We are hearing from California's top political leaders following chaos at the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal believes President Donald Trump encouraged the demonstrators to storm the Capitol.
The representative was in his office next to the Capitol building when the protest began. He said most members of Congress were encouraged to be in their offices and avoid people congregating on the House floor due to COVID-19.
"I'm greatly disappointed and quite frankly outraged that this President would incite such a mob, a small minority of individuals that are destroying property and being violent," Congressman Carbajal said during a Zoom call with KSBY on Wednesday.
The time-honored American tradition of counting Electoral College votes was interrupted as the president's supporters stormed the Capitol.
"This president refuses to accept the fact that he lost the election," Rep. Carbajal said.
Vice President Mike Pence and lawmakers were moved to safety while demonstrators were seen wandering through the corridors as the Capitol Complex went into a security lockdown.
Congressman Carbajal said the crowd was not visible from his office window.
"The unruly mob is around the capitol but beyond that there's hardly anyone around near the office buildings where we are," he explained.
He says it's unlike any proceeding in U.S. history.
"It's shameful and outrageous."
California Governor Gavin Newsom canceled his 2 p.m. press conference about COVID-19 and took to Twitter, saying in part:
"Peaceful protest is an important mechanism of our democracy but what we are witnessing in our nation's Capitol building is reprehensible and an outright assault to our democracy and Democratic institutions."
State Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham, a Republican, released a statement saying:
"What we're witnessing at the U.S. Capitol are disgraceful acts of political violence. Our flag has been a symbol of liberty and freedom around the world for generations. Our democratic institutions are stronger than any one person, or any one election result. We must denounce violence as a means of political expression."
"I am 100% sure that this President will leave the White House one way or another on January 20th," Congressman Carbajal concluded.
