'Say A Prayer For Our Country': RI Lawmakers On Capitol Chaos

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island's members of Congress responded to the unexpected siege of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon, decrying the Trump supporters who sought to stop the official count of the Electoral College. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Congressmen David Cicilline and Jim Langevin, tweeted that they were safe and evacuated from the building.

"My staff and I are safe," Cicilline said. "I pray for the safety of the men and women of law enforcement. Say a prayer for our country."

A frew minutes later, Cicilline blasted President Donald Trump, saying the whole siutation was "outrageous" and that he was to blame.

"We should impeach and convict him tomorrow," he said.

Reed echoed his colleague's statement, said he was "safe and "determined to defend our democracy from these heinous attacks."

"This violent mob, incited by Trump, breached the Capitol, but our work continues and our principles endure," Reed wrote on Twitter. "They will not destroy our democracy, undo the election, or subvert the will of the American People!"

Whitehouse said that he and his fellow senators had been evacuated from the Capitol, moved to another building.

"Waiting for Capitol Police to retake Capitol and restore order," he tweeted.

Langevin said that he and his staff "were safe for the moment," adding that he was deeply saddened by the events of the day.

"It didn't have to be this way," he said.

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