Sens. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, Steve Daines of Montana, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington State cited the violent protesters who forced their way into the compound when they announced that they would now support the confirmation of the victory of the Biden Electoral College.
Braun said categorically that the crowd that was attacking the building convinced him to change his mind.
“I did not feel comfortable with today’s events, although I believe that electoral integrity is still a valid issue. Many of us can still pursue it,” he said, adding: “when today’s events unfolded, I could not dignify not even withholding something I opposed. “
Loeffler, who was projected to lose her seat after the second round of the Georgia Senate on Tuesday, looked shaken when she addressed the House.
“I cannot object to the certification of these voters,” said Loeffler, who planned to oppose the results of Georgia’s presidential election, in the Senate floor to applause.
Daines and Lankford echoed that message in a joint statement that called the episode “an attack on democracy”.
“Now we need the entire Congress to come together and vote to certify the results of the elections. We must stand together as Americans. We must defend our Constitution and the rule of law,” the two said.
Blackburn also ridiculed the violation as “a crime” and promised to “vote in favor of certifying the results of the polling station” in two tweets.
Asked why she did not vote to reject the results of the Arizona election, Lummis noted “the day’s activities.”
McMorris Rodgers described the scene as “shameful and anti-American” and said in a statement: “I have decided that I will vote for the results of the Electoral College and I encourage Donald Trump to condemn and end this madness.”
She explained that her planned objection to counting electoral votes “was to give voice to the concern that governors and courts unilaterally changed electoral procedures without the will of the people and outside the legislative process.”
The reversal came only after a crowd of pro-Trump protesters pushed through the barriers placed along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they fought officers in full shock equipment, some calling officers “traitors” for doing their job.
About 90 minutes later, the police said that the protesters entered the building and the doors of the House and Senate were locked. Shortly after, the floor of the Chamber was evacuated by the police. Vice President Mike Pence was also evacuated from the chamber, where he chaired the debate that challenged electoral votes.
Trump was silent for much of the day before finally asking the crowd to leave in a videotaped statement.
Only after pleading with Congressional aides and allies within the besieged Capitol, did Trump release a video urging protesters to “go home” while still fanning their baseless complaints about a stolen election.
In the video, he also praised the crowd, who forcibly invaded the Capitol, stole items from their rooms and posed for photos in legislative chambers. “We love you,” said Trump. “You are very special.”
“Today, a shameful attack has been made on our democracy. It has been anointed at the highest level of government. It cannot, however, prevent us from our responsibility to validate the election of Joe Biden,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in an announcement.
While the senators waited to return to the Senate floor and resume the certification process, some were using the time – and the frightening reality of what was happening – to pressure and persuade Republicans who planned to oppose states like Georgia and Pennsylvania to back out later. of ending the debate over the results of the Arizona election, said two Senate sources familiar with the talks with CNN.
“We are trying to speed things up,” said Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, predicting that the count would end on Wednesday night.
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, leaving a safe place with other senators, said there was a belief that they would end the counting of electoral votes on Wednesday night.
“These bandits are not driving us out,” said Manchin.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Ted Barrett, Manu Raju and Peter Nickeas contributed to this story.