US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Instagram Live on Monday night for an emotional broadcast during which she recounted her experiences during the January 6 Capitol riots.
She said she feared for her life when Trump supporters stormed the building. Five people died and dozens of police officers were injured during the riot.
"I thought I was going to die," Ms Ocasio-Cortez said, visibly shaken.
The New York congresswoman demanded that Republicans be held accountable for their role in influencing or encouraging the rioters.
Ms Ocasio-Cortez said calls from Republican politicians, such as Ted Cruz, to "move on" were akin to abuse.
"The reason I'm getting emotional in this moment is because these folks who tell us to move on, that it's not a big deal, that we should forget what's happened, or even telling us to apologise, these are the same tactics of abusers," she said.
"And I'm a survivor of sexual assault and I haven't told many people that in my life.
"When we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other."
In the late-night address viewed more than 350,000 times, Ms Ocasio-Cortez shared details about her movements during the riot.
-
An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of former president Donald Trump gather in front of the US Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021. Reuters -
A supporter of US President Donald J. Trump sits on the desk of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after supporters of US President Donald J. Trump breached the US Capitol security in Washington. EPA -
Police detain a person as supporters of US President Donald Trump protest outside the US Capitol. AFP -
Protesters enter the US Capitol Building. AFP -
A protester holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol Building near the Senate Chamber. AFP -
US Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
Members of congress run for cover as protesters try to enter the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP -
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP -
Congress staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police Swat teams check everyone in the room as they secure the floor of Trump supporters. AFP -
US Capitol Police stand detain protesters outside of the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits at a desk after invading the Capitol Building. AFP -
A protester sits in the Senate Chamber. AFP -
Pro-Trump protesters tear down a barricade as they clash with Capitol police during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. Reuters -
Police hold back supporters of US President Donald Trump as they gather outside the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP -
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber. AFP -
Riot police prepare to move demonstrators away from the US Capitol. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces, as they storm the US Capitol. AFP -
A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask as he protests after storming the US Capitol. AFP -
Pro-Trump supporters storm the US Capitol following a rally. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol. AFP -
US President Donald Trump is seen on TV from a video message released on Twitter addressing rioters at the US Capitol, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in the US Capitol Rotunda. AFP -
Paramedics perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient. AFP -
A wounded protester is carried on barricade as demonstrators breach the US Capital building grounds. Bloomberg -
US Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol earlier in the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. EPA -
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of the morning, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington. AP
She hid in her office bathroom after hearing a man approaching while yelling: "Where is she?"
“This was the moment where I thought everything was over. I thought I was going to die,” she said.
The man turned out to be a police officer, but Ms Ocasio-Cortez said that did not ease her fears.
“It didn’t feel right because he was looking at me with a tremendous amount of anger and hostility," she said.
The officer told her to run to another building, but did not tell her which one, she said.
Ms Ocasio-Cortez ended up barricaded in congresswoman Katie Porter's office in the Longworth House Office building, with furniture up against the doors.
While hiding in the office, Ms Ocasio-Cortez changed into a pair of running shoes, borrowed from a staffer, because she had been running through the building in heels.
The effects of the Capitol riot continue to reverberate in Congress and make it difficult for some Democrats to embrace President Joe Biden's calls to seek common ground with Republicans.
Ms Ocasio-Cortez last week exchanged angry tweets with Mr Cruz when he said he agreed with her comments about recent stock market volatility.
"I am happy to work with Republicans on this issue where there's common ground, but you almost had me murdered three weeks ago so you can sit this one out," she wrote.
