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Reservations are recommended .

The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tours begin every 10 minutes until 3:20 p.m. All tours are led by our professional tour guides and visit the  Crypt , the  Rotunda  and  National Statuary Hall . The tour does not include the  Senate and House Galleries . The tour route is subject to change.

Reservations are recommended, but not required. Visit the  schedule a tour  page to select a day/time for a reservation. Same day passes may be available. Visitors without reservations are encouraged to arrive at the Capitol Visitor Center as early in the day as possible, but no later than 2:30 p.m., to obtain passes.

All tours, programs and activities are free of charge.

Visitors enter through the Capitol Visitor Center, located underground on the east side of the Capitol. Please leave time to go through security and review the U.S. Capitol’s  prohibited items list  before your visit.

You can begin your Capitol experience at the Visitor Center by visiting Exhibition Hall , perusing our Gift Shops or getting a bite to eat at the Capitol Cafe.

For information on tours offered in Mandarin and Spanish, please view the Foreign Language Tours page.

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You can cancel your reservation through your account in the Capitol Visitor Center’s online reservation system.

• Go to  https://tours.visitthecapitol.gov  (A new page will open.)
• Beneath the blue banner reading “Reserve a Tour of the Capitol,” click on the link to log in. (A sign in/signup dialog box will open.)
• In the sign in section, log in with your email address and password.
• Search for reservations by clicking “More” in the “My Reservations” tab.
• Once you have located your reservation, click the link to “Cancel.”

Fresh off visit to Trump trial, Matt Gaetz takes to Twitter to echo Proud Boys shoutout

Rep. Matt Gaetz , R-Fla., backed Donald Trump at his hush money trial Thursday, and echoed the former president's infamous 2020 presidential debate line calling on the notorious Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by."

Trump is on week five of his trial for allegedly falsifying business records to hide campaign finance violations in a 2016 hush money payment issued to porn star Stormy Daniels . Republicans have lined up behind Trump throughout the week, blasting the judge, the witnesses and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, some of which Trump is barred from doing under a gag order.

Gaetz had plenty of critiques to share outside the courthouse, but took it a step further on X, posting a photo of him behind the former president with the caption, "Standing back and standing by, Mr. President."

Trump trial breaking news: Latest updates as Michael Cohen returns as hush money witness

Does Gaetz align with Proud Boys? 'The tweet speaks for itself'

The line called to mind Trump's failure to condemn white supremacist groups that grew during his presidency at a 2020 presidential debate. Asked about the Proud Boys, which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as a hate group, Trump said, "Proud Boys – stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left."

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Megan Squire, a professor of computer science at Elon University in North Carolina who studies online extremism, told USA TODAY at the time that the group's social media channels showed they interpreted Trump's words as encouragement.

"They were extremely excited by what he said," Squire said. "They felt validated."

When asked if Gaetz aligns with the Proud Boys as the post suggests, a spokesperson from his office said, "the tweet speaks for itself."

Regarding Gaetz's reference to the former president as "Mr. President," the spokesperson noted that he refers to Trump as "President Trump" out of respect, and does the same for President Joe Biden. Gaetz objected to the certification of Biden's Electoral College victory during the official count in 2021.

Several Proud Boys members since sentenced to prison

The Proud Boys, who describe themselves as “a pro-Western fraternal organization for men," have a history of violence, including attacking a group of antifascist protesters in Manhattan in 2018.

Several Proud Boys members are now in prison after helping to lead the mobs of people who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, while Congress was counting Electoral College votes to certify the election, including some sentenced by a Trump-appointed judge. Some are serving times ranging from 10-to-20 years.

Former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio , was sentenced to 22 years, even though he was not in Washington, D.C. when mobs breached the Capitol. He was convicted of six crimes including seditious conspiracy, interference with law enforcement and aiding destruction of government property, after prosecutors argued that he was a leader in the plot.

More than 1,000 people have been charged with crimes related to Jan. 6, 2021.

Trump himself has been indicted on four federal counts for allegedly conspiring to steal the 2020 election in relation to his actions on Jan. 6, 2021 .

Matt Gaetz joins onslaught of Republicans getting around Trump trial gag order

Gaetz joined a lengthy lineup of Republicans who have made appearances at the Manhattan courthouse during Trump's hush money trial.

“We’re here of our own volition because there are things that we can say that Trump is unjustly not allowed to say,” Gaetz said at a press conference outside on a Thursday morning break. “This is a corrupt judge. These are corrupted witnesses. This is a corrupt prosecution that belies any sense of the facts or the law. We’re going to keep speaking out against this.”

