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Texas lawmakers describe witnessing the riot at the U.S. Capitol
Texas lawmakers say they witnessed pro-Trump rioters breaching the U.S. Capitol building and say it was shocking and cannot happen again.
AUSTIN, Texas - Lawmakers were in the midst of ratifying President-elect Joe Biden's win over President Trump when pro-Trump rioters breached the US Capitol building. Texas lawmakers say they witnessed the events and say it was shocking and cannot happen again.
"Because attendance on the floor was restricted by the pandemic, I was here looking out on the Capitol when, I saw from my desk, many police officers are literally running around the Capitol," said U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett.
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Security expert discusses breach at U.S. Capitol
Many are asking how rioters were able to enter and if security needs to be ramped up. Dr. Robert Sanders, a retired U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps Captain and a national security educator, shares some insight.
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Doggett says he saw the events unfold right from his office window.
"Many people were beginning to climb the steps to enter the Capitol to fight with the police, the clouds of tear gas, not stopping them," said Doggett.
RELATED: U.S. Rep Doggett calls for Trump to be impeached, removed from office
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The mob was eventually pushed back, not by the National Guard, but with the help of officers from Maryland and Virginia, a show of force that security expert Harold Piatt said should have been done at the beginning.
Inside the Capitol building were a select number of lawmakers including Texas US Rep Chip Roy.
"I was on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. We were in the middle of debate in the House, the Senate was in their chamber, and we were watching social media, we were kind of hearing a little bit of noise outside the Capitol and watching what was going on," said Roy.
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At first, Roy says they continued the session until thousands of pro-Trump rioters stormed into the US Capitol.
"We had the opportunity to guide a lot of our folks out through one door and get to a secure location and we did so and we're glad that the House was kept safe. It's unfortunate that a woman lost her life just outside of the House chamber," said Rep. Roy.
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FOX 7 Discussion: Security failures at the U.S. Capitol
Spencer Coursen, threat management expert with Coursen Security Group, joins Rebecca Thomas on FOX 7 Austin to talk about how Wednesday's breach of the U.S. Capitol was allowed to happen.
Police say a 14 year Air Force veteran was shot and killed by a Capitol police officer during the riot. "The woman who was shot is where I frequently enter to vote for the people of Central Texas," said Doggett.
The day after this all happened, the Capitol building has been boarded up and filled with police.
"It really shows how divided we've come, but that's what happens when a president feeds his supporters a daily diet of lies," said Doggett.
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Both representatives agree those at fault must face consequences.
"Our first amendment is precious, and we have a right to peaceably assemble. You do not have a right to riot, you do not have a right to storm the people's house, and the people who did that should go to jail. They should get prosecuted," said Roy.