Bedlam descended upon the Capitol as the Senate attempted to certify the Electoral College results, as protestors stormed the building, resulting in an evacuation of Congress and staff. Governor Murphy deployed the State Police to aid DC officials (iLine post).

State leaders and officials reacted:

• Rep. Pascrell condemned the protestors as ‘fascist rioters‘ attempting a coup.
• Rep. Watson Coleman denounced the scene as ‘not a mere protest, but a disruption of democracy’.
• Senator Pennacchio decried the violence, saying ‘we must be tolerant and accepting of other’s views’.
• NJDSC Chairman Currie called it ‘absolutely vile‘ and slammed NJGOP leaders who have yet to acknowledge the Biden-Harris win; NJDSC Executive Director Avelenda took it a step further, accusing NJGOP leaders of being ‘directly complicit‘ in the riot.
• Senator Corrado urged calm, saying the nation’s forefathers would be ‘distressed and saddened’.
• Hudson County GOP Chairman Arango called for an orderly end to the demonstration.
• Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Suleiman slammed GOP CD2 Rep. Van Drew – an objector to the Electoral College count – over the ‘insurrection committed by domestic terrorists’.
• GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli tweeted that the riot was ‘heartbreaking’ and urged those violating the law to ‘stop’.
• GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Steinhardt tweeted that the ‘violence must stop’ and called for ‘order and peaceful protest’.
• Senate Majority Leader Weinberg and Minority Leader Kean urged protestors to ‘go home’, saying this is ‘not how our democracy is supposed to function’.
• Camden County Commissioner Cappelli said its a ‘day that will live in infamy’ and ‘nothing short of anarchy‘.
• Rep. Kim called it a ‘dark day for democracy’.
• Rep. Van Drew said the storming of the Capitol is ‘unacceptable, un-American, and disrespectful of democracy‘.