Seven days after the Capitol Hill riots, many Americans are still coping with all that took place. During a recent session on Instagram Lives, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez let viewers inside her thought process as rioters stormed the United States Capitol. She described the riots as a "very close encounter" in which she thought she "was going to die."
"I did not know if I was going to make it to the end of that day alive, and not just in a general sense but also in a very, very specific sense," she added.
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez went on to say that it was "not an exaggeration" to believe that members of Congress were "nearly assassinated."
"We were very lucky that things happened within certain minutes that allowed members to escape the House floor unharmed," Ocasio-Cortez said.
"Many of us merely narrowly escaped death."
As the rioters became violent, members of Congress were moved to an isolated location. However, Ocasio-Cortez did not feel safe because she was fearful that one of her colleagues may disclose their location.
"There were QAnon and white supremacist sympathizers, and frankly white supremacist members of Congress, in that extraction point who I have felt would disclose my location and would create opportunities to allow me to be hurt, kidnapped, et cetera," she explained.
Safety was not the only concern as lawmakers were moved around the Capitol. Many were also concerned about their health as a trio of Republican lawmakers were spotted in close quarters without wearing face masks. Three lawmakers, including 75-year-old cancer survivor Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, have tested positive for the virus since January 6.
"The second I realized our 'safe room' from the violent white supremacist mob included treasonous, white supremacist, anti masker Members of Congress who incited the mob in the first place, I exited. Furious that more of my colleagues by the day are testing positive," Rep. Ayanna Pressley tweeted.
With the fallout of the riots still unfolding, members of the House are expected to impeach President Donald Trump later today.
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