WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Richard Neal, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said the statements and actions of President Donald Trump on Jan. 6 “demonstrated his lack of interest in the institution of governance.”

Neal made the comment during a conference call to area press the day after terrorists entered the Capitol building in an effort to influence Congress to stop the affirmation of the votes made by the Electoral College.

Neal had posted two statements on Facebook, the first shortly after the Capitol was cleared, “The President incited an insurrection in the U.S. Capitol today. The 25th amendment should be invoked, and he should be removed from office. What we witnessed in Washington today was an assault on the citadel of democracy.”

Later he posted, “Despite it all, we did our job. At almost 4:00 this morning, the Joint Session of Congress certified that Joe Biden will be the next President of the United States of America.”

Neal described his experience during the call, noting he and staff members were in his office when the breach of the Capitol took place. He said there were three Capitol Police Officers who stayed with him and his staff.

The officers directed Neal and his staff to turn off the lights, stay off their phones and moved a large table to barricade the door. One officer asked for everyone’s name and address.

He said there was much pushing and pounding at the door. One of the office’s windows was smashed. “For about an hour, it’s fair to say that chaos ensued,” Neal said.

Eventually the officers directed the group to leave for another room. Neal noted they were directed to cover their face as there was tear gas in the hallway and the group made “a quick dash” to a safer location.

Later that evening, the representatives and senators resumed their work. “Speaker Pelosi made it clear we were going back to the chambers to complete our work,” Neal explained.

With terrorists going through various offices – one man posted sitting at Pelosi’s desk and then displayed mail he had stolen – one reporter asked Neal about cyber-security issues. Neal said over the next few days it will be determined the extent of any damage.

Neal said he was impressed with Capitol Police, who he described as being “under siege.” He added the police were “reticent to use violence.”

He also praised Congressional staffers. “I saw the courage from the staffers who stayed and did the work.”

Neal added he hopes some action will be taken against the president before President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office.
 
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Much of the reaction to the events was swift and similar in tone from the Commonwealth.             

Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito issued the following statements: “I join with Americans from every corner of the country to condemn the violence unfolding at the Capitol, and President Trump and his supporters must do the same immediately,” said Baker. “The chaos now unfolding is the sad but predictable outcome of weeks of attacks, perpetrated by President Trump and his supporters against the democratic process that makes America the greatest nation on earth, and these baseless challenges to President-elect Biden’s victory must stop.”

“The horrific violence unfolding at the Capitol is an attack on our democracy and should be condemned without qualification by President Trump and his supporters,” said Polito. “It is time for all Americans to embrace a peaceful transition of power and move forward to heal our nation.”

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said, “This is surreal, we are the United States of America, the beacon of strength, hope and democracy to the world – not a third world country.  This is a breach in our American peaceful transition of power.  President Trump thinks he acts from a position of strength, but his actions and inactions sends the exact opposite message of weakness and insecurity to our citizens and to the world.  A true leader stands tall whether in good times or bad and does what has to be done to inspire and unite, not to incite negative situations.  There is a stark difference between peaceful protest and mayhem.  President Trump let this fester, was ill prepared to protect the US Capitol and the residents of Washington D.C., and has yet to condemn these actions, but in actuality has commended them!  Harm and bloodshed has occurred.  

“A true leader does not promote these types of actions.  A true leader leads for what is best for one’s country, one’s state, and one’s city – not for one’s self.  Today is a terrible day in U.S. history and a terrible legacy left by President Trump.  One thing is for sure, we will recover, we will heal, and we will unite to move forward in a positive light for we are still the beacon of strength, hope, and democracy for the world.”

Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jim Lyons released the following statement: “All Americans must stand together for our Constitution, for our representative form of government, and for our laws and law enforcement officers. As chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, I unequivocally condemn any attempt to disrupt our precious and irreplaceable Constitutional order. Sadly, we are witnessing a breach of lawful order on Capitol Hill that is completely indefensible under any circumstances. We must join together to reaffirm our deep and abiding respect for our nation’s laws, as our Pledge of Allegiance to the flag so gloriously proclaims our fidelity ‘to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.’”

Northwestern district attorney, David Sullivan, announced in a press release via Facebook  on Jan. 8 that he had joined dozens of other district attorneys across the country that had signed onto a letter “condemning the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.”

The letter, signed by 60 other district attorneys including Sullivan said, in part, “As Americans, we are deeply angered by this unprecedented assault on our Republic. And as elected chief prosecutors, we say enough. We call upon President Trump and all other elected leaders to denounce these attacks and those who participated in them in no uncertain terms, to cease perpetuating mistruths that are fanning distrust and division in our nation, and to accept the results of the 2020 election.”

The statement went on to say that their “duty to protect our communities and uphold the legitimacy of our office,” had been made increasing more difficult “in the face of attacks on the rule of law and our democratic institutions from the highest leaders in the country.” In addition to condemning the attacks on the Capitol, the district attorneys said they also felt “compelled to call out the profound inequality on display.”

“During overwhelmingly peaceful protests for racial equality this past year, law enforcement across the United States all too often responded with violence, aggressive and militarized use of force, and mass arrests. Yet when predominantly white armed insurgents attacked our nation’s halls of governance Wednesday, looting and destroying federal property, many in law enforcement appeared to stand aside,” the statement read.

It continued, “This profound and racist double standard makes clear the depth of inequality in our nation’s policing practices, the need for broader systemic transformation, and the necessity of a thorough inquiry into Wednesday’s law enforcement response.” The letter ended by calling for reforms, among them, “a truly independent Department of Justice to retore the integrity of that body and our federal government.”

Sullivan was just one of four?Massachusetts district attorneys to sign the letter. Others included Berkshire County DA Andrea Harrington, Norfolk County DA Michael Morrissey, Suffolk County DA Racheael Rollins and Middlesex County DA Marian Ryan.