House lawmakers who were whisked to safety when a violent mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol were filmed bickering over masks as they hunkered down in a safe room.
Video of Republican representatives refusing to cover their faces emerged as the Capitol's attending physician Dr Brian Moynihan on Sunday issued a warning to all lawmakers that they may have been exposed to a person infected with coronavirus during the lockdown.
Moynihan wrote that 'many members of the House community were in protective isolation in the large room - some for several hours' on Wednesday while dozens of pro-Trump insurrectionists laid siege on the Capitol building.
He said 'individuals may have been exposed to another occupant with coronavirus infection'. He did not disclose any details about the infected individual, but they are believed to be a House member or staffer as the room was highly restricted.
The video from inside the room, obtained by Punchbowl News, showed several Republican lawmakers not wearing masks - including Reps Andy Biggs (Arizona), Michael Cloud (Texas), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia), Markwayne Mullin (Oklahoma) and Scott Perry (Pennsylvania).
Democratic Rep Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, who was walking around handing out masks, repeatedly asked those in the maskless group to take one, but they brushed her aside.
House lawmakers who were whisked to safety when a violent mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol were filmed bickering over masks as they hunkered down in a safe room
Video showed several Republican lawmakers not wearing masks - including Reps Andy Biggs (seated right), Marjorie Taylor Greene (left) and Markwayne Mullin (center)
Reps Andy Biggs, Michael Cloud and Scott Perry (seated, left to right) were identified among the Republican lawmakers who refused to wear masks
Dozens of House members were whisked to the secure location after pro-Trump insurrectionists stormed the Capitol on Wednesday (pictured). On Sunday, the Capitol's attending physician Brian Moynihan announced that House lawmakers were exposed to a person with COVID-19 while they were in the safe room
The news of lawmakers being exposed to the virus comes amid fears that Wednesday's riots could become a major super-spreader event, as most of the participants were without masks
Many members of Congress - but not all - have already received at least the first of two doses of coronavirus vaccines, after it was made available to them just before Christmas. Some congressional staffers also received the vaccine.
The news of lawmakers being exposed to the virus comes amid fears that Wednesday's riots could become a major super-spreader event, as most of the participants were seen without masks.
America's daily COVID-19 death toll breached 4,000 for the first time the day after the riots, but experts say it could be up to two weeks before the true transmission effects of the incident become clear.
Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned on Friday: 'You have to anticipate that this is another surge event.'
'Then these individuals all are going in cars and trains and planes going home all across the country right now,' Redfield added. 'So I do think this is an event that will probably lead to a significant spreading event.'
Members of Congress are pictured rushing to evacuate the House Chamber as protesters attempted to enter on Wednesday
Trump is now facing impeachment after having incited supporters who were rallying near the White House before they marched to the Capitol.
The House could vote on impeachment in a matter of days, less than two weeks before Democratic President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20.
A Capitol Police officer died after he was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher as rioters descended on the building and many other officers were injured.
A woman from California was shot to death by Capitol Police and three other people died after medical emergencies during the chaos.
Authorities on Sunday announced the death of a 51-year-old Capitol Police officer.
Two people familiar with the matter said the officer's death was an apparent suicide.
Officer Howard Liebengood had been assigned to the Senate Division and was with the department since 2005. He is the son of a former Senate sergeant-at-arms.
It was not clear whether his death was connected to Wednesday's events.
The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Lawmakers cower in fear as protesters try to break down the doors of the House Chamber
Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber
Lawmakers were urged to put gas masks on as police fired tear gas to stop the protesters
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