Lori Vinson was among those who breached security lines at the Capitol on January 6, storming building and temporarily halting the tallying of Electoral College votes to ratify President-elect Joe Biden’s win in the November 3 presidential election.
The rioters, many of whom wore Donald Trump paraphernalia, vandalized offices and clashed with the police, leaving five people, including a police officer, dead.
Vinson was lost her job as a nurse with Ascension St. Vincent, a medical center in Evansville, Indiana, for her involvement.
“You know people have asked, ‘Are you sorry you’ve done that?’ Absolutely I am not,” she said during an interview with WFIE, a NBC-affiliate based in Evansville.
“I am not sorry for that, I would do it again tomorrow.”
Originally from Morganfield, Kentucky, Vinson was fired on Friday. According to WFIE, the paperwork filed from her employer stated she admitted engaging in criminal behavior at a high profile event.
Vinson, however, flatly rejected the claim.
“I participated in none of that,” she added. “I would never participate in that.”
She added: “Because I was there for a peaceful protest and that’s what I was doing. I felt like I have done nothing wrong and I wouldn’t change it.”
A Trump supporter, Vinson added that she did not feel as though she was committing a crime when she strolled into the Capitol.
“The doors were open, people were filing through, there were no signs that said, ‘Do not enter,’” she said. “There were no cops saying ‘Don’t come in.’”
Vinson added she had a 10-minute conversation with an FBI agent about her role in the protests and admitted taking videos of the riots on her cellphone, while inside the Capitol.
“I hope that is something I remember and say, ‘I’m glad I was a part of that 30 years from now,’” she said.
Vinson took her firing philosophically, saying: “I’m not mad. I’m hurt that Ascension didn’t see my worth to them,” she added.
“But I’m not upset that I stood up for what I thought was right.”
More than 40 people have been charged in federal courts for their alleged role in the riots at the Capitol and the FBI has identified over “200 suspects”.
Last week, FBI Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D’Antuono confirmed the bureau was “actively looking” to adding Capitol rioters to its no-fly list.
Implemented in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the no-fly list bars selected individuals from boarding planes in the U.S.
Meanwhile, authorities in Washington, D.C. have swiftly moved to beef up security ahead of Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
Over 20,000 National Guard members will be deployed in the nation’s capital, while public access will be prohibited and the National Mall will be closed through to January 21.
