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U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, posted on Facebook a detailed account of Wednesday’s mob assault on the U.S. Capitol. Here are excerpts:
I was on the House floor taking notes for a rebuttal speech I would make later, when the Speaker (Nancy Pelosi) was whisked out of the room by security, followed immediately by the Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer. The mobhad broken into the Capitol, we were informed, and were headed our way. Police were discharging tear gas, there were reports of gunshots, and we were told to take out the gas masks under each seat and prepare to put them on.
One of my colleagues, a veteran, was yelling instructions — “breathe slowly under the hoods or you will pass out.” That is when the mob reached the doors to the House chamber and started battering them and trying to break through. Capitol
Police pushed furniture in the way to barricade them out and drew their weapons. The mob broke the glass in the doors, and members were instructed by police to leave the chamber through the rear doors ASAP. We did.
As bad as it was, it could have been worse. There were many in the violent mob who had every intent to attack people they judged to be their enemies, and several Democratic and Republican members told me to try to keep out of sight. (Editor’s note: Schiff was a leader of last year’s House impeachment of President Donald Trump, and he has been a frequent target of the president’s Twitter tirades.)
As one Republican said, “I know these people and can talk to them. You are in a whole different situation.”
Capitol police ushered us to a secure location. On the way, one of the Republican members was carrying a large wooden stand he had taken from the House chamber, the hand sanitizer still attached to its top. I could tell he meant to use it as a club, if he needed to.
“You that worried about your safety?’ I asked him.
“Yes,” he said, explaining that he had heard gun shots.
I didn’t recognize him and only knew he was a member from the pin on his lapel.
“How long have you been here?” I asked, expecting him to tell me that he was in his second or third term in Congress.
“72 hours,” he said. “I just got elected.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to reassure him, and merely deadpanned, “It’s not always like this.”