![]() ![]() “Stay away from window and doors” /C2p1vu8l1B- Scott Wong January 6, 2021Īt the time of the insurrection, Wong and a handful of other reporters were two floors down from the House chamber in an area known as the Capitol Visitor Center, where they had been covering the electoral vote count, and formal declaration of the victory of President Joe Biden. US CAPITOL LOCKED DOWN: Just got public announcement that there is no entrance to or exit from the Capitol due to “external security threat” “You were hearing a lot of things, you were seeing bits and pieces of things happening, but you had no real sense of the enormity of the attack.” “We had no visibility of what exactly was happening outside, and so I’ve been sort of describing it as the fog of war,” Wong says. That’s part of what made the mob of more than 700 rioters who stormed the Capitol not only shocking but also extremely confusing even for those inside. For one thing, the Capitol was one of the most secure buildings if not the most secure building in the country. Like lawmakers, other journalists, and Americans across the country, he never believed that such a violent attack was even possible in the first place. “My wife’s instincts were correct that day, but I had a job to do,” Wong tells KCM. On the morning of the assault, he distinctly remembers his wife questioning whether it was really safe to be going in that day amid concerns about a Covid-19 outbreak and reports of protests over the results of the 2020 election. Capitol by a group of pro-Trump supporters happened a year ago, but for The Hill reporter Scott Wong, it’s nowhere near a distant memory. This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.It’s hard to believe that the deadly Jan. Americans should rest easy knowing we don’t allow rampant disregard of our democratic institutions, either by intruders or by the people who instigate them. I hope to see some accountability, and soon. Many of us still have trouble finding Speaker Pelosi’s office, yet they managed to find it without difficulty. ![]() There is a sense that the intruders got in way too quickly and knew the layout very well. How were so many signs ignored? Why did the people charged with securing our country not do something in advance? Were Capitol police adequately staffed? Did someone on the inside know beforehand? I’m not making an accusation, but that’s part of what needs to be fleshed out. There have also been talks about future security concerns. My colleagues and I have had many discussions about the President's role in this. There must be an investigation, both internal and external. I couldn't stop thinking about how we can't just forget about this. It took me forever to fall asleep last night. Wild tells she hopes to "see some accountability and soon." Tom Williams // Getty Images The second text said the Capitol’s external perimeter had been breached. It all felt business-as-usual until Capitol police sent a series of texts. When I arrived at noon, I sat on the far right side of the gallery, above the House floor, to observe proceedings until it was Pennsylvania's turn to speak. ![]() Then I slipped on my most comfortable Rothy's flats and headed to the Capitol. In preparation for the big day, I Zoomed with members of the Pennsylvania Democratic delegation and, in anticipation of working into the wee hours of the morning, packed a backpack with plenty of extra snacks and phone chargers. This time 24 hours ago I was getting ready to help certify the election. Wild recounts in her own words the harrowing experience-and why she made one final phone call to her kids. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania was one of the last people to evacuate the gallery. ![]() Some members of Congress sheltered in their Capitol Hill offices, while others inside the House chamber took cover underneath their seats. Thousands of Donald Trump supporters stormed the nation’s Capitol building yesterday, disrupting a joint session of Congress. ![]()
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