Maddow Blog | The House Republican left behind by Kevin McCarthy on Jan. 6 MSNBC 4/30/2021 Steve Benen A variety of members of Congress have shared stories, some quite harrowing, about where they were during the insurrectionist attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6. But this week, a previously unreported anecdote reached the public, which stood out for a reason. The New York Times published a report on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and some of the challenges he's facing on Capitol Hill. Way down in the article's 34th paragraph, there was this gem: After the House chamber was evacuated on Jan. 6, Mr. McCarthy retreated to his Capitol office with a colleague, Representative Bruce Westerman, Republican of Arkansas. When it became evident the rioters were breaking in, Mr. McCarthy's security detail insisted he leave. But Mr. Westerman was left behind in Mr. McCarthy's inner work area, he said in a recent interview. For protection, Mr. Westerman said he commandeered a Civil War sword from an office display, barricaded himself in Mr. McCarthy's private bathroom and waited out the siege while crouched on the toilet.