What official records describe On January 6, 2021, Congress met in a joint session at the U.S. Capitol to certify the Electoral College vote of the 2020 presidential election. The session began about 1:00 p.m. The House and Senate later adjourned to separate chambers to consider an objection. Around 2:20 p.m., members, including Vice President Mike Pence, were evacuated. The joint session was suspended until shortly after 8:00 p.m., then resumed after the building was secured.
The U.S. Capitol and its exterior plaza were closed to the public that day except for authorized people with identification. Department of Justice charging documents describe people entering the building without authorization, assaults on officers, and related investigations. The Government Accountability Office later reported assaults on about 140 officers, about $1.5 million in damages, and at least seven deaths associated with the day’s events. "