Carper Statement on Unprecedented Assault by Violent Mob at the U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, United States Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement regarding the assault on the United States Capitol.

“This afternoon, a violent mob, incited by the sitting President of the United States, waged an attack on our Capitol and on our democracy. Instead of watching the ceremonial tallying of electoral votes, we saw an insurrection here in the United States of America. The blatant misinformation that Donald Trump embraces, and the white supremacists and other extremists that he refuses to disavow, have been allowed into our politics and, today, they forced their way into our Capitol. 

“As elected officials, our words matter. They carry weight. And we have an obligation to wield them responsibly. This president, and those who have continued to push the conspiracy theories to which he clings, are complicit in creating an environment that has led to the violence and destruction we saw here today. Our country is better than this. But, unfortunately, this is who Donald Trump is. His concern is only for himself – not for the innocent lives his rhetoric endangers, not for the democratic institutions it undermines, not for the country it further divides. I have said repeatedly today that Donald Trump should resign immediately. If he refuses, then we must find ways to safeguard our democracy for the next 14 days and remove him from office. It’s not enough to simply ‘turn the temperature down.’ My Republican colleagues must unequivocally reject the conspiracy theories and extremism that fueled this attack on our peaceful transition of power. Tell the American people the truth. Choose the world’s greatest democracy over Donald Trump.

“Make no mistake: we will not be intimidated by domestic terrorists. We will ensure our Constitution withstands this assault. The certification of the election will continue, and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in on January 20^th. I look forward to voting tonight to uphold the will of the American people and doing my part to address the monumental challenges that our country faces going forward.”