A former U.S. defence secretary says he's "shocked" that Wednesday's siege of Capitol Hill wasn't met with a stronger security presence and worried about what that could mean for president-elect Joe Biden's impending inauguration. It really is probably the worst crisis we have had with regard to our democracy ... since the Civil War," Panetta told CBC Chief Political Correspondent Rosemary Barton. Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump are confronted by Capitol Police officers near the Senate chamber inside the Capitol building in Washington on Wednesday. We saw it happen the other day, when he stood up before that crowd and told them that he would lead that march up to the Capitol," Panetta said. Trump speaks at a rally that preceded throngs of his followers descending on the Capitol building in Washington on Wednesday.

Source: CBC News January 10, 2021 15:00 UTC