Storm at the Capitol - by Mary Clare Jalonick (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The January 6th insurrection was a stunning and unprecedented attack on the center of American government. Unlike previous national traumas that united the country in the face of turmoil, the siege has only further divided Americans, as many continue to dispute the facts and downplay its significance. In Storm at the Capitol, Mary Clare Jalonick delivers a deeply reported and definitive account of the violence at the Capitol told through firsthand narratives-from the rioters themselves and the police who fought them, to the lawmakers who fled the violence, and the staff, workers, and reporters who were there that day, including Jalonick herself. Her retelling begins in the predawn hours of January 6th, as Trump's supporters travel to Washington, some with plans for violence, and ends in the early morning hours of January 7th, after Vice President Mike Pence slams his gavel on the House rostrum and declares Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election. A vivid, terrifying, and human portrait, Storm at the Capitol is a riveting read for anyone who is worried about the future of our democracy"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

The definitive, unbiased account of the twenty-four hours surrounding the historic January 6th attack on the Capitol

The January 6th insurrection was a stunning and unprecedented attack on the center of American government. Unlike previous national traumas that united the country in the face of turmoil, the siege has only further divided Americans, as many continue to dispute the facts and downplay its significance.

In Storm at the Capitol, Mary Clare Jalonick delivers a deeply reported and definitive account of the violence at the Capitol told through firsthand narratives--from the rioters themselves and the police who fought them, to the lawmakers who fled the violence, and the staff, workers, and reporters who were there that day, including Jalonick herself. Her retelling begins in the predawn hours of January 6th, as Trump's supporters travel to Washington, some with plans for violence, and ends in the early morning hours of January 7th, after Vice President Mike Pence slams his gavel on the House rostrum and declares Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

A vivid, terrifying, and human portrait, Storm at the Capitol is an essential read for anyone who is worried about the future of our democracy.

Review Quotes

"Storm at the Capitol is a gripping account of the events of January 6th. At a time when too many Americans are trying to erase that day from memory, Jalonick guarantees that it will not be forgotten. This is an important contribution not just for explaining our past but saving our democracy." --Brendan Ballou, former January 6th prosecutor

"Caught in the chaos of the storming of the Capitol on January 6th, Jalonick began interviewing as she was running to safety. Her collected oral histories capture the sense of danger, fear, and fury of that unprecedented day, hour by frantic hour."--Donald A. Ritchie, US Senate Historian Emeritus and author of Doing Oral History

"Jalonick weaves together a riveting account of one of the most consequential days in modern American history, a day that will continue to reshape our country long after the statute of limitations expires. As some try to rewrite the history of the January 6th attack, Jalonick's book is a critical read for understanding the siege on the Capitol straight from those who lived it: law enforcement officers, lawmakers, journalists, and even rioters themselves." --Ryan J. Reilly, author of Sedition Hunters: How January 6th Broke the Justice System

"Here is one of the darkest days for American democracy captured in the words and emotions of those who lived through it, minute by minute, hour by hour, as it unfolded in real time. Jalonick has given us a powerful new way to experience this watershed moment in American history." --Ray Smock, former historian, US House of Representatives

About the Author

Mary Clare Jalonick covers Congress for The Associated Press, where she has worked for two decades. She has covered politics and policy under five presidents and reported from inside the Capitol on January 6th. She lives in the Washington, DC, area.