California representative Norma Torres gives emotional testimony about being trapped inside capitol

‘Ask yourselves, is gunfire in the speaker’s lobby a new normal that you are willing to accept,’ says Democrat

California representative Norma Torres has given emotional testimony about her experience during the Capitol riots last week, while blaming Donald Trump for the insurrection.

Dozens of representatives were forced to lockdown in Congress last Wednesday, when a mob of pro-Trump rioters breached the Capitol. They were forced to barricade themselves in offices to hide from the rioters, some of whom were carrying guns and other weapons.

The rioters breached the Capitol after attending a Donald Trump rally, during which he told the crowd: “We're going to walk down to the Capitol” and added: “You have to show strength, and you have to be strong.”

On Tuesday, during a House Rules Committee debate on two resolutions to remove President Trump from office in response to the riots, Ms Torres, 55, spoke about her experience being put in lockdown in Congress last week.

“Like many of you, some of you, I was caught up in that attack last week. I was one of 12 trapped in the House gallery. I heard the shot being fired, I saw the smoke from the tear gas having been deployed,” a clearly emotional Ms Torres said recalling the events of last Wednesday.

“I watched one officer with no protective equipment face a raging mob just outside the chamber,” she continued.

“We crawled across the entire length of that balcony. I was in the last group to be evacuated. We ran down the halls, stairs near a mob that was being held on the ground at gunpoint,” Ms Torres added.

The 55-year-old then asked her colleagues: “Ask yourselves, is gunfire in the speaker’s lobby a new normal that you are willing to accept? Should ransacked offices be a part of the job going forward?”

Recalling the lockdown on Wednesday, the California representative, a Democrat, criticised some of her Republican colleagues, who were filmed refusing to wear face masks despite being stuck in a small room with other lawmakers.

“I sheltered for four to five hours, in a room that was packed shoulder to shoulder with people. Adding more trauma to the riot we had just survived were several Republican colleagues refusing to wear a mask.

“As a result, many of my dear colleagues and friends have tested positive, I’m waiting on my results,” Ms Torres told the committee on Tuesday.

Three Democratic House representatives have tested positive for Covid-19 after being forced to lockdown with other lawmakers during the siege at the US Capitol last week.

Washington representative Pramila Jayapal, Illinois congressman Brad Schneider and New Jersey lawmaker Bonnie Watson Coleman, all Democrats, confirmed that they had contracted coronavirus over the last two days.

According to Johns Hopkins University, there are now more than 22.6 million people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached 376,295.

Earlier on during her speech at the committee on Tuesday, Ms Torres condemned the insurrection and blamed President Trump for the riots.

“Throughout our history, the Rules Committee has met to discuss many, many historic measures and today is no exception. We are making history once again and to discuss events that will forever stain this great institution and our democracy,” Ms Torres said on Tuesday.

“As we meet with our wounded hearts in our Capitol building, there is no debate that these hollow halls were violated last week. There is no debate that the mob that breached these walls was energised by misinformation, bald faced lies and claims that are in direct odds with our constitution.

“And there is no debate as to who misled those people, who sent them here to ravage our capitol, who it was who undermined our American democracy. President Trump, that’s who it was,” she added.

Ms Torres then publicly stated her support for the possible second impeachment of Mr Trump, which could be voted on in the House this week, telling vice President Mike Pence to defend the country from “all enemies, both foreign and domestic.”

The representative added: “More than 50 officers were injured. 15 hospitalised. Trump incited this attack and there should be no question as to what vice president Pence needs to do right now.”

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.