After mob attack, Texas reps anxious to get back on floor
WASHINGTON — Rep. Sylvia Garcia was yanked out of a Capitol bathroom by security and hurried into the House chamber just before it locked down as a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the building on Wednesday.
“They literally pulled me out of the bathroom and shoved me to the floor and said, ‘We're locking everyone in, you have to stay on the floor,'” the Houston Democrat said.
Garcia said police then told those in the House there was tear gas in the Capitol and to get out their gas masks.
“There we all were pulling out our masks, trying to figure it all out,” Garcia said. “None of us ever thought there'd be a day we'd use them, but here we were.”
Then came the “banging and banging” on the House doors.
“They said now apparently the intruders are trying to get in and we don't know what their intentions are and everyone has to leave,” Garcia said.
Garcia was one of several Texans on the House floor as rioters tried to break in.
Rep. Troy Nehls, a Republican freshman sworn in just days ago, can be seen helping Capitol police in a viral photo of the standoff between police with guns drawn and rioters trying to storm the chamber.
“I was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Capitol police barricading entrance to our sacred House chamber, while trying to calm the situation talking to protesters,” the former Fort Bend sheriff tweeted. “What I'm witnessing is a disgrace. We're better than this. Violence is NEVER the answer.”
Nehls was among a handful of Texas Republicans near the barricades, Rep. Pat Fallon, a Dallasarea Republican, wrote on Facebook. Others included Reps. Tonygonzales of San Antonio and Ronny Jackson.
“Ronny looked over at me and declared, ‘I'm not going anywhere!' Tony and Troy looked back and nodded reassuringly,” Fallon wrote. “I remembered what Tim Grunhard (a center at Notre Dame) would say before a big game at home in South Bend. So I repeated it, ‘This IS OUR House! And we're gonna protect it!!!' No one flinched. No one!!!”
Rep. Al Green, another Houston Democrat, said he was on his way to the chamber and sent back to his office. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, also was in his office, where he livestreamed a conversation on Instagram with his brother, Julián.
“I think everybody is just sort of trying to touch base with our families, with our constituents, reassuring people we're safe and secure,” Garcia said by phone. “There's a level of uncertainty and a level of apprehension about what comes next, what happens with this mob, this domestic terrorist group.”
The House was evacuated to an unknown location where members of both parties remained hunkered downas the city's 6 p.m. curfew went into effect.
Garcia said they'd been brought Goldfish Crackers and water and were anxious to get back to the floor to finish counting Electoral College votes.
“We're all determined to continue to work together tonight,” Garcia said. “We could be here all night. But it's OK. I think here everyone's committed to finishing our constitutional duty, making sure people know our democracy works, making sure people know work continues under the dome.”