Democratic New Jersey Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill detailed to Rachel Maddow the unease and skepticism she had as groups of people, many of whom were later linked to the attack on the Capitol the next day, roamed the halls last Tuesday in what Sherrill described as “reconnaissance” efforts.

https://youtu.be/vpO2sZWFTvk

Sherrill noted that group tours of the Capitol had been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, so anyone entering the building had to have business with a member of Congress, who would let them in. 

A Navy veteran, Sherrill became a H3 Sea King helicopter pilot in the US and overseas, noting that when she was assigned to a new duty station, they were always briefed on reporting things that seemed out of order, which the groups roaming the halls did.

According to Sherrill, Congressional investigators are probing who let these people in and what parts of the building they were shown, as well as if they were supervised during their entire time in the building.

“To imagine that colleagues of mine could have aided and abetted this is incredibly offensive and there is simply no way that they can be allowed to continue to serve in Congress,” Sherrill noted.

[Editor’s Note:  I’ve been in both the Capitol and the White House.  To enter, you need to either have a pre-arranged meeting and give your name and driver’s license at a security office because you’ve been pre-cleared, or if you’re on a scheduled behind-the-scenes tour, you also get a clearance beforehand (complete with background check using your Social Security Number).  No one–no one–gets in without having their background checked.  This means there’s a written record of the people in these groups and the people who enabled them to get in the building.]