Carper, Rochester call for Trump to be removed from office

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper on Wednesday night called for President Donald Trump to resign or be removed from office if he refuses, while U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester called for Trump's removal "as quickly as possible."

"I have said repeatedly today that Donald Trump should resign immediately," the senator said in a statement. "If he refuses, then we must find ways to safeguard our democracy for the next 14 days and remove him from office. It’s not enough to simply ‘turn the temperature down.’ 

A DARK DAY:Delaware congressional delegation describes scene inside as U.S. Capitol is breached

U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester has "long believed he’s unfit for office and now believes he poses a clear and present danger to the country," a spokesman said in a statement. 

This comes hours after a violent mob of ardent Trump supporters breached the Capitol building as Congress was beginning the process of certifying the presidential election.

D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee said four people died around the Capitol grounds during rioting Wednesday, including one woman who was shot by police and three people who suffered medical emergencies.

The Delaware National Guard is sending troops to the region to assist local law enforcement if necessary, spokesperson Bernie Kale said Thursday morning. Kale said they learned of the request late Wednesday night.

Wednesday quickly became one of the darkest days in U.S. history.

Carper called these people "domestic terrorists" in his statement. This is much stronger language than when he spoke to The News Journal in an interview hours earlier.

"It's the kind of thing you never imagine would happen in America," he said earlier. "Sadly, it was aided and abetted in a speech, I think, the president gave earlier today to the folks who gathered in protest in Washington." 

Just after 8 p.m., members of Congress reconvened in the Capitol to resume the certification process. Several members of Congress rescinded their decision to object to the certification. 

Check delawareonline.com for updates. 

Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 324-2386 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MereNewman.