Delaware Valley governors order National Guard to D.C. following insurrection at capitol
TRENTON - Pennsylvania is sending around 1,000 members of the National Guard to Washington D.C. in the wake of a pro-Trump insurrection at the capitol on Wednesday afternoon.
"The unprecedented and disturbing events yesterday in our nation’s capital are cause for ongoing concern and Pennsylvania is prepared to assist as needed in securing peace and an orderly transfer of power on January 20," Gov. Wolf said.
New Jersey and Delaware have also joined the effort to beef up security around the capitol. Governor Phil Murphy has mobilized 500 members of the National Guard to "protect our democracy and facilitate the peaceful transition of power."
"Our republic is built on the principles of democracy, peace, and the right of the American people to freely choose their leaders," Murphy said. "The brave men and women of our National Guard will be deployed in order to preserve these sacred principles."
MORE: Trump promises 'orderly transition' after Congress certifies Biden's 2020 election
Washington's neighbors to the east in Delaware will also send an unspecified number of National Guard troops, according to Governor John Carney.
The capitol building became overrun with pro-Trump supporters during a joint session to confirm the 2020 election of Joe Biden. The house chamber was cleared as protesters continued to push past capitol police onto the house floor.
The centuries-old capitol building had its window smashed and offices vandalized. A woman, identified as Ashli Babbit an Air Force veteran, was shot dead while storming the building. D.C. police reported 3 more deaths due to medical emergencies and more than 50 arrests.
The join session reconvened overnight Wednesday and confirmed the election of Biden in the early hours of Thursday morning.
___
For the latest local news, sports and weather, download the FOX 29 News app.
DOWNLOAD: FOX 29 NEWS APP
Sign up for emails from FOX 29, including our daily Good Day Digest newsletter