FOUNDERS' STATEMENTS ON ATTACK ON THE US CAPITOL

Honorable Tony Coelho (D-CA)

January 7, 2021

As a young congressional staffer who became Majority Whip, I am still sickened and saddened by yesterday's events in our Capitol. I feel for the young staff members whose offices were ransacked and their lives threatened. That is not what any of them signed up for when they chose public service. And neither did our Congressional members. I was so proud of our Congressional leaders, from both sides of the aisle, who were the glue to hold democracy together and finish the electoral process.

Yesterday was without precedent and there's a reason -- the People's House is a sacred place. Those who defiled it should be prosecuted and jailed under domestic terrorism laws. And to my friend President-Elect Joe Biden, whom I've known for nearly four decades, yesterday proved to me, without any reservation, that you are indeed the right person at a time of great need to lead our Nation in healing and renewed tolerance.

Honorable Ron Packard (R-CA)

January 6, 2021

My heart aches today. I am a lifelong Republican who has been a supporter of President Trump. I was elected to the U.S. Congress by write-in. My 18 years of service in the US House was a rare privilege. There are no words that can properly express my disgust for what I have witnessed today in the People’s House.

I consider Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer and Leader McCarthy personal friends. I think of them and the other House Members being evacuated from the House floor because President Trump fanned the flames of anarchy. Very sadly, misguided and irresponsible people responded to his call in the worst possible way. Now, more than ever before, we need people of goodwill to show President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris that we can indeed come together as a Nation for our common good.