HOUSTON – A newly-sworn congressman from the Houston area was praised Wednesday for his role in efforts to stop a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol and forced a pause in the electoral vote count.
U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Dist. 22), seen in a photo wearing a blue shirt, was on the front lines with law enforcement inside the House chambers in an attempt to keep protesters at bay, just days after he took his oath of office.
“What’s taking place here right now is un-American,” Nehls said as the Capitol was being occupied by protesters. “This is a sacred house.”
As house members were evacuated to safety, Nehls stayed behind.
“Initially, I told them this is where we need to be,” Nehls said. “I’m an old Texas sheriff and I need to stand with my brothers and sisters in arms here.”
Nehls stood at one of the barricades used to keep the mob out of the House chamber, next to law enforcement officers who had their guns drawn. Through a broken window, Nehls said he tried to negotiate with the protesters, hoping to convince them to stand down.
“I had my Texas mask on,” Nehls said. “They said, ‘You’re from Texas and you should be with us on this.’ I said, ‘I’m all OK, and I’m all Texan, and I’m all about the Constitution and individual and personal freedom, but, to me, this is criminal what you are doing here today,’” Nehls said.
‘Something close to sedition’: Green talks about Capitol being stormed
U.S. Rep Al Green (D-Dist. 9) was in the nearby Rayburn office building, a few minutes from House chambers, on his way to the Capitol, when he encountered police and was told to shelter in place immediately.
“It causes enough fright for me to be concerned about what’s happening to my country,” Green said.
Green talked to KPRC 2 via Zoom while he was locked down in his office. He said that while he believes in peaceful protests, the chaos that engulfed the Capitol was indicative of an uprising against the government.
“It can become something close to sedition,” Green said. “I am very afraid we are getting close to that, if not there. We cannot allow this to become the norm when it comes to the transfer of power. It can be injurious to our democracy.”
