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 they were anything but peaceful. Indeed, in a video issued at 4:17 PM, President Trump opened by telling the mob, “I know your pain. I know you’re hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us,” and then told them, “We love you, you’re very special.” And at 6:01 PM, President Trump appeared to justify and celebrate the day’s events: “These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long.” He concluded, “Remember this day forever!”

During the attack, Vice President Pence, Members of Congress, and staff were sheltering in secure locations. Spurred by the false claims of fraud, some of the attackers said, “Tell Pelosi we’re coming for that [expletive],” and “Hang Mike Pence.” Some attackers carried zip ties intended to be used as handcuffs. A noose was hung outside the Capitol. Multiple members of the Capitol Police were severely injured or killed.

President Trump, however, was not focused on the security or well-being of those under siege. Instead, he was continuing to try to overturn the election and calling Senators to object to Biden electors. Immediately after the Senators had been evacuated from the Senate floor, President Trump called Senator Mike Lee—apparently trying to reach Senator Tommy Tuberville. Senator Lee handed his phone to Senator Tuberville and the President asked him to make more objections to the Electoral College vote. And later that night, President Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani tried to take advantage of the chaos by following up on President Trump’s call. He left a message with Senator Tuberville to continue to object “so that we get ourselves into tomorrow.” In short, President Trump’s focus during and after the attack that day was not on trying to protect the safety or security of the Capitol. Instead, he was trying illegitimately to derail the Joint Session that would officially count the Electoral College votes confirming President-elect Biden’s victory.