Maryland Police, County Officers Deployed For DC Protest

MARYLAND — Maryland State Police have been mobilized Wednesday to restore order after violent supporters of President Trump breached the U.S. Capitol, Gov. Larry Hogan said.

In a statement released Wednesday, Hogan (R) said he has been in close contact with congressional leaders and is sending state troopers to assist the Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Capitol Police in Washington, D.C. He also said he has instructed the Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard to send a rapid response force team to the scene.

"All Americans should be outraged by this attack on our nation's Capitol," Hogan said. "This is a heinous and violent assault on the heart of our democracy. I will not stand for this, and neither should any American."

On Wednesday morning, thousands of Trump supporters gathered in D.C. in a last-ditch effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. For weeks, the president and his supporters have peddled baseless claims of election fraud. Their efforts came to a head on Wednesday, the same day Congress was scheduled to certify Joe Biden as the winner.

Protestors stormed their way into the U.S. Capitol to halt the Electoral College's certification proceedings. The move overwhelmed Capitol Police, who evacuated members of Congress as violence escalated.

Members of Congress from both parties implored Trump to use his influence on Twitter to quell the violence. One person was treated for a gunshot wound at the Capitol, a Washington, D.C., paramedic told the local Fox News affiliate. CNN said the woman was in critical condition.

In an effort to restore order in D.C., the Metropolitan Police Department has also requested backup from law enforcement officials in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.

Montgomery County deployed 53 Special Events Response Team (SERT) officers, according to police department spokeswoman Sgt. Rebecca Innocenti. These officers are trained to handle special events, civil disturbances, and other hazardous situations.

"What we do to assist will be at the direction of the Metropolitan Police Department," she said.

Police in Prince George's County, on the other hand, are on standby.

"We are actually on standby with the Metropolitan Police Department to assist as needed," police spokesman Cpl. Nicholas Clayton said. "If activated by MPD, we will aid in securing the area for which we are called to assist."

It is not immediately known how many officers from Prince George's County were mobilized.