Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez thought she ‘was going to die’ during Capitol attack

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‘I thought I was going to die’: AOC describes Washington Capitol attack – video

The Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told thousands of followers via her Instagram Live on Tuesday that she “thought [she] was going to die” as a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol last week.

More than 70 charged so far over Capitol attack as FBI inundated with tips

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“I did not know if I was going to make it to the end of that day alive,” she said. Not divulging details due to security concerns, the New York congresswoman revealed she had a “very close encounter” that put her life, and those of her staff, at risk.

“Wednesday was an extremely traumatizing event. And it was not an exaggeration to say that many members of the House were nearly assassinated,” she said.

Ocasio-Cortez – who is also referred to as AOC – spoke at length about the experience, noting she “didn’t feel safe around other members of Congress” because there were colleagues “who would create opportunities to allow [her] to be hurt, kidnapped, etc”.

“I myself did not even feel safe going to that extraction point because there were QAnons and white supremacist sympathizers and, frankly, white supremacist members of Congress in that extraction point who I know and who I had felt would disclose my location,” she said.

The FBI has so far confirmed dozens of arrests for the attack in which thousands of Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol, fixed on stopping the electoral college vote sealing his re-election loss. The overwhelmingly white violent mob included white supremacists and some people waving Confederate flags and sporting neo-Nazi regalia.

Five people, including a Capitol police officer, were killed. A second officer died by suicide in the days following the attack.

In the days since the attack, reports have uncovered the full scope of the attack. Videos surfaced of attackers chanting “Hang Mike Pence”, carrying zip ties designed to be used as restraints. Officials also confirmed they confiscated pipe bombs, molotov cocktails and several guns on the Capitol and surrounding area.

The images suggest some involved in the mob were embarking on a coordinated insurrection aimed at more than just obstructing the electoral college certification. The congresswoman’s remarks add to several Democratic leaders who have come forward with details that suggest some Republican politicians may also have aided in the invasion.

In a Facebook live on Tuesday night, the New Jersey representative Mikie Sherrill recalled a “reconnaissance”, or tours being provided by colleagues to groups of Trump supporters at the Capitol on 5 January. The grounds had been closed to the public since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I was told later that members of that mob had zip ties, were wearing body armor and were looking to take prisoners,” the congresswoman said.

While she did not identify the Republican lawmakers, the Democrat vowed to “see they are held accountable, and if necessary, ensure they don’t serve in Congress”.

Later Tuesday, Sarah Groh, chief of staff to Ayanna Pressley, told the Boston Globe that as the Massachusetts congresswoman and her staff hid from the approaching invaders, they discovered that the emergency system in her office had been manipulated without explanation.

“Every panic button in my office had been torn out – the whole unit,” she said.

Pressley told the Globe she was “fearful but that fear is not new”.

“Being a Black woman and feeling unsafe is not new. The experiences of Wednesday were harrowing and unfortunately very familiar in the deepest and most ancestral way,” she said.

The congresswomen join a trove of officials pushing for the president and his Republican allies to be held accountable for inciting the attack.

Several have called for the 145 members in the House and Senate who voted to reject the election win of Democrat Joe Biden to resign, including Ocasio-Cortez who excoriated her Republicans in Congress, delivering “a message for anyone who is resigning after Wednesday: too late. Too late”.

“You were a part of it,” Ocasio-Cortez said. She then directly referenced the now former secretary of education Betsy DeVos, who is among at least a dozen Trump administration officials to have resigned from their positions in the aftermath of the insurrection.

Ocasio-Cortez also charged that Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ted Cruz of Texas “do not belong in the United States Senate”, accusing both senators stoking the violence for their own “political ambition”.

With rumored campaigns for president in 2024, the congresswoman gave them “a sneak peek”, insisting they “will never be president and “will never command the respect of this country, never. Never.”

“You should resign,” she said. “And so should every member of Congress who voted to overturn the results of our election, because they would rather cling to power than respect our democracy.”

House Democrats are expected to vote to impeach Trump on Wednesday as , multiple senior Republicans have joined Democrats calling for his removal from office.