A former US Navy helicopter pilot and former federal prosecutor, Rep Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) speaks of mob violence from a position of professional knowledge. Her battlefield experience and legal expertise equip her with insights and judgment that bring a keen edge to her perspective. So when she refers to the Capitol insurgents as “a mob of domestic terrorists” it’s not hyperbole, it’s forthrightness.
In a Facebook video address made for her constituents, that forthrightness and her utter sincerity carries her message to the hearts of her audience. Sherrill is quiet and measured as she relates the events of that terrible day when a mob of pro-Trump extremists broke into the US Capitol.
And then the doors were shut and locked. We attempted to continue the debate. That became impossible as crowds gathered and began banging on the doors. And so we were told to get out the gas masks in case we had to egress through tear gas.
From time mark 4:20:
And then we were told we had to get down because as they had barricaded the door, the glass was breaking and they were worried that an active shooter was going to get into the chamber. And as I was on the floor, I heard other members making calls home, afraid that that would be the last call they ever made.
They were then given the go-ahead to leave the chamber and make their way to a secure location. From time mark 5:33:
We were were worried, around every corner, that we might find the mob. I was told later that members of that mob had zip ties, and were wearing body armour, and were looking to take prisoners, members of Congress. But we made it to the secure location.
And then, in an act that I think shows the bravery of so many members of this body, members who had really been traumatized, as we were holed up in the chamber and a mob of domestic terrorists, a mob that was violently trying to overthrow our ability to certify the election, they went back hours later, back into that very chamber so we could finish the debate and certify the elections.
The video with captions is also here on NorthJersey.com
But the most chilling intelligence in her address came near the end.
From time mark 11:35:
Because we can’t have a democracy if the president incites violence to turnover the results. We can’t have a democracy if too many members of our police force and our military are acting to overturn it and undermine it.
Yep, she really did say that. But there’s more, and it’s worse…
From time mark 12:11:
I also intend to see those members of Congress who abetted him, those members of Congress who had groups coming through the Capitol that I saw on January 5th – a reconnaissance for the next day – those members of Congress that incited a violent crowd, those members of Congress that attempted to help our president undermine our democracy, I’m going to see that they are held accountable and, if necessary, ensure they don’t serve in Congress.
Three times I listened to her say this to make sure I wasn’t mishearing her, and each time it was the same: Rep Mikie Sherrill saw members of Congress taking groups round the Capitol on personally-guided tours that she described as “reconnaissance for the next day.”
I’ve read accounts which claimed that some in the crowd had maps of the Capitol. Other accounts noted how the mob seemed to know where to go to find particular offices. In what is constantly referred to as a rabbit warren of a place, how did they know where to go? Unless they’d been there before, like the day before…
Given her background, particularly her years as a federal prosecutor, you can be certain Mikie Sherrill contacted the FBI to tell them exactly who and what she saw. So when Sherrill said she was going to see they were held accountable, she was speaking literally, as a witness.
It’s a bombshell. It means that those members of Congress are now subjects of an FBI investigation and given the gravity, the absolute enormity, of elected legislators aiding and abetting an insurrection, that investigation is going to be given top priority.
Over at DoJ, prosecutors will already know they have an impeccable eye witness and they’ll be eager to get her in front of a grand jury at the first opportunity.
Stay safe, Mikie Sherrill, your country needs you now more than ever.
This is some of the best news to come out of this horrible episode! This is precisely what I was hoping would happen. All the people within congress who facilitated and participated should be held accountable and should not serve in the body.
Mikie Sherrill’s extraordinary powers of observation and assessment may well lead to several of them being arrested on conspiracy and sedition charges. I’d be very happy if a whole bunch of special elections were scheduled in the second half of the year. ?
You and me both.
That would be a dream come true. These are horrible, un-American people.
I would also hope that there are cameras and recordings of who passed through, and where.
Oh good thinking, Carol! Of course there must be film of them, there must be CCTV in the Capitol. The Congress critters escorting their groups wouldn’t think anybody would be noticing them and where they went. They didn’t reckon with Mikie Sherrill!
For those who may not fully appreciate it, I’d like to call attention to the fact that Rep. Sherril (a graduate of the Naval Academy) was a Naval Aviator. Specifically, she flew those huge CH-53 helicopters, and was in the first group of women certified to fly in combat which means being fully qualified for all aspects of carrier operations (night, all-weather which means BAD weather, blue water ops where the ability to divert to shore isn’t an option and you either get aboard or “go swimming” etc.) and that carries some special qualities. While there’s nothing quite as difficult as bringing a fixed wing aircraft down to a landing on a carrier (once committed to the landing that last part has you going at around 130 knots (over twice highway speed in your car!) at an angled deck that’s moving forward at a DIFFERENT angle than the one you are flying with “foul lines” (that often have other aircraft backed up to them including sometimes on both sides) with 30 feet (sometimes less, sometimes a bit more depending on your aircraft) on either side. Gulp.
