Democratic senators say electoral ballots saved from Senate floor

Senators are crediting a “quick thinking” staffer for securing the 2020 Electoral College ballots while people were evacuated from the Capitol as rioters entered the building on Wednesday.

A joint session of Congress descended into chaos as supporters of President Trump who were protesting the Electoral College vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win swarmed the Capitol.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said Wednesday that the Electoral College certificates contained inside a trio of mahogany boxes would’ve been destroyed “by the mob,” had they not been saved as lawmakers, aides and journalists were evacuated from the Senate chamber.

Electoral college ballots rescued from the Senate floor. If our capable floor staff hadn’t grabbed them, they would have been burned by the mob. pic.twitter.com/2JCauUIlvg

— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) January 6, 2021

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) also praised the aide for being able to “grab and secure” the ballots.

“We have them with us,” Duckworth said in an interview with CBS News, “and we will be able to proceed as long as [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell [R-Ky.] calls us back into session.”

Sen. Tammy Duckworth says that a staffer secured the electoral college ballots and brought them with her when lawmakers and staffers were moved to a secure location in the U.S. Capitol. pic.twitter.com/b4W4UFINjM

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 6, 2021