Consider This from NPR - Revisiting January 6th One Year Later

Episode Date: January 3, 2022

This week marks a year since the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and in this episode we're returning to the events of the day, which have become much clearer over the past year. And Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, who was there on January 6th, describes what it's like returning to work in the building where he says he was almost certain he would die. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.Email us at [e-mail]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This message comes from Indiana University. Indiana University performs breakthrough research every year, making discoveries that improve human health, combat climate change, and move society forward. More at iu.edu slash forward. A little over a week ago, Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Ganel was making his usual rounds at the U.S. Capitol. As part of his job, he checks in on his fellow officers. And he was in this one area where there was construction, there was scaffolding all around, heavy crashing sounds. For a moment, those metal pipes that we're using, or rods, they were hitting the ground, the cement. And for a moment, I paused.

And every single time that those rods hit the ground, it triggered me. Ganel was one of the officers at the Capitol on January 6th last year. It brought me back to January 6th because of the sound, that particular sound was something that I was hearing when they were breaking the barriers to use those as projectiles to hit us and throw at us. Ganel testified before the House Select Committee investigating what happened on January 6th. He told them that as he guarded the west side of the building that day,

this thought was going through his mind. This is how I'm going to die, defending this entrance. Ganel told NPR that one of the most painful aspects of the last year has been watching some politicians, these are politicians whom he had protected on that day, downplay the seriousness of what happened. The former vice president said that people in the media want to focus on one day in January. Well, that one day in January almost cost my life.

Consider this. This week marks one year since the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. And over the past year, the details of that day have become clearer and clearer. We're in, we're in. Let's go. Coming up, we'll revisit the events of January 6th. From NPR, I'm Elsa Chang. It's Monday, January 3rd. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things in other currencies. It's Monday, January 3rd. It's Consider This from NPR. The one-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection is coming up this week, and on this podcast, we'll be revisiting the significance of that event

and what comes next in future episodes. But for now, we wanted to focus on the details of that particular day, and I'll do that with help from my co-host, Mary Louise Kelly. Okay, let's set the scene. January 6th was a Wednesday. A joint session of Congress was set to convene in the U.S. Capitol to certify Joe Biden's electoral vote win. And thousands of Trump supporters are gathering near the White House to hear him speak at noon. Tensions are high on Capitol Hill with protesters swarming lawmakers outside. Here's one exchange with Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana, at around 11.30 a.m. That President Trump should remain president. I share that conviction.

I've debated what the law matters. It doesn't matter what the Democrats. I took an oath under God. It doesn't matter what the Democrats. Under God. I took an oath, sir. Do we still take that seriously in this country? At noon, Trump takes the stage for his speech. He tells the crowd to, quote, never give up, never concede.

And he calls on Vice President Pence, as president of the Senate, to reject Joe Biden's win and send the votes back to the states. Mike Pence, I hope you're going to stand up for the good of our Constitution and for the good of our country. And if you're not, I'm going to be very disappointed in you. Meanwhile, Trump supporters start gathering around both the Arkansas and Idaho state capitals. And in D.C., even before Trump ends his speech, crowds from his rally start to gather outside the Capitol. At around the same time, Vice President Pence releases a letter calling his role largely ceremonial, essentially saying he will not do as Trump wishes. He says, quote, my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming

unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not. Then at 1 p.m., the initial wave of protesters stormed the outer police barrier around the Capitol. At 1.05 p.m., Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi calls the joint session of Congress to order. Shortly after that, Trump ends his speech. Urging his supporters to go to the Capitol. We should note, Trump returns to the White House. He does not go to the Capitol. About two minutes later, in the congressional vote, Republican Paul Gosar rises. I rise up for myself and 60 of my colleagues to object to the counting of the electoral ballots from Arizona.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas joins him in that objection. The two houses will withdraw from joint session. Leading the House and Senate to split to deliberate the objection in separate parts of the Capitol building. At the same time, in Michigan, hundreds rally in front of the state Capitol, which had been stormed less than a year earlier during protests against COVID restrictions. And here in D.C., a large portion of the crowd from Trump's speech begins to march towards the U.S. Capitol. At 1.30 p.m. Oh, meanwhile, up on the steps of the backside of the Capitol, we're seeing protesters overcome the police. The police are now running back into the Capitol building.

We have cheers from the protesters that are watching behind the scenes. This is incredible. A mob breaks through the final police barricades on the steps of the Capitol. Inside the building, both the House and Senate are proceeding, seemingly unaware of what's going on outside. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell takes the Senate floor. The voters, the courts, and the states have all spoken. If we overrule them, it would damage our republic forever.