Now, folks might think it’s not as tough to land a helicopter on a pitching deck (forgot to mention the pitching and rolling above) and objectively it’s not but it’s WAY more difficult than it looks even in good weather. I have two friends (a few years older than me who were classmates in school) who were Naval Aviators (the Marines thought I was too old so I wound up being a grunt). Drew flew f-14 Tomcats and left the Navy when his tour was done. Charlie started in A-4 Skyhawks (small, agile jets) but switched over to helicopters, the CH-46 which is the one with the double rotors. He made a career in the Marines and eventually wound up flying the Osprey, that tilt wing aircraft that can take off and land like a helicopter but then transition to look and fly like a regular airplane. From Charlies (and some others) I learned just how dicey landing on a ship can be, even in good weather. The ship after all isn’t sitting still – it’s underway and if a fixed wing big ole standard aircraft carrier that means straight into the wind which increases deck motion. But even a helicopter ship is still underway and that deck moves up and down, and rolls from side to side and a gust of wind at the wrong moment can move the rotors perilously close to the deck, cause the thing to skid which can lead to loss of control (and again, there are other helicopters around not to mention deck crew that need to get that thing secured to the deck ASAP and in bad weather and/or at night it’s a helluva task. Not for the faint of heart and yes, things go bad sometimes.
I wrote all that to give you just a taste of how Rep. Sherril spent her career in the Navy. A successful one in fact as she had been selected for promotion to Lt. Commander before deciding to leave and go to law school. A Naval Aviator doesn’t just have to have great eyesight to pass a flight physical. Landing on the deck of a ship at sea means having to take in an astonishing amount of information from the view outside of what’s going on around your bird, to the deck to the instruments on the panel in front of you to instructions coming through your headset from the landing officer on the deck and what your co-pilot is telling you THEY see. You have to observe and process all that stuff every second because every second things are changing. The ability to do that has to become instinctual to qualify for full carrier ops as Sherril did. And you have to go through “carrier quals” (a series of take offs and landings both day and night) right off the bat whenever a ship puts to sea for a deployment no matter how many times you’ve done it in the past. Even if your last deployment had ended only a couple of months prior and your shore tour got cut short for some reason and you get redeployed.
That means that even years removed from those days Rep. Sherril’s powers of observation are well above the norm. When someone like HER takes in information the ability to not just observe, but UNDERSTAND what she saw and file it away in her memory is more significant that most people realize. This is someone who knows more than a thing or two about intelligence AND law enforcement and witness evidence since she’s also a former federal prosecutor. She knows full well how important it is for a witness to have accurate observations that can hold up to cross-examination. I for one don’t think she’d say what she did unless she’s damned sure of who and what she saw, where they were, what time and even others (like loyal Capitol Police or others like staffers) who can back up her account. I’d imagine she’s going to be a gold mine for the FBI and DOJ prosecutors and her fellow Congress Critters who so blithely have thought they could aid and abet the insurrection would be well advised to get themselves some damned good lawyers. Today. Instead of bleating on the House floor against impeachment. They are going to need them.
Thanks for that in depth explanation of her background. I served 17 years as an avionics tech in the Navy. Was a plane captain on A-4 jets that flew training missions against F-14’s. Also did intermediate level support of F-14 avionics. I think for all the reasons you listed, Mikie Sherrill will be the most excellent perfect person for this situation.
As I was listening to her address, I kept thinking how lucky we are that she’s in Congress. She won a district that has been gerrymandered so much it hasn’t seen a Democratic Rep since 1984 – and they frickin’ LOVE her! She’s got a job for life there – until someone scoops her up for a Cabinet position or she runs for higher office. She’s extraordinary. Has four beautiful children too.
That was brilliant! I was absolutely glued to your description of what Sherrill’s job involved – it’s utterly fascinating!
Before your comment, I was aware of only a tiny fraction of what her aviator job required, but I did realise that her powers of observation and assessment had to be far above the norm. I bet she was even able to identify some of the people in the “special tour” groups from their FBI photos.
My hope is that Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley were involved. I can’t stand the thought of those two continuing to stain the Senate with their presence.
Thank you again for taking the time to write this. I’m also glad it’s here where I can refer to it in the future.
From what Murph is saying, McConnell has Cruz and Hawley in his cross hairs.
