January 15th – After the riots in the U.S. Congress, some members of Congress publicly accused right-wing lawmakers of threatening their health and safety, and said that they were even endangering their lives.
“Some lawmakers who like conspiracy theories have guns, and we can’t feel safe,” said Rep.
Don Beyer, a Democrat from Virginia, in an interview, according to NBC. One MP said he and other MPs were buying bulletproof vests, “It’s a shame we had to get this point, but we think someone might try to kill us.”
Several MPs were locked in safe rooms during the riots. Bayer said, “Maybe the real threat of violence comes from our colleagues”. Several Republican lawmakers refused to wear masks, and several lawmakers were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus after the riots.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a Democrat from New York, said she was worried about her life and she doubted the motives of her colleagues who took refuge with her.” Some MPs are supporters of white supremacy, and I feel that they will reveal my position and create opportunities for me to be hurt or kidnapped.”
New Jersey Democratic Rep. Mike Sherrill said she saw some lawmakers visiting the Capitol the day before the riots.
She believes that this may be part of the “reconnaisance” for the mob. Although there is no evidence of such wrongdoing for the time being, and Cheryl has not publicly disclosed any name, she signed a letter with more than 30 other Democrats asking the FBI to investigate the situation.
Yale historian Joanne Freeman compared this atmosphere to the atmosphere of decades before the American Civil War, when punches and kicks occurred frequently in the House of Representatives.
Freeman believes that the whole of the United States is in a more violent era.
