Pence left the Senate when Capitol locked down throughout the pro-Trump protests

Supporters of US President Donald Trump clash with police officers in front of the US Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021.

Stephanie Keith | Reuters

WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence was fired from the Senate when the U.S. Capitol Complex was locked down due to an external security threat while Trump supporters rioted outside the building.

Legislature had just begun the process of counting the votes of the electoral college and officially declaring President-elect Joe Biden the winner.

All buildings within the Capitol Complex have been closed

Earlier, during a rally, Trump encouraged thousands of his supporters to march to the Capitol to protest the confirmation of Biden’s victory.

The Cannon House Office Building and Madison Building were evacuated earlier in the day. Residents who were evacuated from Cannon on the Capitol house side were given permission to re-enter the building.

The Capitol Police did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request to comment on whether the evacuations were related to the protests.