ALBANY (WCBS 880) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday denounced the riots in the U.S. Capitol and said he would be deploying members of the New York National Guard to the nation’s capital.
Hundreds of pro-Trump rioters stormed into the Capitol Building on Wednesday afternoon, forcing a lockdown of Washington, D.C. and an evacuation of both chambers of Congress.
Senators and members of the House of Representatives were engaging in Electoral College proceedings when the rioters breached the building.
Related
Throughout the day, Trump supporters continued to clash with police officers as they attempted to start a “revolution” and stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory.
New York Gov. Cuomo denounced the situation saying, “We must call this what it actually is: a failed attempt at a coup.”
“The cornerstone of our democracy is the peaceful transfer of power,” Cuomo wrote in a statement. “This is the final chapter of an incompetent, cruel, and divisive administration that has trampled on the Constitution and the rule of law at every turn, and we won't let President Trump, the members of Congress who enable him, or the lawless mob that stormed our nation’s Capitol steal our democracy.”
Cuomo added: “The election results are clear and the will of the American people will be carried out.”
While the U.S. National Guard and other armed forces were able to secure the Capitol Building on Wednesday, multiple states have deployed state forces in order to prevent a second riot attempt.
New Jersey has deployed 50 state troopers and said they are prepared to deploy members of the state National Guard.
Cuomo announced Wednesday afternoon that 1,000 members of the New York Nation Guard would be sent to Washington, D.C. “for up to two weeks to aid and facilitate the peaceful transition of presidential power.”
“This deployment will not impact our state's ongoing efforts to contain and combat the COVID virus. For 244 years, the cornerstone of our democracy has been the peaceful transfer of power, and New York stands ready to help ensure the will of the American people is carried out, safely and decisively,” Cuomo said. “God bless our brave men and women in uniform, and God bless the United States of America.”
Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.