Amy Klobuchar: “I rise today with so many of my colleagues to recognize the anniversary of one of the hardest days our democracy has…”

“I rise today with so many of my colleagues to recognize the anniversary of one of the hardest days our democracy has faced, and I also want to focus on some of the work that we have done to respond and the work we still must do. Five years ago, insurrectionists--they tried to overturn an election. They assaulted our heroic Capital Police officers and attacked not only this building but American democracy itself. The President wants to rewrite the story of what happened that day, but he wasn't at that Capitol when the violent mob attacked. I was there. As the incoming chair of the Rules Committee, it was my job and Roy Blunt's job to make sure all of the electoral ballots were counted. That morning began with pomp and circumstance. Senator Blunt and I and the Vice President led a train of elected officials from the Senate to the House to start the ceremony. Three pairs of young women held the mahogany boxes with the electoral ballots for the entire country and then came the insurrection. We got back here. I remember speaking--my desk was up there. I remember the police telling me that this was happening, and I had to, in my role, tell the Senators to get away from the windows, and we were brought to an undisclosed location. Capitol Police officers were attacked, pepper-sprayed, clubbed, and trampled. We were in that room together. I remember praying. I remember incoming President Biden on the TV.…”