At least four protests were scheduled in Washington, D.C., for Wednesday, the day Congress was expected to count the votes of the Electoral College and certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Those protests descended into chaos as demonstrators breached the congressional building — smashing windows, breaking into offices, and looting rooms.

Before the demonstrations turned violent, a number of lawmakers expressed support for the protests. After the Capitol was secured, 147 Republican lawmakers, 139 representatives and eight senators, cast their vote objecting to the certification of Electoral College votes that sent President-elect Joe Biden to the White House.