I’m willing to bet McConnell’s sudden about-face is linked to this story and one other. I’ll write them up when I get back from gym this morning.
Fascinating information Mr. Elliott!
Your comments are always SO long, but so packed with information and so worthwhile.
We need a lot more like her in Congress.
We have a lot. I’m always annoyed by people who go “OMG AOC” like she’s the beginning and ending of everything, and I often see people like Sherrill callously and ignorantly dismissed as useless “centrists” because they rank lower than some of their shouty progressive colleagues as far as their voting records. These people are swept away by images and not investigating what these people are actually doing, accomplishing or voting on.
I repeat myself here: AOC will figure it out or she will fade.
As in Katie Porter?
Definitely Katie Porter! She’s a force to be reckoned with!
Katie Porter is definitely one. She may not be ranked as a top progressive, but she kicks ass and gets shit done, not just talks and plays for the cameras. Lesley Stahl’s question to Pelosi about AOC’s comment on the lack of younger people showed both Stahl’s and AOC’s ignorance. There are lots of younger people in the pipeline, such as Katherine Clark, Hakeem Jeffries, and Joe Neguse, who entered Congress at the same time as AOC, was elected freshman rep to leadership, was given an entry rung on leadership proper for this session and has just been appointed one of the impeachment managers. He is only a couple of year older than AOC, I think 36. And clearly Pelosi is grooming him. So this seems to be more about herself than who else is rising in leadership.
Katie Porter always comes to mind. She ranks in the middle of her colleagues as far as progressive voting record, but she kicks more ass and gets more shit done. Also, when Lesley Stahl is done quoting “AOC” about how there need to be more younger people in leadership, she might look into the case of Joe Neguse, age 36, who just earned an entry rung on the leadership ladder. You want “progressive”? You know where Neguse is ranked right now? He somehow performed the miracle of swiping the #1 slot from Andy Levin! “AOC” is ranked 57th, not bad, but she’s not the ultimate hero of everything. Pelosi’s answer was dead on when she said we have younger people rising who don’t get as much publicity.
Couldn’t agree more! When the current news cycle gives us some breathing space, I’ll write up an article listing those I think deserve more credit than AOC. Mikie Sherrill is obviously one and Katie Porter springs immediately to mind too.
There are dozens — people promoting great progress policies and getting shit done. There is not ONE savior we all need to worship and follow. I think of someone like Lauren Underwood who has seen more pieces of legislation signed into law in her first two years than Bernie has in 30 years in Congress. They may not be huge, dazzling pieces of legislation, but she knows you start with small steps, such as bringing down the cost of insulin and providing stronger suicide prevention resources for veterans, two of the subjects of her legislation.
Don’t forget Lauren Underwood. She has had more pieces of her legislation signing into law in two years in Congress than Bernie has in 30 years. They may not be big, flashy, dazzling things like Medicare 4 All, but she knows you have to start with small steps, such as bringing down the cost of insulin or providing stronger suicide prevention resources for veterans, the subjects of two of her bills.
There’s also Abagail Spanberger who in 2018 broke a 36 year hold of the GOP on the district she represents. Like Rep. Sherril she has some particularly useful creds when it comes to observations and I have been wondering if she too noticed things and has been chatting with the FBI. She had experience with federal LE as Postal Inspector before joining the CIA and engaging in overseas classified operations. That’s also the kind of experience that can notice, remember and accurately report stuff in more detail that the average person. Just because she hasn’t said anything publicly doesn’t mean she didn’t see things, and given her CIA background if she’s still got clearance she might be chatting with some contacts over in Langley putting together a package that prosecutors can use. Specifically regarding an foreign contacts with the terrorists who carried out the attack. The CIA has no charter for domestic operations but they DO have the ability and duty to report stuff to civilian authorities and coordinating with a member of Congress with clearance is a gray enough area that perhaps Spanberger is utilizing while getting her report for prosecutors ready. It would certainly explain her silence since the attack.
Clyburn would like to know how he found the *unmarked* office where his staff was working.
And some of the GOP-T in Congress were aiding in planning – ask how they got maps of the Capitol and the tunnel system.
Clyburn would like to know how they found the *unmarked* office where his staff was working.
And some of the GOP-T in Congress were aiding in planning – ask how they got maps of the Capitol and the tunnel system. (Biggs and Gosar were among them.)
They did not have zip ties, they had military grade flex cuff restraints.
She is one straight talking focused veteran. Go Navy.
She is that! I hope she moves up to the Senate when Bob Menendez finally retires or Corey Booker moves into a Cabinet position.