PHOTOS: Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol, disrupting Electoral College count

January 6, 2021 at 3:55 PM·3 min read

The Department of Homeland Security is sending additional federal agents to the U.S. Capitol to help quell violence from supporters of President Trump who are protesting Congress’s formal approval of President-elect Joe Biden’s win.

A spokesperson told the Associated Press on Wednesday that officers from the Federal Protective Service and U.S. Secret Service agents are being sent to the scene. He said their assistance was requested by U.S. Capitol Police.

Dozens of Trump supporters breached security perimeters and entered the Capitol as Congress was meeting, expected to vote and affirm Biden’s presidential win. They were seen fighting with officers both inside the building and outside.

Trump has riled up his supporters by falsely claiming widespread voter fraud to explain his loss. (Read more from the Associated Press)

Demonstrators gather during a protest outside of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images) — Protesters outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier on Wednesday at the Capitol in Washington. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo) — Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol on Wednesday. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)

Trump supporters stand on the U.S. Capitol Police armored vehicle as others take over the steps of the Capitol as the Congress works to certify the electoral college votes. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) — Trump supporters stand on a U.S. Capitol Police armored vehicle as others take over the steps of the Capitol while Congress works to certify the Electoral College votes. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Trump supporters take over the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, as the Congress works to certify the electoral college votes. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) — Trump supporters take over the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) — Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the Capitol. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump climb on walls at the U.S. Capitol during a protest against the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress. (Stephanie Keith/Reuters)

Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump protest in front of the U.S. Capitol Building. (Stephanie Keith/Reuters)

Demonstrators breaches barricades to enter the U.S. Capitol during a protest at the Ellipse. The House and Senate will meet in a joint session today to count the Electoral College votes to confirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, but not before a sizable group of Republican lawmakers object to the counting of several states' electors. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images) — Demonstrators breach barricades to enter the Capitol. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A protester holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol Building near the Senate Chamber on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) — A protester holds a Trump flag inside the Capitol. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits inside the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he protest inside the US Capitol. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol's Rotunda. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) — Trump supporters in the Capitol Rotunda. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

A U.S. Capitol police officer shoots pepper spray at a demonstrator attempting to enter the U.S. Capitol during a protest. (Kevin Dietsch/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images) — A Capitol Police officer shoots pepper spray at a demonstrator attempting to enter the Capitol. (Kevin Dietsch/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A supporter of President Donald Trump carries a Confederate battle flag on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol near the entrance to the Senate after breaching security defenses, in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021. (Mike Theiler/Reuters)

Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., comforts Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., while taking cover as protesters disrupt the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images) — Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., comforts Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., while taking cover as protesters disrupt the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)

U.S. Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) — Capitol Police officers point their guns at a door in the House chamber that was vandalized. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

A protester sits in the Senate Chamber on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) — A protester sits in the Senate chamber. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Protesters interact with Capitol Police inside the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) — Protesters interact with Capitol Police inside the Capitol building. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the Capital Building. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images) — Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the Capitol. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Supporters of US President Donald Trump gather across from the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) — Trump supporters gather across from the Capitol. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the US Capitol. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images) — Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the Capitol. (Roberto Schmidt//AFP via Getty Images)

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

A supporter of US President Donald Trump leaves a note in the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he protest inside the US Capitol. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) — A note left by a Trump supporter in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

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