More than a dozen US lawmakers from at least nine states joined crowds that descended on Washington last Wednesday to back the baseless claim that the election was stolen.

Iran PressAmerica: One lawmaker was known to have gotten inside the US Capitol and since was charged with a crime and resigned. Others have said they participated peacefully.

A second Republican lawmaker from West Virginia who marched to the US Capitol to support overturning Democrat Joe Biden s presidential win said in a radio interview Monday that he hopes President Donald Trump "calls us back."

State Sen. Mike Azinger told the broadcast outlet that the crowds loyal to Trump were inspiring and patriotic.

"I think the president laid out the point of the mission," he added, speaking to West Virginia Metro News. "It was to pressure the Republican congressmen to challenge the electoral votes."

"Our president called us to D.C.," said Azinger, who did not return an email seeking comment. "I hope he calls us back."

Azinger blamed far-left elements on social media for distorting what was a quintessentially American display of the First Amendment on Jan. 6.

The FBI is warning of the threat of armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, prompting heightened security.

In northern Virginia, two Loudoun County officials called Monday for Republican state Del. Dave LaRock to resign for joining the crowds last Wednesday in Washington. LaRock last week said the demonstrators were peaceful save for a small element who likely infiltrated this patriotic group for the purpose of inciting violence.

211