As the riot raged on Capitol Hill, Trump tried to call senators to overturn the election

The White House’s effort to get Tuberville to delay vote certification provides insight into the president’s thinking and priorities, while a crowd of his supporters besieged the iconic building. As the president worked to convince Tuberville to delay the process, he and other senior White House officials did little to check on Vice President Mike Pence while he and members of his family were inside the violated Capitol, said a source close to the vice president. CNN president.

Trump first called Lee’s personal cell phone, a Utah Republican, shortly after 2 pm Eastern time. At that time, senators had been evacuated from the Senate floor and were in a temporary waiting room when a pro-Trump crowd began to invade the Capitol.

Tuberville spoke to Trump for less than 10 minutes, with the president trying to convince him to further object to the Electoral College vote in a futile effort to block Congress’ certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, according to a familiar source. with connecting. The call was interrupted because senators were asked to move to a safe place.

CNN contacted the Tuberville office for comment.

“Sen. Tuberville? Or should I say Coach Tuberville. This is Rudy Giuliani, the president’s lawyer,” he said according to the transcript.

“I’m calling you because I want to discuss with you how they are trying to rush this audience and how we need you, our Republican friends, to just try to slow down so that we can get these legislatures to provide more information for you,” said Giuliani, referring to to unfounded allegations of electoral fraud in the presidential election.

“I know they will be meeting at 8 pm, but … the only strategy we can follow is to oppose several states and raise questions so that we can get into tomorrow – preferably by the end of tomorrow.”

Tuberville did not know that Giuliani tried to contact him until it was reported publicly, according to the source.

CNN reported on Wednesday that even after Congress met again that night after the turmoil, Trump was still asking senators to proceed with the protest over Biden’s certification as president, according to a source familiar with the discussions.