As pro-Trump demonstrators stormed the US Capitol, the Electoral College ballots that were being read by Vice President Mike Pence were grabbed by Senate aides.
Moments after a recess was called, senators and representatives were moved to undisclosed secure locations. Several protesters breached the Senate chambers.
The protests were later declared a "riot" by DC Metro Police.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, tweeted a photo of the Electoral College ballots several hours after a recess was called.
Electoral college ballots rescued from the Senate floor. If our capable floor staff hadn’t grabbed them, they would have been burned by the mob. pic.twitter.com/2JCauUIlvg
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) January 6, 2021
It’s unclear when the counting of the Electoral College votes will resume.
