Ohio political officials react to violence at U.S. Capitol

This story is being updated.

A number of Ohio officials have condemned the violent protests Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Federal lawmakers were debating the certification of the Electoral College count when demonstrators made it past police barricades to storm the Capitol Building.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called the events “an embarrassment to our country.”

“This must stop immediately,” the governor’s statement continued. “(President Trump) should call for the demonstrators to leave our Capitol Building. The final step in the constitutional process of electing our president has been disrupted. The stopping of the count of the Electoral College votes has occurred because the security of the U.S. Capitol has been breached by a violent mob. As a nation of laws, this is simply not acceptable. Lawlessness is not acceptable. This is an affront to our Constitution and everything we hold dear. Those who breached the Capitol breached the Constitution. Peaceful demonstrations outside the Capitol are an exercise of the demonstrators’ First Amendment rights. Stopping the constitutional process by which we elect the president is not.”

More reactions:

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted:

What’s going on inside the U.S. Capitol looks like what we would see in a third-world nation. It does not look like America. It is not patriotic. The constitutional peaceful transfer of power is what makes America special. What’s happening right now is a sad day for America.

— Jon Husted (@JonHusted) January 6, 2021

Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp:

I strongly condemn the vandalism and violence occurring in our nation’s capital and across our country. Full statement attached. pic.twitter.com/kcERIzObQx

— Speaker Bob Cupp (@SpeakerCupp) January 6, 2021

Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Murphy Timken:

As Americans we have the constitutional right to redress our grievances but not with violence. What’s happening in the Capitol is wrong and not the way forward.

— Jane Murphy Timken (@JaneyMurph) January 6, 2021

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes:

No. No. No. No. No. You own this Jane. You and the entire party you lead. Save these shallow words for someone else. This is on you and then rest of the republicans who let this crap happen for years. You wanted the glory. Now you take the blame. https://t.co/rzGd9ksc37

— Emilia Sykes (@EmiliaSykesOH) January 6, 2021

Ohio Democratic Party Chair Rhine McLin:

“President-elect Joe Biden is absolutely right: the words of a president matter. For too long, this president’s words have fanned the flames of hatred, chaos and racism, and for four years, Ohio Republicans have cheered him on or shrugged their shoulders and pretended to be ‘late for lunch.’ We join President-elect Biden in calling on the president to go on national TV immediately, condemn the violence and demand that his supporters end their seditious attack on the U.S. Capitol. We will continue to pray for our nation and for our nation’s leaders.”

U.S. Attorney David DeVillers of the Southern District of Ohio:

Make no mistake… Federal crimes were committed today at our nation’s Capital building. Anyone who traveled from the Southern District of Ohio with the intent to commit such crimes will be prosecuted in the Southern District of Ohio.

— David DeVillers (@USAttyDeVillers) January 6, 2021

Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman:

No. No. No. No. No. You own this Jane. You and the entire party you lead. Save these shallow words for someone else. This is on you and then rest of the republicans who let this crap happen for years. You wanted the glory. Now you take the blame. https://t.co/rzGd9ksc37

— Emilia Sykes (@EmiliaSykesOH) January 6, 2021

Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown:

My staff and I are safe.

The violence at the Capitol needs to end now.

The lives of countless workers – journalists, staff, and Capitol Police are being put at risk by this attack on our democracy.

— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) January 6, 2021

Ohio House Assistant Majority Whip Cindy Abrams, R-Harrison:

Freedom of speech & freedom of assembly are important cornerstones of our democracy. The right to peacefully protest/peacefully assemble are protected under the Constitution..the actions by violent mobs against our law enforcement and property are not. Violence is not the answer.

— Cindy Abrams (@AbramsforOhio) January 6, 2021

Ohio Senate Pro Tempore Jay Hottinger, R-Newark:

Today I mourn for our country as we resemble a banana republic. Pray for our country.

— Senator Jay Hottinger (@JayHottinger) January 6, 2021

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost:

I condemn the storming of the Capitol. This is not protest, but lawlessness.

My prayers are with the law enforcement officers trying to restore order.

— Dave Yost (@Yost4Ohio) January 6, 2021

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose:

The violence and flagrant disregard of the law at the U.S. Capitol is un-American. It goes against our values as a nation. There’s no excuse for it. None.

Those bent on violence and destruction should leave so the work of our elected officials may continue.

— Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) January 6, 2021

Ohio Auditor Keith Faber:

My prayers are with the US Capitol Police. Any individual that storms the capitol building should expect to be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Mob violence has only one end: anarchy.

