He received assurances that security would be tight and their perimeter would be wide enough to keep protesters away from the building. Representative William Keating hustled back to his office from the underground Capitol tunnels when he heard security officers were rushing evacuees to his building.Ī former prosecutor who had previously served on the Homeland Security committee, he had walked the grounds with Capitol Police the evening before to learn more about their plans. Lynch eventually made the quick walk back to his apartment after sheltering for some time at one of the Capitol buildings. “You feel like a sitting duck, you feel vulnerable,” Massachusetts Democratic state Representative Lori Trahan said of the hours sheltering in place with little to no information from Capitol Police.

“And it went from chanting and screaming to gas canisters being shot and exploding to what sounded like bullets being fired all within a matter of 20 to 30 minutes.” “I was hearing a lot of cheers, a lot of screaming, a lot of chanting,” he said. Soon, he saw some Trump supporters fleeing with blood on their faces. He poked his head out every so often to watch the group massing outside the Capitol. The long diatribe had included a litany of false election claims, attacks on political enemies, and pleas to supporters to “walk down to the Capitol.”Īs protesters streamed toward Capitol Hill, Moulton’s special assistant, Billy Hennessy, kept a window open. Most members could pinpoint the time when the roar of protesters outside grew louder: It was as the president wrapped up his speech on a makeshift stage between the White House and the Washington Memorial. As the threat became clear Wednesday, staffers barricaded the entrance of her office.

At Representative Ayanna Pressley’s office, safety drills have been common because of her position.

Panic button capitol