PRESIDENT Joe Biden spoke from the Capitol building on the anniversary of the January 6 riots.

Biden spoke on former President Donald Trump's role in the riots and the violence that ensued.

What did Joe Biden say in his speech today?

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris delivered remarks on the one-year anniversary of the January 6 riots at 9 am.

"To state the obvious, one year ago today in this sacred place, democracy was attacked," the president began his speech.

"Simply attacked."

He addressed the "singular responsibility" Trump had in stoking the violence that broke out at the Capitol building one year ago during his claims that the election had been stolen.

"We are a great nation. We must be absolutely clear about what is true and what is a lie. And here is the truth: The former President of the United States of America has created and spread a web of lies about the 2020 election."

"His bruised ego matters more to him than our … Constitution. He refused to accept the results of the election."

"We saw with our own eyes rioters menace these halls, threaten the life of the Speaker of the House. What did we not see? We didn't see a former President … watching it all on television and doing nothing for hours," Biden continued.

"This was an armed insurrection. They were looking to deny the will of the people. This is about making sure the past isn't buried."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a moment of silence on the House floor along with testimonials from lawmakers about the attack.

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Further speaking on the incident, Biden said, "And so at this moment, we must decide what kind of nation we are going to be.

"Are we going to be a nation that accepts political violence as a norm? Are we going to be a nation where we allow partisan election officials to overturn the legally expressed will of the people?

"Are we going to be a nation that lives not by the light of the truth but in the shadow of lies? We cannot allow ourselves to be that kind of nation.

"The way forward is to recognize the truth and to live by it."

What has Biden said about the Capitol riot?

As the riots broke out at the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, former communications director and deputy campaign manager for President Joe Biden, Kate Bedingfield, said,

“I remember the president being both shocked and stunned and horrified by the images that we were seeing in the Capitol, but also very clear-eyed and resolute about wanting to speak to this."

Now the White House communications director, Beddingfield told Politico that Biden felt "this is not who we are, and that the defense of democracy is really woven into the fabric of our country."

Biden spoke at 4pm on the day of the riots and condemned the march on the Capitol building, saying it was "unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times."

He added, "The work of the moment and the work of the next four years must be the restoration of democracy, of decency, of honor, of respect, the rule of law.

"Just plain, simple decency.”

What happened on January 6?

The January 6 riots broke out as protestors claiming the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building.

Protestors pushed back against police who awaited aid from the national guard and broke through the barriers separating them from the building.

They scaled walls and smashed windows to breach the building and gain access to the chambers of Congress and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office as members met to officially elect Joe Biden as the 46th President.

The protests came after Trump spoke to his supporters declaring the election was stolen and telling them they should "peacefully" march on the Capitol.

Trump is accused of stoking his supporters into storming the Capitol when he said, "We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."

However, his defense attorneys say this wasn't the case and say another section of Trump's speech negates the claims that he was the direct cause of the January 6 riots.

"I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard," Trump said.

His defense attorneys claim that this comment was not a call for violence.

Five people were killed as Trump supporters marched on the Capitol including Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick who was beaten by the rioters and died in the hospital a day later.

Among others who died was Ashli Babbit, a US Navy veteran who was shot by Capitol Police as she attempted to climb through a broken window into the lobby of the building.

Photos and videos were posted to social media of protestors who have now been convicted or await their trial one year after the riots broke out.

Jake Angeli, known as the QAnon Shaman, was sentenced to 41 months in jail and 36 months of supervision after he is released for his role in the January 6 riots.

One year later, more than 725 people who are self-proclaimed Trump supporters have been arrested.

January 6, 2021: A timeline of events

On January 6, 2021, a group of rioters stormed the Capitol building in Washington, DC to protest the 2020 presidential election results. Here’s a timeline of events of what occurred that day:

6:00am: A group of supporters for former President Donald Trump show up in Washington, DC to attend a rally for him. Trump had tweeted about the rally a month prior.

11:00am: Trump's rally, "Save American Rally," kicks off. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr both speak.

11:50am: Trump begins speaking at the rally. He tells his supporters that "we will never give up. We will never concede." He tells his supporters to go to the Capitol building.

1:00pm: Lawmakers gather at the Capitol to count Electoral College votes while protesters gather outside.

1:10pm: Rioters are on the steps of the Capitol building.

1:26pm: The Capitol police evacuate the Library of Congress, Madison Building and Cannon House Office Building. These buildings are across the street from the Capitol.

1:40pm: Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser orders a curfew in the city.

2:11pm: Rioters breach the perimeter of the Capitol building and scale the walls.

2:20pm: The Senate and House are called into recess and the building goes into lockdown.

2:38pm: Trump tweets, "Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!"

3:00pm: Rioters officially break into the Senate chamber. Other rioters break into the offices of members of Congress and the Senate. Property is destroyed along the way. Rioters take photos of themselves on the Senate floor.

3:13pm: Trump tweets again about the situation. "I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!"

3:34pm: Rioter Ashli Babbitt is shot by a Capitol police officer as she attempts to climb through the Lobby's doors. She later died from her injuries. Meanwhile, the National Guard is ordered to the Capitol by Trump.

4:00pm: President-elect Joe Biden addresses the nation and calls on Trump to "go on national television now to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege."

4:17pm: Trump tweets out a video message to his supporters. "I know your pain, I know you're hurt," he said. He said the election "was stolen from us" but asked the rioters to "go home now."

6:00pm: Washington, DC goes under a 12-hour lockdown.

7:00pm: Trump is banned from Facebook and his Twitter account is suspended.

8:00pm: Former Vice President Mike Pence calls the Senate back into session.

9:00pm: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls the House back into session.

11:00pm: The House and Senate resume their joint session.

January 7, 3:42am: Joe Biden is officially declared as the next president of the United States.

Aftermath: As of January 2022, more than 700 people have been charged with alleged crimes from the riot, according to CBS News.

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