Around three dozen Democrats were trapped in the House gallery on Jan. 6, 2020, after the rest of their colleagues had been evacuated, ducking beneath their seats as supporters of then-President Trump laid siege. In interviews with the AP, 10 of the lawmakers who were there described their experiences in the House gallery and the aftermath:
- Vermont Rep. Peter Welch: "A police officer came to the floor and told us the Capitol had been breached and to get out the gas masks. In my time in Congress, I've never, ever heard anyone other than a member or a clerk speak [from the rostrum]. To have a Capitol Police officer was stunning."