Jan 06, 2025
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Congress met Monday morning to count the Electoral College votes.  On this same day four years ago, more than 1,500 rioters stormed the nation's Capitol. Valley Representative Jim Costa was present both then and Monday as the democratic process occurred. In an interview, Costa said Jan. 6, 2021, was the saddest day in his 20 years in Congress. "I was one of 25 members trapped in the gallery for 40 minutes as an angry, violent mob attempted to overthrow a fair and free election," he said. Costa noted that on Monday, there was a significant contrast in the transfer of power.  He described the day as peaceful, unlike four years ago during the Jan. 6 insurrection. "Because of the outgoing president's refusal to accept the election results, we had a trauma that impacted the entire country and the rest of the world wondering, in fact, was America still the beacon of light on that shining hill that President Reagan liked to describe when talking about our country?"  During the riot, five people died, including a capitol police officer. "Insurrectionists waved Confederate flags and donned Nazi symbols, pipe bombs were planted near the DNC and the RNC, this was in no way a peaceful protest," said Senator Chuck Schumer, leader of the Democratic Caucus. Nearly 1,600 individuals were charged with crimes related to the riot. More than 1,000 pleaded guilty, and about 160 of those charged had prior criminal histories. In the valley, a Madera man named Benjamin Martin was among those convicted and sentenced to prison. In November, he received a sentence of three years and two months for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition. A month later, Martin was sentenced to another 13 months for his involvement in the Capitol breach.  In two weeks, Donald Trump will take office for his second term.  He has pledged to pardon some defendants and "shut down the investigation." Costa finds it outrageous. "I mean, to try to rewrite history in a way that is inaccurate, it's not good for our country, I mean, the facts are the facts, I know I was there," he said. Security was enhanced across the capitol grounds Monday, including fenced-in perimeters and increased patrols and staff.
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