State lawmakers joined, observed Capitol turmoil

A West Virginia lawmaker who filmed himself and supporters of President Donald Trump storming into the U.S. Capitol is facing bipartisan calls for his resignation as federal prosecutors step up their pursuit of violent perpetrators. State Del. Derrick Evans was among lawmakers from at least seven states who traveled to Washington, D.C., for demonstrations rooted in the baseless conspiracy theory that Democrat Joe Biden stole the presidential election.

Wearing a helmet, Evans ultimately joined a screaming mob as it pushed its way into the Capitol building, and live-streamed himself joyfully strolling inside. It’s unclear if Evans was the only elected official to participate in what Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and many others called a “failed insurrection.”It's also not known if any of them will be prosecuted.

Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano said he helped organize a bus ride to the demonstrations but left the U.S. Capitol area after the eruption of violence, which he called “unacceptable.”

The top Democrat in the Pennsylvania Senate, and eight of his colleagues, want him to resign, saying his actions and words disputing the election's integrity encouraged a coup attempt and inspired the people behind it. Tennessee state Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver said Wednesday night that it had been an “epic and historic day.”The Republican lawmaker told The Tennessean she was “in the thick of it” but hadn’t seen any violence.

Weaver did not respond to emailed questions from The Associated Press about whether she entered the Capitol.Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem posted photos of himself attending the protest outside the Capitol, but his office said he observed from afar. Liberal groups in the state want him expelled for backing the effort to overturn the election.

Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase, an outspoken Trump supporter who is running for governor, attended the president's rally Wednesday in which Trump urged supporters to march to the Capitol.Chase said in a Facebook video that she left near the end of the rally on the advice of her security team, and there is no indication she was part of the group that stormed the Capitol.

Republican state Rep. David Eastman of Alaska said he went to Washington to object to the Electoral College votes of several states confirming Biden's election, but didn't participate in the demonstrations.Hill described the Trump rally as “very peaceful.”“But what I saw at the Capitol was not the same people," he said. “I wasn’t there rallying troops to overthrow the government.”

(Image Credit: AP)