Cárdenas Marks the One-Year Anniversary of the January 6th Insurrection
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection:
“One year ago today, I went to work to fulfill my constitutional duty and certify the 2020 presidential election results. What started off as a good day, turned into one of the darkest moments in modern American history when domestic terrorists tried to destroy the people’s trust in our democratic system.
“Thinking about that day brings back a lot of different emotions. For myself, my family, my colleagues and my staff, it’s still an open wound.
“Because of the pandemic, Members of Congress took turns going to the House floor and gallery in preparation to begin the process of a peaceful transition of power. I was in my office waiting for my turn to head down to the floor.
“While that was happening, a short walk away, then-President Donald Trump was firing up his supporters at a rally on the mall, calling on them to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell.” They would take that as a directive to break into the Capitol and try to stop Congress from certifying the will of the people. The domestic terrorists thought that they could overthrow the United States government.
“As I watched the House floor from the monitor in my office, I heard on a loudspeaker that the Capitol had been breached and to lock the doors and seek cover. For the first time as I had seen it, the citadel of democracy was under attack, and I was in the middle of it.
“At that moment, I felt a whirlwind of emotion; fear, anger, uncertainty. Not fear for my life, but fear for my friends who were on the House floor. Fear for what this meant about the state of our nation. Angry at the fact that then-President Trump and Republicans pushed the ‘Big Lie’ that led to this chaos. Uncertainty about what comes next for our republic.
“While I was sitting in my office and watching the television, I could see my colleagues hiding in the gallery, fearing for their lives. I can see the faces of my friends Lou and Jason comforting Susan through this situation. I watched in horror as they hid while domestic terrorists attempted to break down the barricaded doors and harm the people who were elected to serve them. For a brief moment, I thought to myself that I, with the rest of America, may bear witness to my friends and colleagues being killed on live television.
“Throughout the insanity of that idea, what I did not believe for a second was that this foolish attempt to subvert the will of the people would succeed.
“A few hours later, Capitol Police secured the building and the democratic process continued. We certified the election and ensured the 230-year legacy of a peaceful transition of power.
“Looking back, January 6, 2021, was truly the most heartbreaking and anti-American moment I have witnessed in my 25 years of public service. Everyone who stormed the Capitol and participated must be prosecuted for their role in the insurrection that resulted in many severe injuries and several deaths.
“Now more than ever, we must protect our democratic system and ensure history never repeats itself ever again. Democracy may have survived but it remains damaged. I call on my colleagues in the Senate to put country over party and take action on voting rights legislation already passed in the House. This is the only way forward.”
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