Florida Lawmakers React As Trump Supporters Storm Capitol Building Impeding Electoral Vote Count

Federal and state lawmakers are condemning the actions of a mob of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol Wednesday afternoon causing a halt in Congress' electoral vote count.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl) took to Twitter to call on President Donald Trump to urge protestors to “stand down.”

In a tweet Rubio said, “there is nothing patriotic about what is occurring on Capitol Hill. This is 3rd world style anti-American anarchy.”

Rubio also asked President Donald Trump to send “resources to assist police.”

Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R-Palm Harbor) sent a statement Wednesday afternoon condemning protestors.

“In a democracy, rioting, violence and lawlessness are repugnant and unacceptable," Sprowls wrote. "This isn’t a peaceful protest. It’s a tragic, cowardly and un-American spectacle.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling for those involved in the protest to face criminal penalties. "The perpetrators must face the full weight of the law," DeSantis said in a tweet.

U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fl) echoed the call for anyone involved in storming the Capitol building to face prosecution. "The thugs who stormed the Capitol today and incited violence should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Every single one of them," Scott wrote in a tweet.

Scott sent the tweet Wednesday evening, after earlier in the day sending out a statement saying he planned to sustain objections during the electoral count.

"During today’s proceedings, I will listen to any and all objections that are raised. I will pay careful attention to the evidence and arguments presented by both sides, Scott said in a statement released earlier in the day Wednesday.
“The situation in Pennsylvania is of particular concern to me, and I will likely vote to sustain the objection to their slate of electors."

Congressman Neal Dunn (R-Fl) says while he disagrees with the actions of the Trump supporters, he still plans to contest the electoral count when it continues.

“The violent behavior we’re currently seeing is abhorrent and unacceptable. Our Constitution protects the right to peacefully assemble; however, it does not excuse breaking into the Capitol or assaulting law enforcement officers," Dunn said in a statement. "I absolutely do not condone the behavior of the protestors who have breached security and broken the law. While I will still contest the electoral college results today, I will do so in a peaceful and lawful way."

Congresswoman Val Demings (D-Fl) in a tweet calls the event a "dark day for America."

Demings also tweeted to Trump saying, "you caused this."
Congressman Al Lawson (D-Fl) agrees with Deming's sentiments.

“This is an embarrassment, and a direct result of President Trump’s inability to accept his loss," Lawson said in a statement. "This mob was incited by the president and his four years of disgraceful rhetoric. Never in the history of our country have we seen anything like this. My Republican colleagues who have sat back, and watched as the president instigated this anarchy should all be ashamed of themselves."

As the events unfolded, President Trump sent his own tweet asking his supporters at the Capitol to “remain peaceful” and to “support the capitol police.”