Rep. Payne Of NJ On Capitol 'Assault:' A Sad, Sad Day For America

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — It was a "sad, sad day for America," according to U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr.

On Wednesday, protesters stormed their way into the U.S. Capitol to halt the Electoral College certification of Joe Biden as the next president of the United States, supplanting Donald Trump. READ MORE: Trump Supporters Breach Locked Down Capitol; 1 Shot In Melee

Payne, who represents New Jersey's 10th District, posted a social media message that he is "home safe and away from this chaos."

"But this is a sad, sad day for America," Payne added. "The actions of these Trump supporters is absolutely and totally unacceptable. The United States, the home of the world's longest and most successful democracy, looks like a third world oligarchy today. Our rule of law is getting trampled right on the steps of our Capitol Building."

"Every American who loves this country should be horrified and ashamed about what is happening right now," Payne said.

Payne later added:

"After today's assault on American democracy, I support efforts to impeach President Trump and remove him from office immediately. Also, I support a full ethics investigation into any Republican elected officials who violated their oath of office to uphold the Constitution when they promoted Trump's violent coup attempt and challenges to our Electoral College. If they are found guilty, they should be expelled from Congress. People need to be held responsible for today's national tragedy. NO ONE is above the law in America!"

On Thursday, Payne reiterated that, once again, he supports the impeachment of Donald Trump.

"We have never had a president who cared less about the American people,” the congressman said. “Since the November election, he has shown that his ego and personal profiteering are far more important than his job to protect the country and defend the Constitution."

"I thought we might be able to survive his reckless and criminal behavior until the January 20 inauguration of Joe Biden as our 46th president," Payne continued. "But his actions in Georgia and his support for rioters and terrorists during the siege of our Capitol Building, a symbol of democracy worldwide, shows he should be removed from office immediately. Once he is removed, we can work to restore America as one nation with liberty and justice for all again."

Payne released the following statement about the current impeachment resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives:

"The resolution (unnumbered at publication) would impeach President Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors based on conduct that violates his duty to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. The two articles mentioned in the resolution relate to Trump’s phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his actions to incite mob violence to stop the certification of the Electoral College vote that made Joe Biden the next U.S. President. In the January 2, 2021, call to Raffensperger, Trump threatened him with possible criminal consequences if Raffensperger did not falsify an extra 11,780 votes and declare Trump the winner of Georgia’s Presidential election. Then on January 6, 2021, Trump encouraged supporters to travel to Washington, D.C. so they could attack the Capitol Building and try to stop the certification, normally a routine procedure that Republicans and Democrats support."

The move comes one day after Payne supported a separate House resolution to “censure and condemn” Trump for his attempts to overturn the result of Georgia’s recent presidential election.

New Jersey's 10th Congressional District covers portions of Essex, Hudson and Union counties, including the following municipalities: Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Montclair, Newark, Orange, South Orange, West Orange, Bayonne, Jersey City, Hillside, Linden, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park and Union Township.

President Trump tweeted about the incident on Wednesday afternoon, asking people to "remain peaceful" and avoid violence.

Several elected officials across New Jersey, however, have accused Trump of fanning the flames, including Rep. Donald Norcross, who said the president "incited a riot."

• See related article: 'Attack On Democracy:' NJ Congress Members Take Shelter, Decry DC Riots

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