Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

GOP State Lawmaker Claims He Left Capitol Riot When It Was 'Still Peaceful'—But Video Shows Otherwise

GOP State Lawmaker Claims He Left Capitol Riot When It Was 'Still Peaceful'—But Video Shows Otherwise
Senator Doug Mastriano/Facebook

Pennsylvania state senator Doug Mastriano claimed he left the Capitol before the riots got violent and he never passed police lines on January 6, but video and photographic evidence shows otherwise.

Mastriano's campaign chartered busses to bring people to DC for the rally, but he claimed he did not participate in the violence and he was no longer there when it broke out. Mastriano said he and his wife left the area of the demonstration "when it was apparent that this was no longer a peaceful protest."


Videos analyzed by the online group "Sedition Hunters" show not only were the Mastrianos still there when the barricades were breached, but they also ended up with a group on the northwest lawn.

You can view one of the videos showing the Republican lawmaker was still part of the crowd as the barricades are being torn down here:

www.youtube.com


Folks on Twitter were quick to point out Mastriano was still there when the police lines were breached.


Mastriano responded to the video and photographic evidence of himself and his wife still being at the capitol after he claimed they left by backtracking and saying he was there, but he respected police lines the whole time.

In a statement he sent out via email and posted to his website, Mastriano said:

"Contrary to the desperate claims of anonymous keyboard warriors, I followed the directions of the Capitol Police and respected all police lines as I came upon them."
"Even disingenuous internet sleuths know that police lines did shift throughout the course of the day. I followed those lines as they existed."

What Mastriano doesn't say is those police lines moved throughout the day because people kept destroying barriers and pushing the police back. Not because the police arbitrarily decided to move them.

The GOP legislator further claimed news outlets:

"are relying on angry partisans who are so blinded by their hatred for all things Donald Trump that they are distorting facts to manipulate public opinion."

In addition to having still been at the capitol after claiming to have left, Mastriano repeatedly espoused the belief the 2020 election was "stolen" and Donald Trump was the rightful President during the months leading up to the Capitol riot.

He also claimed he'd had multiple conversations with the former President about how to overturn the election results.

Some Twitter users called for Mastriano to be removed from office, while others called for he and his wife to be arrested for participating in the insurrection.



Mastriano's attempts to dissemble and backtrack about his claims of leaving the capitol before the riot started won't make the video evidence to the contrary go away.

All that remains to be seen is if he or his wife will face consequences for their participation.

More from News

Donald Trump
Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Trump Dragged After His New Jersey Golf Club Gets Absymal Score From Health Inspector

A new Forbes report revealed that President Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, had 18 health code violations, receiving the lowest score in all of Somerset County.

The Bedminster property is owned through a network of companies and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, from which Trump can derive income while in office.

Keep ReadingShow less
person lying on bed reading book
Dessidre Fleming on Unsplash

People Who Sleep Naked Describe The Times It Backfired—And Oof

I make it a habit to travel with nice pajamas that I don't mind having other people see.

One reason why is because years ago on a business trip to St. Louis, Missouri, one of the other hotels near where we were staying had a minor fire in the middle of the night.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kate Shaw; Josh Hawley
C-SPAN

Law Professor Bluntly Debunks Hawley's Conspiracy About Why Number Of Trump Injunctions Is So High

On Tuesday, Kate Shaw, law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, testified before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the role of the federal court system.

The Republican majority focused primarily on federal judges issuing nationwide injunctions that block the unconstitutional executive orders of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump and the Trump administration's illegal or unconstitutional actions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @joyfullykrisandra's TikTok video
@joyfullykrisandra/TikTok

Mom Slams Bakery's Epic Fail After Ordering $200 Cake For Son's Graduation Party

The time of year has come for major celebrations, especially among families with graduates in their midst.

For those who want to throw a party to celebrate, they have to prepare one of the central features: a cake.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @tallertoddlers' TikTok video
@tallertoddlers/TikTok

Woman Horrified After Accidentally Shattering Roommate's $249 Louis Vuitton Chocolate Purse

There are a few "roommate etiquette" rules we should all be able to agree to: don't use or take something that doesn't belong to you, at least without asking; don't eat your roommate's food; and honestly, don't touch their food, especially with your bare hands.

A leading rule, however, should be: If you break something that belongs to your roommate, you should replace it.

Keep ReadingShow less