NEW: January 6 exposed a harsh reality about working for Congress: the Capitol Police's priority is protecting elected lawmakers and they otherwise really don't have anyone else's back. - Great read by @WARojas ($) @thisisinsider businessinsider.com/january-6-atta…
That was a major takeaway Insider gleaned from its latest oral history project that involved interviews with more than a dozen Hill aides, journalists, hospitality professionals, and custodial staff who remain haunted by the violent attack on their workplace by a pro-Trump mob.
"The people who work here know that the next time shit goes down, it's everyone for themselves," said one congressional aide granted anonymity to speak candidly about the events of January 6. "We were hung out to dry."
It wasn't the first time it's happened either. Congressional authorities have adopted certain precautions over the years to compensate for the fact lawmakers are atop the safety pecking order. Administrative staff periodically lead disaster-related drills.
They stash emergency hoods throughout the complex that can be donned in a hurry in case of a chemical attack. There are even CB-style annunciators that one Capitol security watchdog described as outdated "garbage."
"9/11 showed me for the first time as a staffer that really the only people that matter in this building are the members," said the Hill aide, who cited repeated instances where Capitol security officials signal employees are "a complete afterthought" when trouble happens.
Check out our 10K-word oral history - yeah, it's pretty darn comprehensive - of January 6 here w/ a @thisisinsider subscription: businessinsider.com/january-6-oral…
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