Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) made the following statement on this week’s events at the Capitol:

“On Wednesday, January 6, President Donald Trump urged an enormous, angry crowd of his supporters to go to the Capitol to try to put a stop to the Congressional certification of the election results, a requirement under the Constitution. This certification is a core part of the peaceful transfer of presidential power – a hallmark of American democracy and the reason our democratic system of government has lasted for more than two centuries.

“The mob overran the Capitol Police and broke into the Capitol. Worse still, the President delayed authorizing National Guard reinforcements and asking his supporters to end their rampage. Only after President-elect Biden implored the President to tell his supporters to stop did the President do so. This is intolerable and unacceptable behavior by an American president. I join those calling for his immediate resignation.”

Background

When the president’s supporters breached the Capitol, Congressional leaders called Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to beg for protection from the Maryland National Guard. To provide that protection, Hogan needed permission from the Trump administration, which delayed that permission for a period of 90 minutes while the attack on the Capitol continued.