Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Now playing
04:49
These are the key moments from the US Capitol riot
CNN
Now playing
01:50
'I had to push my wife away': Officer shares emotional testimony
Protestors storm the Capitol building during a joint session of Congress in Washington, DC on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. The joint session of the House and Senate was sent to recess after the breach as it convened to confirm the Electoral College votes cast in November's election. (Photo by Chris Kleponis/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
Chris Kleponis/Sipa USA/AP
Now playing
01:00
Broken windows, garbage, and offices torn apart at the US Capitol
Igor Bobic/Huffington Post
Now playing
02:40
Pence evacuated from Senate a minute before officer lured rioters away
Getty Images
Now playing
04:32
There have always been two Americas. The Capitol Hill riot proved it
Now playing
02:31
These Trump supporters say they're 'proud' of chaos at Capitol
Mo Brooks/Paul Gosar split
CNN/Eagle One Live
Now playing
03:48
Lawmakers' fiery language under scrutiny
From Twitter/Status Coup
Now playing
05:43
Officers describe tense moments during riot at Capitol
Now playing
07:25
Two minutes inside the mob: A CNN reporter's view of the riot
John Farina/Status Coup
Now playing
02:49
Disturbing footage shows officer pinned as rioters rush Capitol door
Washington, DCCNN
—
They came to Washington to protest an election they think has been stolen, and when violence began at the US Capitol, mob logic took over.
CNN spoke to people who stormed the building. They said they felt like they were doing something good.
“What are we supposed to do? OK?” a man who’d been maced by police said during Wednesday’s riot that saw the halls of Congress broken into, offices vandalized and five people die. “The Supreme Court’s not helping us, no one’s helping us. Only us can help us. Only we can do it.”
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Win McNamee/Getty Images
A rioter holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol near the Senate chamber on Wednesday, January 6.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
John Minchillo/AP
Members of the DC National Guard stand outside the Capitol after the riots.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Law enforcement officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House chamber after the Capitol was breached.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Win McNamee/Getty Images
A rioter hangs from a balcony in the Senate chamber.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Leah Millis/Reuters
Trump supporters cover their faces after tear gas was fired in front of the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
A Trump supporter carries a Confederate battle flag in the Capitol Rotunda. During the Civil War, the closest any insurgent carrying a Confederate flag ever came to the Capitol was about 6 miles, during the Battle of Fort Stevens in 1864.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
US Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, comforts US Rep. Susan Wild, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, while taking cover in the House chamber.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Richard "Bigo" Barnett, the leader of a pro-gun rights group in Gravette, Arkansas, sits inside the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Barnett later showed reporters an envelope that he said he took from Pelosi's desk.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Andrew Harnik/AP
Papers and other materials litter the House chamber after it was evacuated.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post/Getty Images
Congressional staffers evacuate the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post/Getty Images
Congressional staffers put up a barricade inside the Capitol after rioters breached the building.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Win McNamee/Getty Images
One of the most recognizable figures in the crowd was a man in his 30s with a painted face, fur hat and a helmet with horns. The protester, Jake Angeli — known by followers as the QAnon Shaman — quickly became a symbol of the bizarre and frightening spectacle. In recent months, Angeli has been a regular presence at pro-Trump protests in Arizona, including demonstrations outside the Maricopa County vote-counting center.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Tear gas is deployed as rioters gather outside the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Capitol Police detain rioters outside of the House chamber.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Trump supporters storm the Capitol during clashes with police.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Members of Congress run for cover as rioters try to enter the House chamber.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images
Congressional staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police SWAT teams secure the US Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Rioters walk through the Capitol after breaching barricades to the building.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
John Minchillo/AP
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier outside the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Win McNamee/Getty Images
A rioter sits in the Senate chamber.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Cheriss May/Getty Images
A crowd of Trump supporters can be seen from inside the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Kevin Dietsch/UPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A Capitol Police officer sprays a person who was trying to enter the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
US Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard and Annie Kuster take cover while rioters were in the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Jason Andrew/The New York Times/Redux
Trump supporters climb a wall outside the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
A Trump supporter gestures to Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Andrew Harnik/AP
People take shelter in the House chamber as rioters try to break in. House members were given gas masks that were under the seats, according to a pool reporter on the House floor.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Erin Scott/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Trump supporters walk through the Capitol's Statuary Hall.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Eric Lee/Bloomberg/Getty Images
People bring a ladder to help them break into the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Andrew Harnik/AP
People evacuate the House chamber as rioters attempt to break in.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Julio Cortez/AP
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier outside the Capitol. Shortly after 1 p.m., some pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they tussled with officers in full riot gear.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Andrew Harnik/AP
Capitol Police try to hold back people outside the east doors to the House side of the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
John Minchillo/AP
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
J. Scott Applewhite/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi officiate the joint session of Congress early on January 6. Congress was meeting to count and certify the Electoral College votes before the Capitol was breached.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Andrew Harnik/AP
Republicans applaud after US Rep. Paul Gosar, lower right, objected to certifying the Electoral College votes from Arizona.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Andrew Harnik/AP
The certification of Arizona's Electoral College votes is unsealed during the joint session of Congress.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blows a kiss to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell arrive for the joint session.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
J. Scott Applewhite/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Congress begins its joint session.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Trump arrives to speak to his supporters at a rally on January 6. His speech included calls for his vice president to step outside his constitutional bounds and overturn the results of the election. "Hope Mike is going to do the right thing," Trump said at the rally. "If Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election."