Trump is under a gag order that prevents him from speaking about the witnesses, jury, prosecutors and family members of the court. Over the last few days, vice president potentials, former presidential candidates and other Republican heavy hitters have stepped in, criticizing former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, Judge Juan Merchan and his daughter.

At least one Republican has criticized his colleagues for their courthouse appearances; Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah , told reporters Wednesday, "I think it’s a little demeaning to show up in front of a courthouse, particularly one where we’re talking about an allegation of paying a porn star."

Who is Matt Gaetz?

Gaetz is a far-right congressman representing the western-most part of the Florida Panhandle, including Pensacola.

He led the charge to oust former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy , bringing the motion to vacate and organizing a small group of Republicans to join him in going against members of his own party. A few of those lawmakers who voted out McCarthy also joined Gaetz in bashing the hush money trial Thursday, including Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz. and Rep. Bob Good, R-Va.

Getting McCarthy ousted elevated Gaetz's potential for higher office like governor of Florida

But McCarthy said in April that Gaetz ousted him to stop an ethics complaint about an alleged sexual encounter between Gaetz and a 17-year-old. Gaetz has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, and the Department of Justice dropped its investigation in February of 2023 .

Contributing: Bart Jansen, Courtney Subramanian, Jordan Culver USA TODAY; Jim Little, Pensacola News Journal

• Billy Graham Statue Unveiled at U.S. Capitol, Inviting People to the Gospel

By Trevor Freeze   •   May 16, 2024

For House Speaker Mike Johnson, Thursday’s ceremony was more than just unveiling another bronze statue at the U.S. Capitol.

It was far bigger than the 7-foot statue of Billy Graham pointing to the open Word of God. This statue will be installed in the Crypt—one level below the Rotunda where every public tour of the U.S. Capitol begins.

“Millions of people will walk by and read John 14:6 and John 3:16,” Johnson said. “What a story to tell as we bring school kids through and university students and constituents, they’ll stop right here. And at the base of the foundation those two verses will be shared broadly.

“I think it’s the perfect placement.”

Those who knew the humble evangelist would freely admit that he would be the last to want a statue of his likeness anywhere.

“My father would be a little uncomfortable with this being here,” said Franklin Graham, who read John 3:16, one of the two verses inscribed on the statue’s base. “Because he would want the focus to be on the One whom he preached—the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

The dedication ceremony largely centered on the message of the Gospel and the eternal impact of Billy Graham’s ministry.

“Let us never forget the Bible that he preached, the souls that were saved, and the lives that were transformed,” U.S. Senator Ted Budd said. “More people have heard the Good News of Jesus from Billy Graham than any man in our history.”

“He believed, as many of us do, that there is redemption,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said, “And he gave his life delivering that message.”

“He united Americans, lifted them up,” U.S. Senator Thom Tillis said. “He understood how God’s Word could change hearts.”

“His life’s work,” said U.S. congresswoman Virginia Foxx, her voice cracking with emotion, “was dedicated to the millions of people around the world who found Jesus Christ as their Savior through his preaching.”

Musician Michael W. Smith honored his longtime friend with a version of “I Surrender All.”

“Maybe Billy would want this to be the theme song for today—and the days ahead,” he said.

Speaker Johnson called Thursday “a truly historic moment” as Mr. Graham joined Rosa Parks, President Ford, and President Reagan as the only people to receive the three highest honors from Congress: the Congressional Gold Medal (1996), to have lain in honor or state in the Capitol (2018), and have a statue in the Statuary Hall Collection (2024).

Johnson finished the ceremony by reading from one of Mr. Graham’s study Bibles, the very passage that the statue’s bronze Bible is open to.

“In his left hand he holds an open Bible. And with right hand, he’s inviting all those to read. It’s open to Galatians 6:14,” Johnson said as he described the statue. Then he turned to the copy of God’s Word used by Mr. Graham:

“The page is well-marked. The verse is underlined in red: ‘ But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world .’”

How the Statue Happened

David Bruce, longtime executive assistant for Billy Graham and vice president of the Billy Graham Library and Archive and Research Center, gave the closing prayer to Thursday’s ceremony. But on the night before the dedication, he outlined some of the key steps in the statue becoming reality.

2013: North Carolina’s legislature voted Billy Graham as the state’s Favorite Son.

2015: Then-Gov. McCrory signed a law (HB 540) that the favorite son should have a statue in Statuary Hall. It said that at Mr. Graham’s death, they would begin the process to replace one of the statues.

2018: After Mr. Graham’s homegoing on Feb. 21, 2018, Gov. Cooper sent a letter of intent to Congress and a commission was formed that began to think about how the statue would reflect Mr. Graham’s life.

