown reports:

6:13 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021

President George W. Bush condemns riots: "This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic"

Former President George W. Bush has released a statement condemning the storming of the US Capitol building this afternoon, describing it as "sickening" and "heartbreaking." 

While Bush does not mention President Trump by name, there is a clear reference in his statement to both Trump and other Republican officials when the former president said:

"I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement."

CNN's John King reads Bush's statement:

6:11 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021

Acting attorney general calls the riots "an intolerable attack" on democracy

From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

In this September 22, 2020, Jeffrey A. Rosen announces significant law enforcement actions related to the illegal sale of drugs and other illicit goods and services on the Darknet during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington.
In this September 22, 2020, Jeffrey A. Rosen announces significant law enforcement actions related to the illegal sale of drugs and other illicit goods and services on the Darknet during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington. Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images

Acting Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen issued a statement Wednesday evening calling the violence at the US Capitol “an intolerable attack on a fundamental institution of our democracy.”

The US Capitol Police was initially protecting the building when protesters had surrounded the Capitol and the building was in lockdown.

6:31 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021

Rioters still remain outside Capitol as DC curfew begins

From CNN's Team Alex Marquardt

A citywide curfew for the District of Columbia began at 6 p.m. ET and will continue until 6 a.m. ET tomorrow.

Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the curfew earlier today after Pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol, where members of Congress were meeting to certify President-elect Joe Biden's win.

During the hours of the curfew, according to a statement, "no person, other than persons designated by the Mayor, shall walk, bike, run, loiter, stand, or motor by car or other mode of transport upon any street, alley, park, or other public place within the District." 

The curfew does not apply to essential workers, including people working in the media with their outlet-issued credentials.

Here is the mayor's statement:

The Sergeant-at-Arms announced that the US Capitol building is now secure, according to press pool reporters. Rioters still remained outside the building.

6:02 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021

Facebook removes Trump's video to rioters

From CNN's Brian Fung

Source: Shutterstock
Source: Shutterstock

Facebook has now removed President Trump’s video from earlier Wednesday addressing his supporters, company spokesperson Andy Stone told CNN. 

In the video, Trump had urged Capitol rioters to “go home” but struck a sympathetic tone and reiterated his debunked claims of election fraud.

In a tweet Wednesday, Facebook's VP of integrity Guy Rosen called this "an emergency situation," adding that Facebook is "taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump's video. We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence."

5:55 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021

Congressional leaders pushing to finish election verification tonight, sources say

From CNN's Manu Raju and Dana Bash

Congressional leaders are pushing to finish the verification process tonight, multiple sources familiar told CNN. 

And as senators wait to get back on the Senate floor and resume the certification process, some senators are using the time to push and cajole the GOP senators who planned to object to states like Georgia and Pennsylvania to back down after they finish debate over Arizona’s election results, two senate sources familiar with the conversations told CNN.

It is unclear whether the efforts would be successful. It would require Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, for example, to back down in a very public way.

5:53 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021

Man in critical condition after climbing and falling from scaffolding at US Capitol

From CNN's Noah Gray

A 24-year-old male who was climbing the scaffolding on the west front of the US Capitol building fell more than 30 feet.

He is being taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to a source familiar. 

6:05 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021

Virginia governor announces state of emergency in response to rioting at US Capitol

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said he is issuing a state of emergency as well as setting a 6 p.m. ET curfew for the Arlington and Alexandria areas neighboring Washington, DC.

Read Northam's tweet:

 

5:47 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021

First wave of National Guard arriving at US Capitol will be unarmed

From CNN's Oren Liebermann

The first 150 DC Guardsmen are expected to arrive at the US Capitol at any moment, according to a senior Defense official.   

These guardsmen are part of the new Guard forces activated today.

These Guardsmen are wearing protective gear and carrying riot equipment, but they have no lethal or non-lethal weapons, the source said. 

Their sole purpose right now is to back up Capitol police and to help re-establish a perimeter around the Capitol. They will stay as long as is needed, based on the conditions on the street. They are not doing any law enforcement activities – and that will also be true of the remaining Guardsmen as they are ready to head for the Capitol.

There are no plans to bring in active duty troops at this point, the official said.

The original 340 Guardsmen that were requested earlier in the week remain in their positions and on the streets and are also not armed.