Police came. My other son was in the battle cage and he is also very brave. You can see him there in that picture, the tall er of the two. We heard shots and it was clear pretty quickly there was a shooter with a high profile rifle. Steve scalise was hit in the hip he was hit, and he was down the whole time. Senator rand paul was in the batting cage when it started. I could see way in the distance, the gun sounded like an ar15, and we could not see
i kept yelling back are you friendly . We didnt know if it was another gunman or if it was return fire. And the Capital Policeman put his head around the dugout and i could tell it was them returning fire. It was a very chaotic situation, and it lasted for at least ten minutes and it just kept going on and on. Some estimated over 50 shots. I stood up up in the dugout trying to get a sense of where the gunman was. He walked around first base outside of the fence. And he got into the dugout. And we realized we were not safe there. Could you see what kind of a
gun. Could you see what kind of weapon it snfs. No, i couldnt. And someone saw him raise a rifle to begin with. When i saw him i didnt see the rifle. I think at that point he may have had a handgun. Once someone yelled the shooter is down, i ran over to Steve Scalise to apply pressure to the wound. Were you the first person to get to him . From your account, the gunfire, cross fire, went on for ten minutes, was he on the ground out towards the outfield for ten minutes pile the gunfire was going . Yes, about ten yards into the outfield on the grass. And you can see the trail that he left, the trail of blood, from where he was hit. And he was laying there and that is what was really tough. We were treating another staff member that was shot in the dugout, and making sure that joe martins 10yearold son made it to the dugout, and putting him as deep as we could under the bench so the gunman could not get to him. And we just didnt fwhee to do at that point. We could not rush through the gunfire to get to steve, so as soon as we heard that the gunman was down, thats when i ran out, and some others followed later. Let me ask you, when you first got to Steve Scalise, was he talking . Yes, he was coherent and conscious. We tried to keep him talking. The gunshot was on the left hip so i put psh on that, i had a Batting Glove still on and tried to keep blood from coming out. We used that shirt to put pressure on, and ten minutes later after we knew the shooter was down, someone brought some gauze. We tried to put that on, but there was a lot of blood. Where was his wound, senator . On the left hip. We could see the entry, we never saw the exit. He has had surgery now so we will know more about that but there was a lot of blood and we tried to keep the bleeding down. Where was the staffers wounds . It was on the leg, right about the calf, and we had someone take off a belt, and we used the belt to wrap around to stop some of the bleeding as well. So there was a lot going on, but a lot of it involved just trying
to duck down as far as we could to keep out of rain of the gunfire. How large was his detail. He had a detail there, Thank Goodness, but i think it was two or three. They came out, it was after awhile to steve, and he brought a kit and he had a wound that was on his foot. I think he was shot on the foot, and i think he may have been the one to bring the gunman down, but he never stopped. It was, i could tell you there was a lot of heroism there among the Capital Police, and Thank Goodness that steve was there at practice today, we would have fwhn a much, much worse situation. Did you hear the gunman say anything . No, people ask that, there was yelling, but it was too tough to tell given the chaos
who was yelling what. I was doing some yelling to try to figure out if the gunfire behind us was friendly or not. We feared there could be more than one gunman, and feared that he might make his way around and into the dugout where there was the biggest concentration of members let me ask you about joe mart martins son, the emotional impact on a child, how is he . I tell you, he did the right thing. He was in, there is a little batting cage, and i had just walked by and saw him in the smaller one, and i was wondering in the dugout where he was, and
he rushed into the dugout and i think joe martin was behind the dugout looking for him, extremely concerned, but we want today make sure he was as stach as we could. We stuffed him under the bench where he could not be scene, and that was a tough thing. Do you practice every day in the days leading up to the game, that was scheduled for tomorrow night and will be played as schedule, to the cheers of house members, do you practice every day . Typically, i dont want to give away too much, but leading up to the game, were out there early. We have been going to that field for a long time, someone would know that, they dont have to be a local. There has within reporting from
that field and practice. It could have been known. Just to just date you update you, the alleged shooter at the republican Baseball Practice is someone that volunteered on his campaign and he is sickened by this and we will continue to bring you that up. Right now the prayer is being delivered on the house floor. Paul ryan will be taking the house floor senator, well go there momentarily, stay with us, if you can, while we listen. We as americans are blessed by a free and open society with rights secured by law and the constitution. But once again, we are reminded that there is a vulnerability
that comes with that openness. May we all be vigilant in being good citizens, neighbors, and defenders of our way of life at a time when so many challenges to our way of life and government seem under siege we thank the men and women that respond to the crisis that fall before us, es earherba personal especially the Capital Police. May they be assured of our appreciation of their service. In this great silence, as we are gathered most dramatically as this assembly at the peoples house, May Republicans and