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
People rally near the White House in support of Trump.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
Chamber assistants carry Electoral College ballot boxes at the Capitol.
Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
John Minchillo/AP
Trump supporters participate in a rally near the White House.
The rally started off peacefully as tens of thousands of people from all over the country gathered outside the White House.
They cheered President Donald Trump and his allies as they continued to lie that the election was stolen.
“Over the next 10 days, we get to see the machines that are crooked, the ballots that are fraudulent, and if we’re wrong, we will be made fools of, but if we’re right, a lot of them will go to jail,” Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said. “So, let’s have trial by combat.”
One man watching Giuliani speak said: “He just said trial by combat! … I’m ready! I’m ready.”
A couple of miles away at the Capitol, Congress was meeting to certify the election, a moment that would cement the President’s election loss.
At the end of his speech, Trump told supporters they were going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to give the “weak” Republicans “the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.”
The crowd marched down two avenues to the Capitol, and once they got there some broke through barricades. After a few rioters broke into the building, more followed.
CNN stood on a short stone wall filming as people in their 40s, 50s and 60s climbed over it as if they were teenagers trying to get backstage at a concert.
They were trying to get to a set of stairs that would take them closer to the doors of the Capitol. A man shouted, “Go upstairs!” – and into the building – “either go upstairs or get out of the way!”
Nearby, people climbed a steep wall to get to the upper terrace of the Capitol, even though they could have just gone around a corner and walked up the stairs.
Asked why they were storming the Capitol, one woman became angry, saying they weren’t storming, and that that was a “media narrative.” They were just making their voices heard, she said. Then she continued climbing over a wall.
Rioters overwhelmed Capitol police and many made it into the building. Others stayed outside demonstrating on the steps or climbing the scaffolding being set up for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in two weeks.
One man who went inside told CNN there was a brief discussion over whether to force their way in.
“I was actually here when this guy started breaking in with a cane. Obviously there’s a power struggle, there’s peaceful guys that were like, ‘No, no, we don’t want to do that,’” he said.
“Then there was that guy. You know, he just said, ‘Well, oh well, I’m breaking it in.’”
Another man described the scene this way: “We broke down the barriers, and we rushed them, we charged them.
“We got all the way to the steps and made a line, so we stood there and we tried to push them back a little bit until finally they started getting rough with us, so we tried to push them back. So that’s what we did, we pushed them back.
“We tried to get up the steps. They wouldn’t let us up. So then they started pepper-spraying and macing everybody.”
For the next three hours, the Trump supporters moved in and out of the Capitol, posing for pictures, while security teams rushed senators and representatives to safety.
Four people died during the riot, one of whom was shot by a US Capitol Police employee in a Capitol hallway. Three people died after medical emergencies.
One man said some of the police inside were supportive of the rioters.
“The cops were very cool. They were like, ‘Hey guys, have a good night.’ Well, some of them. It’s just crazy. It’s really weird. You can see that some of them are on our side.”
CNN reached out to the Capitol Hill police for comment but have not heard back.
See what Trump supporters had to say after chaos at Capitol Hill
CNN asked one man what their point was.
“We’re losing our freedoms,” he said. “What you do you mean, what’s the point?”
Clashes with police happened sporadically throughout the day, and waves of tear gas wafted over the crowd.
Everyone CNN spoke to Wednesday said they believed the election was stolen.
From there, their beliefs were on a spectrum. Some said that if Congress certified Joe Biden as president, they’d be disappointed, but would go home. Others said they fully expected Trump to be sworn in for a second term, and a couple said after that, they expected military tribunals of prominent Democrats who they believed had betrayed the country.
Federal prosecutors in Washington have charged 15 criminal cases stemming from the unrest, Michael Sherwin, the acting US attorney for the District of Columbia, said Thursday.
Sherwin called the 15 charges a “good start” but not the end.
He added that an additional 40 cases were charged in Superior Court, many of them including charges ranging from unlawful entry to certain areas of the Capitol grounds.
The FBI and Washington police are asking Americans to help them identify people who participated in Wednesday’s riot and insurrection at the US Capitol.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the Capitol Police officer’s condition. He is on life support.
CNN’s Elle Reeve, Samantha Guff and Deborah Brunswick reported from Washington. CNN’s Steve Almasy wrote from Atlanta.
