Pompeo calls for prosecution of Capitol rioters

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday calling for justice to be brought against criminals who engaged in rioting.

“The storming of the U.S. Capitol today is unacceptable. Lawlessness and rioting — here or around the world — is always unacceptable,” Pompeo tweeted Wednesday evening. 

“I have travelled to many countries and always support the right of every human being to protest peacefully for their beliefs and their causes. But violence, putting at risk the safety of others including those tasked with providing security for all of us, is intolerable both at home and abroad. Let us swiftly bring justice to the criminals who engaged in this rioting.”

Pompeo added, “America is better than what we saw today at a place where I served as a member of Congress and saw firsthand democracy at its best.”

The secretary’s tweet came following a day of violence at the U.S. Capitol where a mob of supporters of President Trump stormed the building, occupied chambers of the House and Senate, and a woman was shot and killed.

Pompeo is considered one of Trump’s most loyal allies and his criticism of the president’s supporters comes as Vice President Pence along with Republican and Democratic lawmakers called on the president to condemn the rioters and appeal for peace.

Trump tweeted to “Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement” but offered praise for his supporters and repeated his false claims that he had won the election.

The Capitol was secured shortly before 6 p.m. as a curfew in the District of Columbia came into effect. But it was a fraught day for lawmakers, staffers and reporters inside who were evacuated to safe rooms amid the threats from the storming mob of rioters.

More than a dozen people were arrested Wednesday, D.C. police said.