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'I didn't know what was going to happen to me.' Michigan Congressman recounts traumatic Capitol riot experience

Dan Kildee
Posted at 5:19 PM, Feb 11, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-11 19:02:53-05

(WXYZ) — Michigan Congressman Dan Kildee (D-Flint), was one of many politicians trapped inside of the U.S. Capitol building during the insurrection on Jan. 6. He captured jarring video of the riot, which was used during the impeachment trial.

RELATED: Impeachment managers show security footage from Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection

"It was almost this instinctive thing to capture this moment... partly because I knew it was a moment of history that was important, and it was important to have an accurate record of it and I wanted to get that record," Kildee said. "But also, I didn't know what was going to happen to me and I wanted that video to be there."

Kildee shot a few seconds of video as he was sheltering in place within the Capitol. There were 41 minutes where he and others were left behind in a gallery as rioters in opposition of President Joe Biden's election, stormed the Capitol. He says he's since dealt with a lot of post-traumatic stress from those events on Jan. 6.

RELATED: Democrats use Trump's own words against him in arguing he incited Capitol riot

In one of the videos Kildee captured on his cell phone, you can hear the pivotal moment when a Capitol police officer shot and killed a woman who was a part of the mob attempting to break into the gallery and gain access to lawmakers.

"If that officer had not taken that courageous action, that mob would have gotten into the gallery and to the House floor," Kildee said. "And the fate of those of us that were trapped there would have been much worse than it is."

Kildee says that the officer's actions made the mob back up to where a tactical unit was able to step in and further seal off areas.

Looking back on those events, Kildee says it's not easy watching the ongoing impeachment trial of Donald Trump.

"It brings up a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety," he said.

Watch Kildee's full 7 Action News interview in the player above.