On Thursday, right-wing terrorist Ray Roseberry parked his truck outside the Library of Congress—less than a quarter mile from the Supreme Court and the U.S. Capitol. He called the police then began streaming on Facebook Live, announcing that his truck was filled with enough explosives to decimate two and a half city blocks.
Roseberry demanded to speak to President Joe Biden while ranting about his healthcare and about the Biden administration's botched withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
Roseberry's social media showed support for former President Donald Trump, peppered with diatribes about transgender people serving in the U.S. Military, nonexistent election fraud, and other conservative stances.
Thankfully, negotiators were able to get Roseberry to surrender before anyone was harmed, but the right wing's embrace of extremism and nationalism that prompted the incident remains a threat.
Ironically enough, that ideology was further embraced in a statement from far-right Congressman Mo Brooks of Alabama in a statement meant to condemn Roseberry's actions.
Brooks wrote, in part:
"Sadly, violence and threats of violence targeting America's political institutions are far too common. Although this terrorist's motivation is not yet publicly known, and generally speaking, I understand citizenry anger at dictatorial Socialism and its threat to liberty, freedom and the very fabric of American society."
The Congressman claimed he could understand why Roseberry threatened to blow up government buildings in D.C.—and that's probably true.
Brooks was a substantial promoter of former President Donald Trump's 2020 election lies and the siege of the U.S. Capitol that spurred from them. Not only was Brooks the first lawmaker who vowed to reject electoral votes of swing states Trump lost, but Brooks spoke to a crowd of Trump supporters at the Save America rally just blocks away from the Capitol on the morning of the riots.
In that speech, he said:
"Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass."
Sadly, people weren't surprised to see him express empathy for the latest act of conservative violence.
They're calling for accountability for what they claim is Brooks' repeated endorsement of violent uprisings.
Brooks is currently facing a lawsuit from his Democratic colleague, Congressman Eric Swalwell of California, for his role in inciting the insurrection.
