MNI BRIEF: Capitol Breached, Electoral College Count Suspended

Protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, temporarily suspending a vote to certify the presidential election.

The vote accepting the victory of Joe Biden over Donald Trump, usually a formality, was expected to stretch for several hours as some Republican lawmakers mounted an effort to reject some state tallies. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said at the beginning of the certification that "if this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral."

As members of militia groups and far right groups breached the Capitol, the Senate recessed, and towards 4pm there was little sign police would remove the protestors. City Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a curfew set to begin at 6pm EDT.