Saturday marks the third anniversary of the U.S. Capitol Attack that happened on January 6th. President Biden and Democrats are citing the 2021 event as a reason to urge the defeat of former President Donald Trump and down-ballot Republican supporters.
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Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who was present at the U.S. Capitol during the event, has described it as "horrific" and "destructive." She expressed her shock and dismay about the incident and its aftermath the next morning.
"It was an incredible morning and a horrific afternoon," said Masto.
On the day of the U.S. Capitol Attack, Senator Cortez Masto was preparing to debate her Senate Republican colleagues on the challenge to the results of the 2020 electoral process. However, as she was getting ready to enter the Senate floor, the Capitol Hill Police entered the chamber and started shouting instructions, indicating that something was not right.
"Shut it down. Shut down the chambers; capitol police came in and said they were shutting down right now; we're keeping everybody safe; they have breached the Capitol, the protestors have breached the Capitol."
According to Cortez Masto, she and her colleagues were escorted by the Capitol Hill Police to a secure location inside the Capitol Building. From there, they were able to watch live television coverage of the attack that was unfolding outside.
"It was horrific. There were so many of my colleagues who were just shocked and horrified. But then, we also got mad. Mad that there was a mob that thought they could stop the peaceful transfer of power that was the stronghold and foundation of democracy in this country," said Cortez Masto.
The senators vowed to go back on the floor as soon as it was safe to finish their job certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Now, Cortez Masto and top Nevada Democrats echo President Biden's call to defeat former President Trump and down-ballot Republicans. This comes three years after the U.S. Capitol Attack that took place on January 6th, which has been cited as a key event that underscores the need to safeguard democracy and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Cortez Masto says she has faith in Nevada voters.Â
"We also see across the country, even in Nevada, voters coming out to vote to elect individuals who are going to protect that democracy, to protect our elections, and not undermine them for political gain," said Masto.
Congresswoman Dina Titus was also present at the U.S. Capitol on the day of the attack. She was writing an argument to defend Nevada's vote when the chaos spilled into the U.S. Capitol building.Â
"As you recall, we were one of the handful of states that they were actually pushing the Vice President not to recognize our vote," said Congresswoman Dina Titus.
According to Congresswoman Dina Titus, the 2020 U.S. Capitol Insurrection was not just an attack on the Capitol Building, but an attack on the very rights and freedoms that Americans have fought for since the Revolutionary War. Titus says that the Democrats' strategy for the 2024 election is a continuation of President Biden's battle for the soul of America.
"I think it resonates too. Not all Republicans are MAGA Republicans. There are some sane, rational people who you can negotiate with, who see the danger in overthrowing our democracy," said Titus.
The events of January 6th highlighted the deep division within the United States. While many view it as a significant threat to democracy, others, such as The Heritage Foundation's Senior Legal Fellow Hans von Spakovsky, have a different perspective. Spakovsky contends that 90% of the protesters on January 6th were peaceful and never entered the U.S. Capitol. For those who did, he believes many were given too harsh of sentences.
"No one condones the criminal trespassing, but the folks who got into the capitol building were all unarmed, and the video which is now has been finally released, which the January 6th Committee suppressed and tried not to let out, shows the folks who were in the Capitol, were mostly peaceful and in fact, many of them were being escorted," said The Heritage Foundation Senior Legal Fellow Hans von Spakovsky.
Spakovsky points out that the release of internal Twitter documents revealed that the Biden administration pressured social media companies to censor Americans' opinions with the help and coercion of the FBI. He says this poses a threat to democracy.
There are mixed accounts over the number of injured or killed as a result of January 6th, but journalist Glenn Greenwald claims "four people died on 1/6: all Trump supporters." A Capitol Police Officer died accidentally from "acute amphetamine intoxication."
Looking ahead to the 2024 election, Congresswoman Dina Titus believes that it is not a stretch to say that democracy is on the line. She argues that the events of January 6th serve as a warning sign that the democratic process is vulnerable to attack, and it is crucial to safeguard it by defeating former President Trump and candidates who seek to undermine it.
"We are hearing Trump and his allies and MAGA supporters continuing to say that the election was not fair. That it wasn't a free election. That Donald Trump won, and Joe Biden didn't, and that the Democrats stole it. Well, that is so untrue. Not a single court case has ruled in his favor; no evidence has been found, people have been questioned repeatedly, and counts have occurred several times. There was no evidence that this was not a free and fair election, but he continued with that message. You saw in Reno just last week or so where Trump was applauding Nevada's fake electors. These electors are awaiting trial for their efforts. And attempt to overthrow a constitutional process," said Congresswoman Titus.
