I was sitting in the Senate press gallery Wednesday afternoon, writing an email to the CBS News office describing the events of the last half-hour debate over objections to the Arizona voter list , when Vice President Mike Pence was suddenly and quickly evacuated from the Senate. room. I assumed it was for security reasons, given the crowds of turbulent protesters who had gathered outside the building.
I quickly prepared another email for my editors letting them know Pence was gone, thinking it was a false alarm. But soon, Senate gallery officials were shouting “close the doors” and it became clear that the situation was serious. Journalists were ushered into the press gallery above the Senate chamber and the doors were locked. We could hear the muted sound of rioters outside.
Electronics are not allowed in the camera, but I had brought my laptop and cell phone inside to let my editors know I was safe. Senators were on their phones, allegedly calling loved ones, while police officers stared behind closed doors. At one point, Senator Amy Klobuchar shouted that there had been shootings and urged her colleagues to stay away from the gates and take the situation seriously.
Suddenly, senators began running to be evacuated. Journalists were initially trapped in the gallery on the third floor overlooking the room. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker called reporters on the balcony to ask how we were doing. I laughed, probably with a hint of hysteria. “We’re doing really well,” I called back.
Journalists were taken out of the chamber and guided by Capitol police officers alongside senators to a safe place after the Senate entered the retreat.
Minutes later, protesters would enter the chamber posing to take selfies at lawmakers ’counters and the chamber’s well. Fortunately, while senators and staff were evacuating, a quick-witted Senate aide was present to wait for Electoral College ballots, Sen. Tammy Duckworth later told CBS News.
We stayed for several hours in a safe place. Shortly before 5 p.m., Capitol officials introduced food and drink trays for lawmakers and reporters sitting in the outer chamber, where senators met. I sat on the floor, charged the phone, and wondered what would happen next.
At one point, Senator Ted Cruz left the room full of senators. A journalist asked him if he felt any responsibility for the events of the day, given his support for opposing the results of the Electoral College. Cruz didn’t answer, but turned and went back into the room.
They allowed us to return to the Capitol shortly before 7 p.m. I walked down the Senate subway corridor, right behind the employees carrying the boxes full of ballots from the Electoral College.
It was surreal to re-enter the Senate chamber and watch the debate resume. The atmosphere in the room was gloomy and heavy, with a weight he knew would not soon be forgotten today. Vice President Mike Pence’s statements were greeted with a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle.
Ultimately, the Senate voted against the objections to the Arizona 93-6 count.
Voting continued into the night, with one more objection – to the Pennsylvania results – that ultimately failed. At 3:38 a.m., Wyoming’s results were confirmed and Pence announced the victory of President-elect Joe Biden at 3:40 a.m.