— Keith Faber (@KeithFaber) January 6, 2021

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague:

The violence and destruction unfolding before our eyes at the US Capitol does not represent the values and rights we hold dear as Americans.

We are better than this, and I strongly condemn this behavior.

— Robert Sprague (@RobertCSprague) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, R-District 1:

What is occurring right now at the Capitol is completely unacceptable. In America, we have the right to peacefully assemble and protest.

— Rep. Steve Chabot (@RepSteveChabot) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-District 2:

This violence must stop. The criminals who have broken into the U.S. Capitol, injured law enforcement, and disrupted the constitutional process are not patriots. No matter what flag one is carrying, people violating the law need to be held accountable. 1/2

— Rep. Brad Wenstrup (@RepBradWenstrup) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-District 3:

An attack on the orderly functioning of our government is inexcusable. This is absolutely ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/7fJTXxvcmV

— Joyce Beatty (@RepBeatty) January 6, 2021

U.S. Jim Jordan, R-District 4:

Stop the violence. Support Capitol Police.

— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R-District 5:

These attacks on our democracy, Capitol, & @CapitolPolice are abhorrent & must stop. This is not how the Constitution has guided our country & citizens over the past 232yrs. My eternal gratitude goes to the men & women who protect us 24/7 at the Capitol. I pray for their safety.

— U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (@boblatta) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-District 6:

I’m shocked and dismayed by the violence here in the Capitol. This is not the way Americans solve our problems.

— Bill Johnson (@RepBillJohnson) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-District 7:

This is shameful, unacceptable, and un-American! Violence is not the answer. Everyone must stand down and let Capitol Police do their job and secure the area!

— Rep. Bob Gibbs (@RepBobGibbs) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-District 8:

I want to thank the Capitol Police for its dedicated service and for keeping everyone–from members to staff–safe. I have every confidence that they will be able to handle this situation.

— Warren Davidson (@WarrenDavidson) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-District 9:

This is a horrific day for American democracy and liberty. My deepest gratitude goes out to the selfless men and women of the Capitol Police for keeping my colleagues and our public servants safe.

— Marcy Kaptur (@RepMarcyKaptur) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-District 10:

I am appalled at what is occurring in the US Capitol right now. President Trump needs to call for an end to this violence and permit Congress to facilitate a peaceful transition of power.

— US Rep. Mike Turner (@RepMikeTurner) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-District 11:

This is a day that will live in infamy. The very people who believe they are protecting our democracy have succeeded in destroying it. 1/

— Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (@RepMarciaFudge) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson, R-District 12:

I implore all those participating to cease the violence and I urge @realDonaldTrump to call for this violence to stop immediately.

It’s time for our nation to come together. This violence is not the way forward. #CapitolBreach pic.twitter.com/QAXE4W4Scg

— Congressman Troy Balderson (@RepBalderson) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-District 13:

Thanks to everyone for reaching out. I am safe. In lockdown.

This is not ok. We are a nation of laws. Please pray for all of our law enforcement, elected officials and staff on Capitol Hill. Please pray for our country.

— Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. David Joyce, R-District 14:

If you voted for the President, you also voted for law and order and to restore respect for law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep our communities safe.

Put an end to this chaos and violence. It wasn’t acceptable earlier this year and it isn’t acceptable today.

— Dave Joyce (@RepDaveJoyce) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, R-District 15:

Protestors have a right to be heard – a right that I’ve fought overseas for – but there is a difference between protesting and rioting. Destruction and lawlessness are not acceptable.

— Steve Stivers (@RepSteveStivers) January 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, R-District 16:

As a very tense situation continues to unfold, I condemn these violent mobs in the strongest terms. The peaceful transition of power is essential to our democracy no matter how difficult it is and we all must honor this sacred tradition. Please pray for our country.

— Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (@RepAGonzalez) January 6, 2021

Ohio Rep. Thomas West, D-Canton, president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus:

Hard to fathom that countless times we saw folks peacefully marching for Black lives get tear gassed & pepper sprayed, but today we watched violent anarchists storm our Capitol in an apparent coup attempt. The President MUST tell them to stop & they MUST be held accountable.

— Rep. Thomas West (@RepThomasWest) January 6, 2021

Ohio Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Pickaway County:

The occupation of the U.S. Capitol is a disgusting display & a national embarrassment. The GOP I’m proud to be a part of has denounced violence & vandalism in cities across America throughout 2020, & we’ll continue to do so regardless of which side is bashing in the windows.

— Brian Stewart (@BrianStewartOH) January 6, 2021