SAN ANTONIO – Former CIA agent and Texas Congressman Will Hurd was appalled by the violence he saw erupt at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in an attempt to obstruct the certification of electoral votes in the November 2020 election.
“I’ve been in embassies that have been blown up, that (people) tried to overrun, and this is stuff you see over there. And it was happening in our own backyard, our seat of power,” Hurd told KSAT.
The Associated Press reported that a “violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday and forced lawmakers into hiding.”
Capitol police evacuated two buildings on the Hill, and U.S. representatives hid in safe rooms and wore gas masks during the mob’s siege.
Washington, D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee said one woman was shot and killed by Capitol police. Three others died in “medical emergencies,” according to the AP.
Hurd took to social media to air his grievances with the violent situation, saying it was an ”attack on our democracy.”
When I was undercover at the CIA, I saw firsthand how our enemies steal elections and try to interfere in ours. Elected officials continuing to sow doubt amongst the public for petty political gain is playing into our enemies hands.
— Rep. Will Hurd (@HurdOnTheHill) January 3, 2021
This isn’t a peaceful protest. This is an attack on our democracy and domestic terrorism to try to stop certifying elections. This should be treated as a coup led by a president that will not be peacefully removed from power.
— Rep. Will Hurd (@HurdOnTheHill) January 6, 2021
Bexar County Republican George Rodriguez, who worked for two administrations from the mid-’70s to the early ’90s, says security on the Capitol grounds was pretty relaxed back then until the September 11th attacks. He was shocked to watch people breaking into the building and lawmakers taking cover.
“There were always people protesting, in front of the Capitol or in front of the White House, but to escalate the situation like they have lately by the left, as well as today, we never saw anything like that,” Rodriguez said. ‘”And I think it’s outrageous.”
Rodriguez’s concern is how this breach of security will impact the public’s ability in the future to have face-to-face access to lawmakers in the Capitol.