Texas Officials React As Trump Supporters Breach U.S. Capitol

AUSTIN, TX — Texas officials condemned supporters of Donald Trump who breached the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday — some forcing themselves into both chambers of Congress — in protest of the outcome of the presidential election.

The chaos erupted as members of Congress sought to certify the presidential election results, a traditionally ceremonial and mundane task. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas led the effort to object to the counting of Electoral College votes in key swing states with the senator joining Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar in objecting to the counting of the Electoral College votes from Arizona, which went for Democrat Joe Biden. Shortly after the two chambers convened to debate the objection, throngs of protesters breached the U.S. Capitol — prompting a recess as members of Congress had to be evacuated.

At the apex of the violent surge by protesters, one person reportedly was shot before being transported to a hospital in critical condition. The woman later died of her injuries. As the rest of the nation — and the world — watched the astonishing events at the nation's capital unfolding on live television, lawmakers and political observers weighed in.

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"Those storming the Capitol need to stop NOW," Cruz tweeted. "The Constitution protects peaceful protest, but violence — from left or right — is ALWAYS wrong. And those engaged in violence are hurting the cause they support."

Democrat MJ Hegar, who ran an unsuccessful challenge to longtime Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in November, praised her erstwhile political rival for not challenging the presidential election outcome. "Thank you, @JohnCornyn for putting your oath above this mob mentality (even if it is because minority leader McConnell told you to)," she wrote on Twitter.

Yet she aimed a decidedly different sentiment at Cruz: "@tedcruz, you are an embarrassment to Texas and a threat to our Constitution. It's fine to push your policy positions. Stop committing sedition," she wrote.

In reacting to the events, U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw — the Republican representative for the state's 2nd congressional district since last year — was more succinct: "Stop this bullshit right now," he tweeted.

State Rep. Will Hurd, a Republican representing Texas's 23rd congressional district, suggested the actions of protesters were tantamount to staging a coup d' etat: "This isn’t a peaceful protest. This is an attack on our democracy and domestic terrorism to try to stop certifying elections. This should be treated as a coup led by a president that will not be peacefully removed from power."

Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro, who served under President Barack Obama from 2014 to 2017, was similarly strident, calling the events unfolding in the nation's capital as nothing short of terrorism: "Make no mistake: the domestic terrorism at the U.S. Capitol by armed protesters is not only Trump's fault alone. This is the result of leaders in the Republican Party fueling conspiracy, division, and hatred for years. And it won't be fixed until they lose their office."

In an emailed prepared statement, State Sen. José Menéndez of District 26 wrote: “Everyone has a right to free speech, but mob rule and violence must always be condemned! People have been seriously injured! Our democracy is at stake! If you love this nation, you must speak out against the criminals at our nation’s Capitol."

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner offered his take: "Where is the law and order with these protesters? And what about the U.S. Constitution? It doesn’t mean anything to these protesters? And Texans should hold Sen. Ted Cruz accountable for this fiasco."

Yet not everyone condemned the actions. Rep. Ronny Jackson representing the state's 13th congressional district and a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral expressed support for Trump even amid the chaos created by the president's diehard conservative followers: "We’re out here FIGHTING FOR TRUMP and for our election integrity!" Jackson wrote. "American Patriots have your BACK Mr. President! We will FIGHT for YOU and we will fight for OUR country!!"

Jackson previously served as the outgoing president's chief medical advisor and physician.

Others chose to essentially mark themselves safe from the violent insurgence via Twitter: "I'm safe," wrote U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat representing the 29th Congressional district. "Thank you for your concern and prayers."

Longtime U.S. Rep. from Texas's 18th congressional district, Sheila Jackson Lee, similarly tweeted: "I am in the US Capitol. I am safe and will not fear or leave because of this unwarranted and shameless violence. These actions are not serving well at all our precious Democracy, America."

In a three-part tweet, Lee vowed to stay in Washington until the votes confirming Biden and his vice presidential pick, Kamala Harris, as the victors from the November political contest. "We will stay on the floor until every vote is counted and President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are again confirmed as President and Vice President of the United States of America," Lee wrote.

"This is my pledge," she continued. "No one will stop me! The majority of Americans are depending on us!"