Rep. Wild Statement on the Need to Ensure Accountability After Attack on Capitol
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) released the following statement regarding this week's events at the U.S. Capitol:
"This week, our democracy was tested in unprecedented ways. After spending months making false and destructive claims contesting the results of the November presidential election, President Trump urged his followers to rise up against the election certification process in Congress.
"Galvanized by his words, a mob—armed with guns, improvised explosive devices including Molotov cocktails and pipe bombs, teargas, and other weapons—attacked law enforcement officers and breached multiple layers of security until reaching the doors of the House chamber. There, they attempted to violently force their way in and temporarily brought the work of democracy to a halt. Several of them threatened the lives of elected officials, including Vice President Pence.
"In scenes that have since been replayed across our country and around the world, these domestic terrorists carried racist and anti-Semitic symbols into the Capitol and across the complex, committed acts of vandalism and desecration in offices and on the floor of the chamber, and, most tragically, engaged in a rampage of violence—violence which led to scores of serious injuries and the deaths of five people, including a brave Capitol Police Officer, Officer Brian D. Sicknick, who died protecting his nation from those who would betray it.
"Those who attacked our Capitol were not patriots in any sense of the word. They are traitors with blood on their hands who must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
"But to pretend that these events occurred in a vacuum would be profoundly false. Not only did the President set the stage for the attack, he also failed to take unequivocal and decisive action to condemn and stop the attack during the crucial hours in which it occurred. In other words, he abdicated the oath he swore to this country—an oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
"What happened this week must never be allowed to happen again. And now is the time to demonstrate to our nation and to the world that our democracy is still strong and that no one is above the law. That process begins with ensuring accountability.
"I am calling on Vice President Pence to do his patriotic duty and secure the support of an adequate number of cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment and immediately remove the President from office. This is a bipartisan call, as Republican governors and Members of Congress have also stated that Trump must be removed. If that does not happen, I will vote to impeach the President.
"Those who sought to attack our democracy failed. I am heartened to see multiple colleagues on the other side of the aisle state their willingness to truly hold this President accountable. Right now, it is the patriotic responsibility of every member of Congress to reaffirm our democracy and protect it in our time and for generations to come."
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