Around the same time, suspicious packages, later confirmed to be pipe bombs, are found at the RNC and DNC headquarters in D.C. Nearby buildings are evacuated. Shortly after 2 p.m., protesters break windows of the Capitol building and climb in, opening doors so others can follow. We're in, we're in. Let's go. At 2.20 p.m., Senator James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, is debating on the Senate floor when he's interrupted. And it will stand in recess until the call of the chair. We'll pause.

Protesters are in the building. Thank you. The building goes into lockdown. At around the same time, Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman leads rioters away from the Senate chamber, saving the Senate from a very close call. At 2.24 p.m., Trump tweets, Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our country and our Constitution. Trump goes on to tweet more baseless claims about a fraudulent election.

At 2.38 p.m., Trump tweets again, calling for support of the Capitol Police and law enforcement and urging people to, quote, stay peaceful. But at that moment, inside the to, quote, stay peaceful. But at that moment, inside the Capitol, the riot is unfolding. Representative Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont, tweets this video from where he is sheltering in the House chamber. We were just told that there has been tear gas in the rotunda, and we're being instructed to each of us get a gas mask that are under our seats.

Elsewhere in the country, protesters gather at the Louisiana and Florida state capitals and the Ohio statehouse. Several other state capitals are evacuated out of caution. At 3.11 p.m., Representative Mike Gallagher, Republican from Wisconsin, tweets a video while sheltering in his office, saying that this is the cost of telling people they could overturn the election. Mr. President, you have got to stop this. You are the only person who can call this off. Call it off. The election is over. Around this same time, a swarm of rioters overwhelms Capitol Police trying to guard the Speaker's lobby where lawmakers are sheltered.

They break windows and try to force their way in. Ashley Babbitt is shot by a Capitol Police officer as she attempts to climb through the doors. Simultaneously, Trump tweets asking everyone to remain peaceful. Notably, he does not take back any of his claims about election fraud. At 3.36 p.m., more than two hours after protesters first breached the Capitol grounds, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweets that Trump has ordered the National Guard to the Capitol grounds? White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweets that Trump has ordered the National Guard to the Capitol. Meanwhile, Trump supporters are gathering in Sacramento, Austin, Denver, and Minneapolis. Denver closes its city offices early, and so does the Texas Capitol.

At 4 p.m. from NPR News, this is live special coverage. Remember this, Elsa? The two of us kick off NPR special coverage, starting with NPR's Tom Bowman, who was outside the Capitol, where it is clear the siege is still very much underway. I can see clouds of tear gas coming out, some crashes inside the building, protesters are throwing bottles and cans at the police, pushing in. And while we're talking to Tom... Tom, this is Mary Louise. I'm going to cut you off just for a second because we have Joe Biden. He's just stepped up to speak live. Let's listen. The citadel of liberty. President-elect Joe Biden addresses the nation.

I call on President Trump to go on national television now to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege. But President Trump does not go on national television. I know you're pained. I know you're hurt. Instead, at 4.17 p.m., he tweets this video, talking directly to his supporters inside the Capitol. We love you. You're very special. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel, but go home and go home in peace. We love you. You're very special. At that same time, Maryland and Virginia send National Guard and state troopers to D.C.

In the next hour, protesters in Arizona pound on state Capitol doors and break a window. A demonstration in Salem, Oregon, turns violent. Shortly before 6 p.m., almost five hours after the rioting began, police begin to clear the Capitol and eventually the interior is secured. At 6, a curfew goes into effect for D.C. During the curfew, no one is allowed to be outside in public places. And at 6.01 p.m., Trump tweets again, quote, these are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously and viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly and unfairly treated for so long.

Go home with love and in peace. Remember this day forever. At 7.54 p.m., the RNC condemns the violence from the day. And at just after eight, today was a dark day in the history of the United States Capitol. Vice President Pence reopens the Senate. Let's get back to work. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell makes a statement. The United States Senate will not be intimidated. We will not be kept out of this chamber by thugs, mobs, or threats. The debate over the objection to counting Arizona's ballots continues more than six hours after it began. And around 9 p.m. We always knew

that this responsibility would take us into the night and will stay as long as it takes. Our purpose will be accomplished. Speaker Nancy Pelosi brings the House back into session. And at 11.32 p.m. The joint session of Congress to count the electoral vote will resume. The House and Senate come back together, and the vote that began at 1 p.m. on that day continues. And finally, 3.42 a.m. on January 7th. The votes for President of the United States are as follows.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. Vice President Pence calls a majority of the Electoral College votes for Joe Biden. The announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Electoral College votes for Joe Biden. The announcement of the state of the vote by the president of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the person's elected president and vice president of the United States. And officially affirms the election results certifying Biden as the 46th president.

That was Mary Louise Kelly, and you're listening to Consider This from NPR. I'm Elsa Chang.