Rep. Lori Trahan: Domestic Terrorists Attacked The Capitol

WESTFORD, MA — Rep. Lori Trahan, of Westford, joined a growing number of Congresspeople calling for President Donald Trump's removal from office, calling the breach of the U.S. Capitol a dark day for the nation.

"There is simply no other way to describe what happened today," she said in an open letter to her constituents sent just before midnight Wednesday. "Domestic terrorists attacked the Capitol. They attacked the People’s House – your house – and in the process, they engaged in an assault on our very Democracy."

Four people died and some 50 were arrested after rioters broke windows to get into the Capitol Wednesday, according to several reports. Photos from inside the building show rioters in the House Chamber and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's office, and security ushering out the legislators. Images show tear gas coming from the front of the building where some rioters climbed balconies and what is to be the inauguration stage when Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Jan. 20.

Trahan and her staff were among the legislators rushed away to lockdown, as law enforcement worked to secure the building.

By 8 p.m. lawmakers were able to head back to certify the Electoral College votes.

"What is of the utmost importance in the coming hours, days, and weeks is for those who perpetrated these attacks to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," said Trahan.

But, she said, just holding those people to account for assaulting police officers and illegally entered the Capitol would "fall short" of preventing something like that from happening again.

"Donald Trump is directly responsible for the attack," Trahan said. "His constant lying about the 2020 election inspired those who attempted to prevent us from upholding our duty. He is unfit to serve another second as President of the United States, and he should never be able to hold office again."

She called on his Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove him from office.

"If they are too cowardly to stand up to him, Congress should move forward with Articles of Impeachment immediately," she said.

Trahan has represented the Massachusetts 3rd Congressional District since 2019. The district includes parts of Essex, Middlesex and Worcester counties from Westford, Lowell and Chelmsford to Andover, and Acton and Concord to Fitchburg.

More Patch Coverage:

'This Is Anarchy': MA Lawmakers Speak Amid Chaos At Capitol Hill

MA Gov. Baker Calls For President Trump To Be Removed From Office