2018: A national search began for a sculptor, but it was a North Carolina artist, Chas Fagan, who was selected. Fagan had sculpted Ronald Reagan’s statue, which also appears in Statuary Hall.

After recounting the process, Bruce called attention to some rather unique features.

“It’s something unlike anything else in Congress,” he said. “It has not only a cross, but it has, on both sides of the pedestal, Scriptures, written out. On one side, John 3:16 and the other side, John 14:6.

“Think about that today,” he remarked. “Those Scriptures will remain in those Congressional halls, with Mr. Graham preaching from an open Bible” for generations to come.

With this Biblical witness in the very heart of the Capitol, Bruce was visibly excited about what God might do as millions of visitors stream past it year after year. “I think there’s still hope for this country!”

Watch Replay: Billy Graham Statue Unveiled at U.S. Capitol

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Man insults judge who sentenced him to 12 years in prison for attacking police during capitol riot.

Michael Kunzelman

Associated Press

In this image from U.S. Capitol Police video, released and annotated by the Justice Department in the sentencing memorandum, Christopher Quaglin, appears on police body-worn camera footage at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Quaglin, a New Jersey electrician who repeatedly attacked police officers during the siege at the U.S. Capitol has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. (Justice Department via AP)

WASHINGTON – A New Jersey electrician who repeatedly attacked police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, siege at the U.S. Capitol was sentenced on Friday to 12 years in prison by a judge who called him “a menace to our society.”

Christopher Joseph Quaglin argued with and insulted U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden before and after the judge handed him one of the longest prison sentences among hundreds of Capitol riot cases.

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“You're Trump's worst mistake of 2016,” Quaglin told McFadden, who was nominated to the court by then-President Donald Trump in 2017.

Quaglin, 38, joined the mob of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol. He injured a police officer when he choked and tackled him to the ground. Quaglin assaulted other officers with stolen police shields, metal bike racks and pepper spray. He clashed with police for roughly three hours while wearing an American flag-themed “Make America Great Again” sweatshirt.

“What an outrage. What a disgrace,” the judge said.

Quaglin complained about his jail conditions and pushed conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 siege during his rambling remarks in the courtroom. He also took issue with labeling the Jan. 6 attack as an insurrection.

“If I wanted to bring an insurrection, I would have brought a long gun,” he said.

The judge, who cut him off after several minutes, told Quaglin that his combative remarks were a “really bad idea” before sentencing.

“It's a kangaroo court,” Quaglin responded.

Prosecutors urged the judge to sentence Quaglin to 14 years in prison. They said he was one of the most violent rioters on Jan. 6, when a mob of Donald Trump supporters disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory .

The judge convicted Quaglin of six separate assaults on police. Prosecutors say he struck or pushed another dozen officers.

“Quaglin understood the constitutional significance of January 6, and intended to disrupt Congress’ certification of the 2020 election by any means necessary, including by viciously assaulting police officers for hours,” prosecutors wrote .

Approximately 1,400 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Nearly 900 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds receiving a term of imprisonment ranging from a few days to 22 years . Only seven Capitol riot defendants have received a longer prison sentence than Quaglin, according to an Associated Press review of court records.

McFadden convicted Quaglin of 14 counts last July after a “stipulated bench trial,” which means the judge decided the case without a jury and based on facts that both sides agreed to before the trial. Such trials allow defendants to maintain appeal rights that are waived by a guilty plea.

Quaglin traveled from his home in North Brunswick, New Jersey, to attend then-President Donald Trump's “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House on Jan. 6. Leaving the rally early, Quaglin recorded a video of himself as he marched to the Capitol wearing a helmet, a gas mask and a backpack.

After storming barricades near Peace Circle, Quaglin repeatedly attacked officers who were trying to hold off the mob. Capitol Police Sgt. Troy Robinson was injured when Quaglin grabbed him by the neck and tackled him to the ground.

“Quaglin’s attack ignited a short brawl,” prosecutors wrote. “With Quaglin on top of Sergeant Robinson, other rioters came to Quaglin’s assistance and chaos broke loose.”

Quaglin “waged a relentless siege” as he joined other rioters in attacking police in a tunnel on the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace, prosecutors said. He helped another rioter steal a shield from an officer. He pepper sprayed several officers in the face. And he joined the mob's collective “heave ho” push against a police line.

“Quaglin was part of some of the most gruesome attacks in the tunnel as he worked with other rioters to ensure that officers were under constant attack,” prosecutors wrote.

Quaglin later celebrated and bragged about his participation in the riot.

"It was a great time. I got bumps and bruises. And we’re having a good time,” he said in a video posted on social media.

