Were Capitol riots an inside job? Mikie Sherrill claims lawmakers gave 'reconnaissance' tours day before riots
New Jersey Rep. Mike Sherrill has claimed she witnessed lawmakers providing "reconnaissance" tours just a day before the Capitol riots that saw Trump supporters storm into the building. In a Facebook Live Video on Tuesday,billed as an address to her constituents about the House's efforts to hold President Donald Trump accountable for inciting the riot, Sherrill recollected what she saw on January 6. She started off with the House's vote to certify Joe Biden's win.
Sherrill described Speaker Nancy Pelosi being evacuated from the House chambers even as pandemonium broke. She added she was concerned for her safety and that of her colleagues who were being moved to a secure location. "I was told later that members of that mob had zip ties, were wearing body armor, and were looking to take prisoners...members of Congress," the 48-year-old added.
The Congresswoman also explained she had planned not only to impeach Trump but also ensure he would never run for office again or gain access to classified materials. Sherrill said she also intends to take action against the lawmakers who she saw taking groups on a tour of the Capitol. However, no names were given out.
"I also intend to see that those members of Congress who abetted him — those members of Congress who had groups coming through the capitol that I saw on Jan. 5 for reconnaissance for the next day — those members of Congress who incited the violent crowd, those members of Congress that attempted to help our president undermine our democracy, I'm going see that they're held accountable," Sherrill said.
Meanwhile, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez added she did felt "unsafe" while she was taken to a secure place. She felt the location would be shared with the rioters.
"I myself did not even feel safe going to that extraction point because there were QAnons and white supremacists sympathizer and frankly white supremacist members of Congress in that extraction point who I know and who I had felt would disclose my location," she said in an Instagram live video.
Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert faced severe scrutiny with calls to resign after critics said she helped reveal Pelosi's location. According to The Hill, those critics include her Republican colleagues in the House.
According to the NBC report, both Sherrill and Alexandria voted on Tuesday to approve a resolution urging Pence to remove Trump even though the former said he would not be pulling the move. With this, the House will move to the impeachment proceedings on Wednesday.
The riots saw the death of five including a Capitol police officer. Many White House staffers resigned last Wednesday, January 6, with more aides expected to follow suit in the days to come. Stephanie Grisham set the tone by resigning first. She served as the chief of staff to first lady Melania Trump. She was followed by deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews and White House social secretary Rickie Niceta and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, among others.
Ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20, Trump issued a declaration for Washington DC amid growing fears of violent clashes, while the DC National Guard plans to have at least a minimum of 10,000 troops on the ground by the weekend. These developments also come amid Trump's impeachment calls growing extensively.