Ohio Political Officials React To Violence At U.S. Capitol

A number of Ohio officials have condemned the violent protests Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Federal lawmakers were debating the certification of the Electoral College count when demonstrators made it past police barricades to storm the Capitol Building.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called the events “an embarrassment to our country.”

“This must stop immediately,” the governor’s statement continued. “(President Trump) should call for the demonstrators to leave our Capitol Building. The final step in the constitutional process of electing our president has been disrupted. The stopping of the count of the Electoral College votes has occurred because the security of the U.S. Capitol has been breached by a violent mob. As a nation of laws, this is simply not acceptable. Lawlessness is not acceptable. This is an affront to our Constitution and everything we hold dear. Those who breached the Capitol breached the Constitution. Peaceful demonstrations outside the Capitol are an exercise of the demonstrators’ First Amendment rights. Stopping the constitutional process by which we elect the president is not.”

More reactions (Editor — click tweet for full size version):

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted:

Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp:

Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Murphy Timken:

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes:

Ohio Democratic Party Chair Rhine McLin:

“President-elect Joe Biden is absolutely right: the words of a president matter. For too long, this president’s words have fanned the flames of hatred, chaos and racism, and for four years, Ohio Republicans have cheered him on or shrugged their shoulders and pretended to be ‘late for lunch.’ We join President-elect Biden in calling on the president to go on national TV immediately, condemn the violence and demand that his supporters end their seditious attack on the U.S. Capitol. We will continue to pray for our nation and for our nation’s leaders.”

U.S. Attorney David DeVillers of the Southern District of Ohio:

Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman:

“The right to protest peacefully is protected under the Constitution but the actions by violent mobs against our law enforcement and property at the @USCapitol building today are not. @realdonaldtrump should condemn this unacceptable vandalism and violence.”

Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown:

Ohio House Assistant Majority Whip Cindy Abrams, R-Harrison:

Ohio Senate Pro Tempore Jay Hottinger, R-Newark:

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost:

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose:

Ohio Auditor Keith Faber:

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague:

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, R-District 1:

U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-District 2:

U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-District 3:

U.S. Jim Jordan, R-District 4:

U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R-District 5:

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-District 6:

U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-District 7:

U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-District 8:

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-District 9:

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-District 10:

U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-District 11:

U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson, R-District 12:

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-District 13:

U.S. Rep. David Joyce, R-District 14:

U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, R-District 15:

U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, R-District 16:

Ohio Rep. Thomas West, D-Canton, president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus:

Ohio Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Pickaway County:

Reposted here with permission. Tweet of Senator Portman was added as the original story had an inaccurate tweet in that place. Original story can be read here.