democrats be mindful of the rare companionship they share. Men and women that have taken very public responsibility for our country, that carries so many burdens and today the remind reminder of shared danger. May this day be characterized by kindness, goodwill, and compassion to one another. God bless america, and may all that is done this day be for your greater honor and glory, amen. Amen. The examination of the journal for the last days proceedings, pursuant the journal stands approved. The chair will lead the house in
a pledge of allegiance and invites the members of the gallery to join. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. For our purposes, the gentleman is recognized. My colleagues, there are very strong emotions throughout this house today. We are all horrified by the
dreadful attack on our friends and colleagues and those who serve and protect this capitol. We are praying for those attacked and for their commanders. Steve scalise. Matt mika. Special agent crystal griner. Were giving our thoughts for those being treated at this moti moment, and we are united. We are united in our shock, in our anguish, an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. I spoke with Special Agent Bailey and special agent greiner this morning. One was just finished with surgery and the other was going in. It is clear to me, based on various eyewitness accounts that without these two heros, agent bailey and eighth greiner, many lives would have been lost. I know that we all want to learn as much as we can about what happened, we just received a briefing from the sergeant of
arms. I have complete confidence in the investigation being conducted by the Capitol Police, the fbi, and local law enforcement. We want to extend our gratitude for the outpours of support that we have received from throughout the capital and from throughout the country. Knowing Steve Scalise as we all do, he is likely really frustrated he wont be able to play in the Baseball Game. I also know that he wants us to commend the bravery of those that came to the aid of the wounded. In the coming days we will hear their stories and have a chance to hold up their heroism. There are so many memories from this day that we will want to forget, and there are so many images that we will not want to see again. But there is one image in particular that this hot should keep, a photo i saw this morning of our democratic colleagues gathered in prayer this morning
after hearing the news. Every day we come here to test and challenge each other. We feel so deeply about the things that we fight for and the things we believe in that at times our emotions could clearly get the best of us. We do not shed our humanity when we enter this chamber. For all of the noise and furry, we are one family. These are our brothers and sisters in the line of fire. These are the brothers and sisters that saved count less lives. Lets slow down and reflect to think about how were all being tested right now. I ask each of you to join me to resolve and to come together, to
lift each other up, showing that were one house, the peoples house, united in our humanity, it is that humanity that will win the day and it always will. God bless, i yield. Seeking recognition. Mr. Speaker, i rise to join the distinguished speaker in paying tribute to the brave men and women of the Capitol Police force, and also in sadness for the assault that was made on our
colleagues and members of the staff. To my colleagues, you will hear me Say Something you have never heard me say before, i identify myself with the remarks of the speaker. They were beautiful remarks, mr. Speaker, thank you so much for the sentiments they represent. Thank you so much. Again, were not one caucus or the other in this house today, but we speak for each other in seeing that we send our thoughts and prayers to our colleague Steve Scalise. Personally we have our Italian American connection, so as soon as i heard his name, i was filled with concern as i would be for anyone here, but we had a special connection, so our hopes
and prayers, and i will be asking you every five minutes how is steve coming along, also zach barth, matt mika, a former staff member. Age knowledging their sacrifice and if they were not on the scene, lives may have been lost. Every day the Capitol Police protect all of us, takes risks for us, and while a day like this is a time when we can focus on it so sadly, it doesnt mean that other days are not as channelling. Especially i want to call attention to detective john gibson and Jacob Chestnut that
1988 lost their lives protecting the congress, the capitol, and not just the Members Of Congress, but the staff, the press, and our visitors. People who come to see this capitol. This great edifice around the world. It is an attraction, and that makes it all of the more risky. You may not need this, my colleagues, but every time i pray, which is very frequently, i pray for all of you. All of you together. I used to pray for your happiness. For the fact that we would, working together heed the words of President Kennedy in the closing of his inaugural address when he said gods work must
truly be our own. How do we view what gods will is for us. How do we come together to give confidence to the American People that as our founders intended we would have our decision agreements. We would debate them and have confidence in our beliefs. In more recent years, our safety, i can say that quite clearly, it has probably been the target of more threats than anyone. And so, i prayed for barack obama, and now i continue to pray for him and i pray for donald trump that his presidency will be successful, and that his family will be safe. Because it is about family. We are called for a purpose to
