Elected officials in Minnesota talk with WTIP about violence in Washington D.C.

As Minnesotans followed from afar the chaotic scene unfolding in Washington, D.C. Jan. 6, the WTIP News Department took to the airwaves for a special edition of the North Shore News Hour.

Hosts Joe Friedrichs and Rhonda Silence shared information about the mob storming the U.S. Capitol, as well as what happening in real time across Minnesota and the nation with regard to news of violence in the nation’s capital and other protests.

WTIP spoke with four people during the special news program, including District 3a Rep. Rob Ecklund, Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen, State Sen. Tom Bakk and former Congressional staffer Jerry Linnell.

The lower audio file below contains the interviews with Sen. Bakk and Rep. Ecklund from the Jan. 6 North Shore News Hour on WTIP.

The news team also reached out to U.S. Sen. Tina Smith to see if she could join the program for a live update from Washington. Smith was unable to join during the program, which aired live from 5 to 6 p.m. However, she sent a statement to WTIP at approximately 9 p.m. on Jan. 6. It reads:

“Today’s attacks on the U.S. Capitol and federal buildings strike at the core principle of our democracy, that the people decide who represents them. The seditionists were incited by the most destructive and anti-democratic President in our history. For too long, some political leaders, especially the President, have used their power and position to fuel distrust in our elections with no evidence and no purpose other than to advance their own personal political power. It’s despicable and runs counter to our oath of office, to protect the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic.  

We will get through this day. I truly believe our democracy is resilient and can withstand this desperate coup attempt. But it’s a reminder of how hard we need to fight for our core principles, that no one is above the law and that in a democracy the people decide.

I am returning to the Senate tonight so we can complete the counting of the electoral votes, and so that the next duly elected President and Vice President, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, can take office on January 20th as the voters in this country decided.”

UPDATE: Smith contacted WTIP by phone Jan. 7 during the morning hours. The interview below is her conversation with WTIP News Director Joe Friedrichs.