As a mob in Washington, D.C., forced their way into the U.S. Capitol, roughly 100 people bunched onto the state Capitol lawn in Helena on Wednesday with Trump flags, some
Montana U.S. Sen Jon Tester said pro-Trump protesters who violently stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday have “cheapened this country” in the eyes of the world and made us “weaker domestically as a country.”
Pro-Trump protesters storm Electoral College vote confirmation, senators evacuated
Congress reconvenes later to confirm Biden’s victory
Last updated 1/7/2021 at 11:51am
Pro-Donald Trump protesters stormed the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. Wednesday, interrupting a joint congressional hearing to count and confirm the electoral college’s votes in the 2020 General Election that resulted President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over President Trump. The protesters breached barricades, forcing lawmakers to be evacuated from the building for their safety, but the lawmakers have since reconvened and confirmed the college’s votes despite objections from many Republican members of Congress, with Vice President Mike Pence declaring Biden the winner.
In a survey sent out to senators, the majority of Republicans who responded said they would undertake precautionary measures like mask use and distancing.
Lawmakers Plan Hybrid Approach Rather Than Fully Remote Legislative Session
It’s been clear that the 2021 legislative session at the Montana Capitol will look different amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but it wasn’t clear how different until Wednesday. Republican state lawmakers are planning an in-person session, rejecting mask requirements and allowing lawmakers the option to tune in remotely.
Lawmakers were offered four options by legislative staff this year: to hold the session all in-person; one of two hybrid models; or to hold it fully remote. The Joint House and Senate Rules Committee voted along party lines Wednesday for the hybrid option.