Collins: At First I Thought The Rioters Were Iranians

Sen. Susan Collins writes for the Bangor Daily News:

The proceedings began calmly enough. Around 1 p.m., we senators proceeded to the House for a joint session. Soon there was an objection, baseless in my view, to accepting the electoral count from Arizona.

We returned to the Senate to begin our two-hour debate with senators, beginning a series of 5-minute speeches. Sen. James Lankford had just started speaking when, all of a sudden, the Capitol Police and staff from the Sergeant at Arms burst into the chamber and removed Vice President Mike Pence who was presiding. Shortly thereafter, the two Senate leaders were also rushed away.

My first thought was that the Iranians had followed through on their threat to strike the Capitol, but a police officer took over the podium and explained that violent demonstrators had breached the entire perimeter of the Capitol and were inside. Several of us pointed out that the doors to the press gallery were unlocked right above us. That tells you how overwhelmed and unprepared the Capitol Police were, although many, many of them were very courageous.

Read the full essay.

Susan Collins, a member of Senate Intel, thought it was the Iranians https://t.co/ClsSvaaq00

— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 11, 2021

So, for DAYS Trump encouraged people to march on the Capitol on Jan 6, but when it actually happened, Susan Collins says: “my first thought was that the Iranians had followed through on their threat to strike the Capitol.” https://t.co/6X8q97L1jz via @bangordailynews

— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) January 11, 2021