Defense attorney Kristi Fulnecky claims Quaglin has received inadequate medical treatment while jailed for the past three years. Fulnecky also said one of Quaglin's former attorneys coerced him into accepting a stipulated bench trial instead of a contested trial.

McFadden told Quaglin that his actions on Jan. 6 were “shocking and lawless.”

“January 6th is not simply an anomaly for you,” the judge said. “You’ve allowed it to define you.”

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Equal Ground promotes voter education, urges Black community to be aware of legislative issues

A Black-led, non-partisan non-profit working to build Black political power in Florida made a stop in Lee County Saturday as part of a statewide voter education and mobilization tour.

The Equal Ground organization says it is trying to combat extremist legislation in the state and make sure Black Floridians' understand their rights and how to make their voices heard this election.

Genesis Robinson, interim executive director for Equal Ground, explained what the group's efforts mean:

“We're traveling the entire state of Florida to educate voters about what took place during Florida's legislative session. But most importantly, to prepare for the upcoming election cycle here in August for the primary as well as in November for the general election.”

The group is partnering with religious, political and other organizations to help further its cause. In Lee County Saturday that included Friendship Baptist Church, League Of Women Voters of Lee County, the Fort Myers Alumnae Chapter-Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Fort Myers NAACP.

Equal Ground officials said that the effort was being made to try to ensure voters are educated on newly updated vote-by-mail requirements and voter re-enrollment instructions, issues that will be on the ballot this year, and actions engaged citizens can take to help turn out voters affected by these issues.

"The reality is not everybody can pay attention to that process in real time," Robinson said. "And so us being able to break it down, bring it directly to the various communities throughout the state was something that was important to us to be able to educate folks around what has taken place."

Robinson said that amongst the legislation that is in the best interests of Floridians there are some bills that are not in the best interests of Floridians.

"And so, us being able to tell them about that, to let them know about changes to law, and then also to get election ready, was very important to us as an organization. "

Robinson said the efforts have paid off.

"We believe that we've had a tremendous impact in helping to increase black engagement within the civic engagement space. ... We've seen the results of that. We've seen evidence of that. We were able to bring over 300 black people to the state of Florida to walk the halls of the legislature to go to meetings to have protests and rallies on the steps of the Capitol. We're proud of that impact. But most importantly, we hope that it translates into public policy, translates into us being able to elect candidates who share our values."

He said Equal Ground will remain committed for the long haul to increase voting access versus trying to limit it.

Angelette Arias, a president of the local alumnae chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority assisting the effort, said it was important to take part.

"My sorority advocates for social justice and social action and helping all people get registered to vote. And we have a very important election coming up in 2024," she said. "The most important issue is all the bills that are being voted on during the session. Our members of the community have to pay attention to legislative session when they're in session, and what bills are being introduced. It doesn't matter what your party is, it's the issue that's on the bill."

Arias said the most important thing she got out of the event was how critical it is to be educated on the political process and the legislative process and the bills that are important.

WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and  donate  now. Thank you.

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Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, David Shepardson and Mike Scarcella in Washington Additional reporting by Chris Sanders and Susan Heavey in Washington Editing by Tom Hogue, Nick Zieminski and Matthew Lewis

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Sarah N. Lynch is the lead reporter for Reuters covering the U.S. Justice Department out of Washington, D.C. During her time on the beat, she has covered everything from the Mueller report and the use of federal agents to quell protesters in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, to the rampant spread of COVID-19 in prisons and the department's prosecutions following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

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China talks security, business with U.S.-allied South Korea, Japan

Chinese Premier Li Qiang agreed with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday to launch a diplomatic and security dialogue and resume free trade talks, and discussed tensions around Taiwan with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Twelve people travelling on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Ireland were injured during a bout of turbulence, Dublin Airport said on Sunday, adding that the plane landed safely and as scheduled.

Baltimore police fatally shoot a man who pulls gun during questioning; detective injured

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Police officers in Baltimore fatally shot a man who pulled a gun while they questioned him in a different shooting, authorities said.

A detective was shot in the chest, and his protective vest likely saved his life, Police Commissioner Richard Worley told reporters.

Police were on the city’s south side investigating a shooting Friday night in which 15 rounds were fired at a group of people, Worley said. No one was hurt in that incident.

As police questioned a man, he stood up and pulled out a gun. Officers ordered the man to drop the weapon numerous times before shots were fired, Worley said.

Investigators have not determined who shot first, the commissioner said.

The identities of the man who was killed and the wounded officer have not been released.

At least three officers fired their guns. All were placed on administrative leave as the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division looks into the shooting.

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