Massachusetts Rep. Lori Trahan was among the lawmakers in Washington D.C. during the insurrection by a pro-Trump mob. She spoke with GBH News All Things Considered host Arun Rath on Wednesday evening. This transcript has been edited for clarity.
Arun Rath: How are you doing right now?
Rep. Lori Trahan: Much better. Much better. It's nice to be in my office in a building that I know is secure and safe. But it's been a long day.
Rath: I can only imagine. It does seem incredible as I'm asking you these questions. Tell us how you first became aware of insurrectionists breaching the Capitol.
Trahan: So I was not in the Capitol when these insurgents rushed the doors and breached the entrance. I was in my office, because we'd been instructed to wait when our wave is called to vote so that we're adhering to the safety protocols. My team and me, we've been sheltering in place for the better half of the day, nearly six hours. A lot of anxiety comes with that, right? You're cut off. You're barricaded in. You're in your office. You don't know if what's happening in the Capitol is actually going to bleed into the House office buildings, so you feel a bit like a sitting duck. We took care of each other, and I think we knew we were going to be secured. We're grateful for the law enforcement and the Capitol Police who were able to get it under control quickly.
Rath: This mob descended on the Capitol and stormed it pretty much directly after the president, Donald Trump, spoke to the crowd in front of the White House. One went right to the other. Can you tell us your thoughts on the raw political context of this?
Trahan: I think all of us who have been paying attention the last four years, I don't think we were surprised. Donald Trump is directly responsible for the acts of terror that took place today. And there's no other way to describe it. The assault on our Capitol is an act of domestic terrorism, and those perpetrating it are terrorists. And they were incited by our by our president. So this is an attack on our democracy, one which generations of heroic Americans, true patriots, have fought and died to defend. I can only tell you how sad I was for our country and how outraged I was at the same time to watch as hundreds of insurgents rushed up the Capitol steps that I actually stood on just yesterday with my two young daughters when they were here over the weekend to see me sworn in. So I don't think it's an image anyone will soon forget in terms of watching people scale the walls and break windows and and trash the people's House, which has always stood there to be accessible to the people that we serve. But that didn't happen today. Today was a very different day, and it's one that I fully expect justice will be served to those who committed acts of insurrection today. It should be swift and it should be harsh so that everyone knows this will never be tolerated again.
Rath: There's only two weeks left. But with a president inciting insurrection, you'd think impeachment typically. But what actually makes sense in terms of a remedy for our democracy right now?
Trahan: There is no question that Donald Trump is unfit to serve another second as president of the United States, and frankly, he should never be able to hold office ever again. If he had an ounce of dignity left, he would resign, but we know that he won't do that. We know that he's absent integrity and patriotism. Since he won't do that, the cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment and remove him from office. If they're too cowardly to stand up to him, Congress should move expeditiously with articles of impeachment, because it's really important. I know some folks say it's only 14 days left, and that's why we are expeditiously moving forward to count and certify the results of the election. But look what happened today. I don't want to risk another another day of this president inciting violence and terror in our country, and I don't ever want him to be able to run for office and hold elected office again. We already have lived through the damage that he's put our country through.
Rath: Speaking of Congress holding the president to account, we've heard over the last few hours many of your Republican colleagues in Congress condemning the insurrection today. At the same time, many of them were helpful in inciting and calling into question the voting. Do you feel like this is a turning point maybe?
Trahan: Sens. Cruz and Hawley and the dozens of others in Congress who have peddled these baseless conspiracy theories, they bear just as much responsibility as Donald Trump. They have questioned the results of our election. They have questioned the will of the people. They have put their own self-interest ahead of the interests of our country, and they are not going to be able to escape accountability when they face the American people. Do I think some of my colleagues are doing some soul-searching right now? You bet I do, and they should be. We're going to see tonight how they comport themselves — if they continue down the path of of continuing with these baseless claims or if they abort that fool's errand. We'll have to see. Tonight, I'm looking forward to those proceedings beginning to see what challenges remain.
Rath: I think it's safe to say that a lot of people, no matter where they are on the spectrum, were very deeply disturbed by what we saw today, the images coming out of the Capitol. As a representative in Washington, before we go, is there anything that you would like to say to us, to your constituents, at the end — not even at the end — of this extraordinary day.
Trahan: The Capitol building has been secured and law enforcement is working diligently to secure the entire area. We plan to continue counting and certifying the Electoral College votes tonight. We are undeterred in upholding the integrity of our election. I believe that it's essential that we do so to prove that these terrorists will not win. They're not going to deter us from upholding our duty to the Constitution. Let's also be very clear: It's going to end with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president of the United States. We're not leaving here until we perform what is typically a very mundane and administrative procedure, but because of the antics and the the acts of our president, has really been a stain today for for our country, but one that we're going to get through together.
