WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Senator Tammy Duckworth, who represents Illinois' 8th District, was sheltering in place after the US Capitol Building was breached as the Electoral Vote count was happening, Wednesday, January 6.
The senator was inside the US Capitol when the chaos began.
"I cannot believe this is happening," said Senator Duckworth.
In an interview with several media outlets, the senator confirmed that one of the staff members was able to grab the Electoral College ballots before being moved to a safer location in the building.
"But I will not be deterred from doing my job to get this process completed, so we can return to the important work at hand," she said.
During the interview Capitol Police could be heard giving an update in the background.
The senator said they were getting updates about every 20 minutes. During the afternoon they were searching the building for other staff members who may have been barricaded.
Senator Duckworth shared a Tweet earlier in the day, saying she never expected a situation like this to unfold.