--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Hi, you're talking to Representative Maloney. Representative Maloney, thank you for making time for us on a very difficult day.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: Thank you, Sean. It is a difficult, very difficult day. It's a threat to our democracy and an embarrassment to our country. And it was started and incited by the President of the United States.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And for one branch to incite violence against another branch of government is unheard of in our country. I want to get into all of it with you. Can you tell me just right off the bat where you are right now? Are you safe?
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: I am safe. I am in my office in the Rayburn building. We were told to go to our offices and lock the door. And I'm here with two staff members.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And just to let you know, you know, we started the day today with a conversation with your colleague, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, about how this was a historic day for the United States Congress. And now, you know, several hours later, we're talking to you about how this has been an historic day for the United States Congress, but for a completely different reason. How do you feel right now?
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: Oh, I'm devastated. I'm beyond belief in how horrible it is. I can't believe that this is happening in our country that honors our elections and the peaceful transfer of power.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Like you said, it's a historic day for all the wrong reasons. It's an embarrassment. It is horrible. I never thought I would ever see this. We could not conduct our business. They completely disrupted the work of Congress.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: They scaled into the Capitol, smashing windows, took over the chambers, and I'm told now they've restored order. It's my hope that we return to the chamber, do our business, conduct our work, listen and have the debates, vote for President Biden, confirm the Electoral College vote for him so that we can square him into office on January 20th.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: What happened to you today? What did you go to the Capitol building expecting and what happened instead?
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: I was expecting a debate over the issues. There are several senators, 12 I believe, that are objecting to the verification and the election of President Biden. I was expecting an orderly debate and an orderly vote.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: What happened instead because of COVID we can only have 11 Democrats on the floor at one time and 11 Republicans I was watching the proceedings in my office It all broke out in confusion. They were pushing desks up against the doors to try to keep people from coming in.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: It looked like undercover officers protecting members and moving them out of the chambers, including Majority Leader Hoyer. Jim McGovern from Massachusetts was acting speaker. I am told that they are at an undisclosed place in the Capitol. I tried to reach them. I am in the Rayburn building.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: There are roughly 30 members of Congress in their offices on this floor. Apparently, the invaders went into the Cannon Building, and the members and their staff left the Cannon Building and have come into the Rayburn and Longworth Building.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: There is announcement on the loudspeaker that all intruders should leave because we now have a curfew in place at 6 o'clock that was put in place by the mayor of D.C. It looks like recruitments or more police kept coming in.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: They would march in in precision. I can look out my window. There were thousands on the mall and in front of the Capitol protesting. At times you would see a great deal of smoke going up. I don't know what kind of weapon that was.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: I understand many people have been arrested and order is being restored. I am beyond shock. I cannot believe that this is happening in our country. It is absolutely horrible. It is not the values of America that respects law and order, respects the peaceful transfer of power that has been a hallmark of our great country from our founding fathers on.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: This is shocking and disturbing beyond belief. It's like the Bastille Day. It's beyond shock. What did it feel like for you and for your colleagues and for your staff? Because watching the images on cable news, it feels like some of these insurrectionists, terrorists, rioters, I'm not sure what to call them right now, but it seemed like some of them had intent, were facing off against police officers.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: And then on the other hand, you saw some people laughing and taking selfies and running amok in the chambers. I can tell you it was like an insurrection. It was a takeover. It was shocking to me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Since 9 I have participated in many Capitol Hill security drills that involve sheltering in place and putting on protective equipment I have the protective equipment all over my desk, and I never thought I would have to use it.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: I never dreamed that I'd have to do it for real because of terrorism inspired by the president of the United States. And you had to use that equipment today? You had to use that gear today?
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: No, I have it in case we need it. I have it out on the table. Protective gear. We have tear gas masks. We have protective gear. I never thought I'd have to use it.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: And when the president went out and said everybody should go home, well, he's the one who started the problem. He called upon people to come to the Capitol and protest. And they did come and protest. And now he's telling them to leave. But he's the one who created this crisis by telling his supporters to go to the Capitol and protest.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: It is sickening to me. It is heartbreaking to see this type of violence, really, and disrespect for our capital, for our institutions, for our values, for our elections, and for the time-honored value of the peaceful transfer of power.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: I mean, the main motivating factor here for all of these rioters who are staging this insurrection at the Capitol today is this idea that something was stolen from them, an idea planted by the president of the United States, but further enabled by so many of your colleagues in the House of Representatives and even in the United States Senate.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Have you spoken with any of them? Have you seen any of them today? And if not, what would you say to them today?
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: I would say call it off. Let's unify. Let's come together. Let's be Americans. No one can defeat America when we come together. No one is stronger or better. This division is harmful.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: We have the votes. We have the proof. We have everything. We are going to certify this election for President Biden. I hope we do it tonight. I hope we go back into the Capitol. If the chambers are too insecure at this point, we can go to other rooms in the Capitol. Let's have the debate. Let's have the vote. And let's certify Joe Biden as our next president and move forward with the business of protecting Americans helping America making America stronger and more united not divided and destructive as it is today.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: Yeah, I mean that sounds really nice but it seems like that's what President-elect Joe Biden has been calling for since the day the major networks declared his victory. And it hasn't been very effective, has it?
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Do you think there will be consequences for what happened today, be it for the outgoing president, be it for the colleagues of yours who enabled and cheered on this kind of insurrection, for the insurrectionists themselves, who I think a lot of people are shocked to see aren't being arrested, aren't being resisted by the many different police forces on the Capitol right now.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: Instead, they're being gently pushed back? Well, we have secured the Capitol. Let's be positive. Let's have the Capitol secure. Let's go back in. Let's do our work. Let's ratify the votes. Let's elect Joe Biden, our president. Let's move forward. Let's go forward.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's what I'm supporting at this time. I do know some people have been arrested, but they have maintained order now. The order has been maintained. I can look out my window at the Capitol and the crowds have broken up. It looks like they're honoring the curfew that was put in place by the mayor of DC.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: Let's hope that it's over and that we can go forward with the business of the people. Our Constitution calls for a vote of the Electoral College. That's why we are here today. Let's vote. Let's ratify his election and move forward.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Yeah. Do you feel like something was broken today, this endless, unbroken chain of the peaceful transfer of power? Do you think we lost that today in the United States?
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: We are bringing it back now. We are going to vote tonight and we will have peaceful transfer of power. I am shocked by what happened today. It's horrible. I can't believe that it happened in America. It's always someplace else. It's not America. But America is being restored as we speak.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: They're bringing order back so that Congress can convene, debate and vote and move this country forward with President Biden. OK, Representative Maloney, I really appreciate your time. Stay safe and thank you.
--:-- Carolyn Maloney: Thank you. Thank you.
