Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the riot in the Capitol on Wednesday and called that those involved must be prosecuted.

Mike Pompeo
(Photo : Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images)

Pompeo condemns riot that killed 4

Hundreds of Trump supporters broke into the Capitol when Congress was about to certify the results of the Presidential election.

This forced U.S. lawmakers to flee the building and this also led to the death of four persons and made 68 arrests.

The Secretary of State Mike Pompeo immediately condemned the violence on Wednesday and called it "unacceptable", according to a report in FOX News. He also added that lawlessness and rioting are unacceptable in the country and around the world.

Pompeo also posted and his Twitter account where he wrote, "I have traveled to many countries and always support the right of every human being to protest peacefully for their beliefs and their causes."

Despite this, Pompeo claimed that putting other people at risk for the sake of expressing one's self is toeing the line. He also added it is 'intolerable both at home and abroad.'

He also called that those involved in the riot should be prosecuted. He said "Let us swiftly bring justice to the criminals who engaged in this rioting."

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Kyleigh McEnany also said that Pres. Trump condemned the riot as well.

Read also: McEnany: Trump Condemns Violent Riot at U.S. Capitol 

Pompeo pushed back against criticism

On Thursday evening, the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushed back against criticism that the riot turned the United States into a "Banana Republic."

In a long thread he posted on his Twitter account, Pompeo retorted against the criticisms and wrote: "In a banana republic, mob violence determines the exercise of power. In the United States, law enforcement officials quash mob violence so that the people's representatives can exercise power in accordance with the rule of law and constitutional government."

The Secretary of State wrote this after former President George W. Bush was quick to make a criticism on Wednesday after the riot. Bush said in a statement that the government has mishandled this.

Meanwhile, former Rep. Trey Gowdy also said the ruthless attacks do not reflect America and what it stands for.

Gowdy also added, "That is not America. That is not this idea of America. We're a nation of laws, we're not a nation of people who attack law enforcement officers trying to accomplish a goal that was never going to be accomplished in the first place."

Read also: Trump Vows 'Orderly Transition' After Biden Certified as Next President 

Lawmakers continue certification

After the riot, lawmakers continued the certification of the Presidential election results. It was also found out that some Republican lawmakers who initially expressed to challenge the states' results due to voter fraud concerns announced they'd instead vote to certify.