A new video from the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot shows two Republican congressmen admonishing members of the pro-Trump that day as they tried to force their way into the House chamber while staring down the barrels of Capitol officers’ guns through a broken window.
The video, which was shot by Capitol rioter Damon Beckley, was released Friday in response to a request from NBC News.
The video shows then-congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Texas Rep. Troy Nehls speaking with members of the pro-Trump mob through a broken window just outside the door leading to the House floor.
“You ought to be ashamed of yourself!” Nehls, a former sheriff and combat veteran said. “I’ve been in law enforcement in Texas for 30 years, and I’ve never had people act this way. I’m ashamed!”
Nehls told PBS in an interview in 2022 that he refused to leave the House chamber even though the mob was just outside the door.
“I said: “I’m not. I am not leaving. I’m going to sit there and I’m going to be there with my brothers and sisters in blue,” he said. “Markwayne Mullin, another member of Congress, was there. And he broke off — broke off that hand sanitizer off that wooden base, and there was another one there. And I did the same thing. So that was my weapon for the day should those individuals be successful in getting through those doors.”
After defending the Capitol, Nehls and Mullin went back to defending Donald Trump on the House floor and supporting the rioters’ cause. Both lawmakers voted against certifying election results from Arizona and Pennsylvania.
The video released Friday was introduced as evidence in Beckley’s case ahead of his sentencing hearing.
In the video Beckley could be heard saying: “I drove fourteen hours to get here and stood in the cold for three and a half hours to find out that Mike Pence is a f**king traitor, man. And I voted for that f**king dude. He could’ve done the right thing and certified those legislators, electors, and we wouldn’t be standing here with a nine-millimeter pointed at me right now!”
Beckley was arrested weeks after the riot and charged with unlawful entry of a restricted building and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. He initially pleaded not guilty but later changed it to no contest, meaning he does not admit nor deny responsibility but agrees to accept punishment.
