Andy Levin Among Michigan Legislators Evacuated During Capitol Hill Breach

A largely ceremonial certification vote to verify the results of the 2020 presidential election dissolved into violence and unrest on Wednesday as pro-Trump extremists stormed Capitol Hill. 

Multiple government buildings around Washington were evacuated. Among those facilities was the Cannon House Office Building, where congressional members like Michigan 9th district representative Andy Levin (D) work.

“They are reaping the poison fruit that they have sown.” — Rep. Andy Levin 

Upon being cleared out, Levin sheltered in the office of fellow Democratic representative Elissa Slotkin in the Longworth House Office Building where he spoke by phone with WDET. He says the demonstration is beyond what he’s seen in his political career.

“We are here defending the very idea of democracy,” says Levin. “Truthfully there is not one scintilla of evidence that there was any problem with this election and Trump lost it.”

While not all Republicans lobbied against certifying the November election results, Levin says those who did shoulder responsibility for the attempted insurrection.

“My Republican colleagues who have gone along with Donald Trump as he has told lie after lie and encouraged people to be violent — they are reaping the poison fruit that they have sown,” says Levin.

Click on the player above to hear Michigan Rep. Andy Levin discuss events as they were unfolding Wednesday afternoon in Washington.