this body. It is a great thing and we know what it means to each of us to serve and we recognize that in others, and it recognizes that we respect you and your constituents that sent you here. So e pray, my prayer is that we can resolve our differences in a way that furthers us towards e plerbus uman. As i mentioned a minute ago in
sports are a wonderful thing in our country. One of the most unifying we like to say the arts, but sports really bring us together. The differences in opinion on politics, but when their team is on the field, people come together. So when this team was on the field practicing, in such a cay with such comradery and brotherhood, we have sisters on our team, for this person to take this action was so cowardly, so cowardly we all learn more about motivation and the rest of that, but it seems particularly sad and any violent death, of course is sad, but particularly sad that at a time when people want us to come
together, and were prepared to come together tomorrow night, that this assault wlould paid, but we cannot let that be a victory for the assailant. Wement everyone to do their very best, and we will use this occasion to bring us together and not separate us further. With that, again, i want to thank the speaker for bringing us together and again with e endless gratitude to our Capitol Police. Thank you for the opportunity to share thoughts with you on this sad day. Steve and others youre deeply in our prayers. We count the minutes until you return. Please convey that to him, mr. Speaker, thank you. In a moment, an emotional moment on capitol hill. Nancy pelosi saying an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. Were at a family, when especially on a baseball field. This is what people want, seeing members from both sides coming together and that tomorrow nights Baseball Game will continue on as scheduled. My colleague kacie hunt, who herself was out practicing for our reporters versus members charity game, that we all participate in next week on capitol hill, you were out this morning as part of our practice and went right to the hill when this happened. Tell us about the emotions of the members. That is right, and we cut our practice short. Everyone started receiving the news in various ways. And i have to tell you i was part of, as members came out, they walked in one long line, and ahead to are people that i cover every day. It is not a situation where theyre always comfortable with you. Youre a journalist, not necessarily looking out for their best interests, but in this case there is a real sense of shock. I talk to them, i come up to the capital complex to work here every day, and i think there is a sense of gratitude to them, what happened today in eve preventing it from being much worse than it could have been. A moment of bipartisan
solidarity, and shared feeling and experience. Paul ryan says an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us and i think you feel that in the halls right now. Paul ryan identified the names of the plaufss that we have, and he said we would not report them until he said so. The two Police Officers that were members of his detail, and senator jeff flaik told us just moments earlier that these are members of the detail that would not have been there if Steve Scalise was not playing today. As a part of the leadership, he has Security Detail that the average senator does not. After ten minutes, an exchange of gunfire between the detail and the shooter, that until the
all clear was sounded, it was ten minutes when he was out on the ground. Others then joined in trying to stem the flow of blood. He saw an entry wound in the left hip. I wanted to read to you one of our top investigative producers, from illinois, the home of the suspected shooter, who did die after being medivaced out, police say when they arrived, they found him with a weapon and a valid illinois firearms license. The Police Report says that hodgkinson was advised not to fire in that area. He was firing among pine trees,
still shooting. Only a few months ago at 3 06 in the afternoon. Someone that may have been practicing, doing target practice, but he had a valid illinois license. All of that is pretty shocky information. We also know from the statement bernie sanders, that he apparently for his social media, he was a volunteer in sanders campaign. Sanders acknowledges that and says he is disgusted and appalled by this Dispickble Act Of Violence and calling for nonviolence. So whatever the mental condition of this man, now that he has died, there is no way to question him, but in his condition, there was, at least
he thought there was something to address. Yes, were getting a complete picture. We mentioned the Police Incident from earlier this year. Firing 50 or 60 rounds behind his house. That is consistent with what witnesses here said they heard. The police said he was legally allowed to own that weapon. There is another half to this cocktail of violence which is another report that folks on the Investigative Team have flagged that says he was charged in the past with assaulting a girlfriend in his home. You have a note of history of violence and a note of firearms, in the woods behind your house, and draw the notice of the local authorities. You mentioned the political activity, Senator Sanders says
it is deplorabldeplorable, it s despicable. You just heard the speaker and leader nancy pelosi talk about the call for bipartisan here, the political and antirepublican leanings are being drawn into the conversation here in a twha is not likely to go away any time soon either. Yeah, he in still photos in the past has ban protester, and this will like i will be swept up through social media. I think the thing to focus on now, if they can, of course is the feelings of unity on capitol hill. I was a Congressional Correspondent in the day. And now in my role, i flow living and working on the hill, among them as a reporter how the members come