Democratic Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger, described the evasive measures he took to help other lawmakers as rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday afternoon.
Crow spoke on CNN’s “New Day” Thursday morning alongside Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild. Crow was seen comforting a visibly distraught Wild as lawmakers ducked for cover in a viral photograph taken by Roll Call photographer Tom Williams. Trump supporters stormed and broke into the Capitol as lawmakers voted to certify the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden.
“Well, you know, in situations like that I kind of reverted to ranger mode which was just focusing on what I could do to actually try to get us out of that,” Crow explained. “So I went around and started locking and making sure the doors were locked and closed, moving some of the other members away from the doors, directed the other members to remove their pins so they weren’t identifiable in case the mob did break through.”
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“I had a pen in my pocket that I could use as a weapon, I was looking for other weapons as well and then I was coordinating with the Capitol police to try to find a way out to for us,” he added.
Crow said that there was a time period where they “were surrounded and had no way out.” He said the last time he felt as though he may have to fight his way out was over 15 years ago, when he was an Army Ranger in Iraq and Afghanistan. (RELATED: Editorial Board: Patriots Do Not Storm Their Nation’s Capitol)
This photo breaks my heart.
Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., comforts Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., while taking cover as protesters disrupt the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote.
(Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images) pic.twitter.com/meMacsalq0
— Haley Britzky (@halbritz) January 6, 2021
The congressman served three combat tours and was a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he led a team of paratroopers during the Iraq invasion, according to his biography page. Awarded the Bronze Star, Crow later joined the elite 75th Ranger Regiment.
When lawmakers were eventually able to be escorted from the chamber, Crow was reportedly the last one out the door. Prior to that, he also helped teach everyone how to use the emergency gas masks, according to an interview with The Denver Post.
“I wasn’t going to leave the House floor until every member was gone, so I waited until we were able to get everybody out,” Crow told the paper.