WASHINGTON D.C. (WTVF) — Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett was one of the lawmakers taking cover during the U.S. Capitol protest. He was on the House floor when protesters made their way inside.
Wednesday afternoon at the Nation's Capitol was a scene the East Tennessee Congressman says he would have never imagined.
"I saw some suits run in and I saw Speaker Pelosi was rushed out and I looked over and I saw some of our leadership and they rushed them all out," said Burchett, "Then they (law enforcement) told us stay in our seats, don’t stand up."
Pro-Trump supporters were protesting at the U.S. Capitol when things went from peaceful to violent.
"I was standing next to one of my members and I said dude you OK and he was praying, and I said, patted him on the back I said, we’re gonna get out of this; I said you just keep your head, you keep praying but we’re going to get out of this."
Burchett says he was one of the last people to leave the House floor because he wanted to make sure everyone made it off safely.
But he says once the protesters got inside the Capitol, their actions became criminal.
"The protesters, what they’re doing is right but once they cross over that fence, once they broke a window, once they enter the Capitol, they are breaking the law, and they are criminals. Set is not what this country is about we are not a banana republic," said Burchett.
Burchett says President Donald Trump should have put a stop to the violence before it began.
"Should’ve done it sooner ma'am, should’ve done it sooner," said Burchett, "Soon as the first person started pushing against those gates, he should’ve called a press conference and said stop, this is not helping."
Burchett says every protester who stormed the Capitol should be arrested.
Read More: Tennessee lawmakers call Capitol riot 'un-American' and condemn violence
