Lawmakers gave groups ‘reconnaissance’ tours of the Capitol one day before riots, Democratic representative says
Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot, described seeing “members of Congress who had groups coming through the Capitol that I saw on Jan. 5 for reconnaissance for the next day.”
“I’m going see that they’re held accountable,” Sherrill added.
Sherrill didn’t particularly establish which lawmakers she noticed main groups via the Capitol. Her workplace didn’t instantly reply to a message from The Washington Post late on Tuesday. The FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police additionally didn’t instantly reply to messages about whether or not the businesses are investigating the declare.
Sherrill, a second-term lawmaker who represents northern New Jersey, spent almost 10 years on energetic obligation as a helicopter pilot flying missions throughout Europe and the Middle East.
That afternoon, Sherrill recounted, she realized from messages on her cellphone that Vice President Pence had been escorted to security. Shortly after that, she stated, Pelosi was rushed to a safe location.
“We attempted to continue the debate,” Sherrill stated. “That became impossible as crowds gathered and started banging on the doors, so we were told to get out the gas masks in case we had to egress.”
Soon, Sherrill and her colleagues crouched on the ground for security. She watched as some lawmakers referred to as kin “afraid that would be the last call that they ever made.” Sherrill stated she referred to as her husband to let him know she would quickly stroll to a secure room.
“We were worried that at every corner we would find the mob,” Sherrill stated, referencing the evacuation.
Sherrill accused President Trump of inciting the assault to “ensure that we could not have a peaceful transfer of power.” She additionally pointed a finger at GOP lawmakers who “abetted” Trump, and “those members of Congress who incited the violent crowd, those members of Congress that attempted to help our president undermine our democracy.”
“We can’t have a democracy if members of Congress are actively helping the president overturn the election results,” she stated.
