Pelosi made his comments during his weekly press conference and follows Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, saying he will fire the current Senate arms sergeant when he becomes the majority leader.
“If Senate Sergeant Arms Stenger has not vacated his post by then, I will dismiss him as soon as the Democrats have a majority in the Senate,” Schumer said in a statement.
Michael C. Stenger was appointed by the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, and Schumer was expected to replace him when the camera is handed over to Democrats. But Schumer is making it clear that Stenger must either resign or be fired after the events that have occurred, part of the growing reaction to the crowd that has invaded the Capitol.
On Thursday, the Capitol Police leadership provided the first details about the deadly incident that left lawmakers and officials fearful for their lives.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, police chief Steven A. Sund detailed the violent actions of the protesters, saying that the Capitol Police and other officers were “actively attacked” with metal pipes and other weapons.
“They were determined to get into the Capitol building doing great damage,” said Sund.
Capitol Police shot an adult woman while “the protesters were forcing their way into the Chamber of Deputies where members of Congress were housed”. The woman was later pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. The police officer involved was placed on administrative leave pending a joint investigation with the Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Sund also said that the Capitol Police responded to reports of bombs and a suspicious vehicle in the southeastern corner of the Capitol, adding that the Capitol Police “determined that both devices were, in fact, dangerous and could cause major damage to public security. “
The FBI is investigating the incident further.
Capitol Police revealed for the first time that 13 people were arrested for “illegal entry” into the capital complex, in addition to the owner of the suspected vehicle. The police said additional charges could be made pending further investigation.
More than 50 Capitol and Metropolitan police officers were injured during Wednesday’s attack, and several were hospitalized with “serious injuries”, according to Sund.
“The violent attack on the US Capitol was unlike any I have experienced in my 30 years of law enforcement here in Washington, DC,” said Sund. “Maintaining public safety in an open environment – specifically for First Amendment activities – has always been a challenge.”
Lawmakers say they are baffled by the lack of preparation among law enforcement officers, as it has been known for weeks that President Donald Trump was holding a rally he said was aimed at preventing Joe Biden’s victory.
Representative Mike Quigley, an Illinois Democrat who was locked up in the Chamber of Deputies during an armed confrontation between the Capitol Police and a rowdy, praised the officers in the building who put their lives at risk to protect lawmakers. But Quigley made it clear that they were outnumbered and that the police were ill-prepared.
“The Capitol Police I was with did an incredible job in difficult circumstances,” Quigley told CNN. “My concern was not how brave the Capitol Police were. It was that an hour before the debate started, I looked at the crowd of people around different sections of the Capitol – and said, we don’t have enough security. “
Quigley added, “I am no security expert, but you can say that we were defeated an hour before the debate,” referring to Congressional procedures to certify Biden’s victory.
Others who were in the town hall with Quigley also described the distressing scene. After a hooligan broke a door window to enter the chamber, several Capitol police officers drew their weapons and warned the individual to back off. A table and chairs were supported to block the rioter’s entry, but lawmakers had no way of knowing whether the person was armed or had explosive devices that could make the scene deadly.
“It was the closest I came to thinking about the possibility of dying,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz, a California Democrat. “All we heard was movement and intensity. At any moment, someone could have run in the door with a semi-automatic.”
Immediately when there was a security breach, the main leaders, including Pelosi, were evacuated. Then the lower house legislators were evacuated. But there were 11 Democrats sitting at the top level of the chamber.
“It was one of those situations where you are in that situation, what would your prayer be?” Said Ruiz. “And I prayed. It was one of those moments when I said, ‘If you’re going to take me home, take me home’.”
This story was updated with further developments on Thursday.