Rep. Jeff Van Drew: Capitol Riots 'Disrespectful Of Democracy'

WASHINGTON, DC — Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew called Wednesday's Washington DC riots "unacceptable, un-American, and disrespectful of democracy.”

“The debate many protestors have been asking for was happening today and because of these actions it was abruptly ended. Everyone has the right to peacefully protest but what happened today was not peaceful or productive," said Van Drew, who represents New Jersey's 2nd District. "Today's debate was about the rule of law and by harming police officers, being violent, and breaking into a Federal building, the rule of law was broken. I ask that the President reach out and ask the protestors to leave the Capitol building immediately.”

Protesters stormed their way into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to halt the Electoral College certification of Joe Biden as the next president of the United States.

The move overwhelmed Capitol Police, who evacuated members of Congress as violence escalated.

Van Drew’s district covers Salem, Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic counties and portions of Gloucester, Camden, Burlington and Ocean counties.

In December, Van Drew joined more than 100 Republican members of Congress who expressed support for Texas's lawsuit seeking to invalidate President-elect Joe Biden's victory in key battleground states. Last week, Van Drew announced he would not vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.

With reporting from Patch correspondent Michael O'Connell

For more on this developing story, read our Patch report here: Trump Mob Breaches Capitol; 1 Shot In Melee; Biden Decries Riot