The events of January 6—when a mob of pro-Trump extremists stormed the United States Capitol in a deadly failed insurrection—continues to have national consequences.
Fueled by former President Donald Trump's lies that the 2020 election was "stolen" from him, supporters made their way from a nearby "Save America" rally, at Trump's request, to the Capitol, where a joint congressional session certifying then-President-elect Joe Biden's victory was underway.
Soon, rioters began shattering windows, beating police officers, ransacking congressional offices, marauding about the Senate floor, and calling for the execution of any lawmaker they perceived as disloyal to Trump.
While hundreds have been arrested for rioting at the Capitol, one notable rioter didn't just walk free—he recently joined the North Carolina House of Representatives.
State Rep. Donnie Loftis, a Republican, was sworn in this past week. In a since-deleted Facebook post around the time of the riots, Loftis wrote:
"I got gassed three times and was at the entrance when they breached the door. I spoke to many service members and we all agreed that we didn't want to be there but we had no other choice. ... My Oath of Enlistment has the phrase 'both foreign and domestic'. We didn't think it would actually be domestic."
The state's Democratic Party Chair Bobbie Richardson wrote in a statement:
"Today marks a new low for General Assembly Republicans, because instead of condemning those actions and rejecting the rhetoric that incites violence, they are welcoming a Capitol insurrection participant with open arms."
In protest, North Carolina Democratic House members walked out of Loftis' swearing-in, citing the Republican party's growing embrace of extremism.
Most of the House Democratic caucus has walked out of session tonight ahead of the seating of new Rep. Donnie Loftis, who was at the Jan. 6 US Capitol attack. #ncga #ncpolpic.twitter.com/YiM3CINKCJ— Travis Fain (@Travis Fain) 1635809132
Many in the House Dem Caucus walked out rather than participate in the seating of new Rep Donnie Loftis, an R who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection #ncga #ncpolpic.twitter.com/H12JfWyB39— Lynn Bonner (@Lynn Bonner) 1635809661
People celebrated their efforts.
Thank you. This is so appalling— ALL I WANTED WAS A PEPSI (@ALL I WANTED WAS A PEPSI) 1635851224
Thank you for walking out.— PrussianAutogyro (@PrussianAutogyro) 1635850859
@NCDemParty @GrierMartin Thank you for calling out a traitor— Wear a Mask, Don\u2019t be an Ass (@Wear a Mask, Don\u2019t be an Ass) 1635868413
Good\u2014I like to see action by Demshttps://twitter.com/rawstory/status/1455588546975354889\u00a0\u2026— Pink Freud (@Pink Freud) 1635875187
Others were infuriated that Loftis is still in a government position.
Again i say any politician involved in Jan 6 should be removed from officehttps://twitter.com/rawstory/status/1455588546975354889\u00a0\u2026— CJ Clontz (@CJ Clontz) 1635944070
Under no circumstances should anyone be sworn in that attended the Jan 6th Riot. That\u2019s equivalent of swearing in a criminal to further corrupt our government for personal gain which should never be allowed under any circumstances.https://twitter.com/hillreporter/status/1455649945504174081\u00a0\u2026— Craig Jarvis (@Craig Jarvis) 1635890203
As they should Loftis is a traitor and a criminal and his kind of filth should never be allowed in the building, mich less sit on the #ncgahttps://twitter.com/lynn_bonner/status/1455317316195995653\u00a0\u2026— Chad Nance (@Chad Nance) 1635850436
GOP Rep. Donnie Loftis was an avowed insurrectionist, and is very likely concealing the full extent of his involvement. He took part in a domestic terrorist assault by far-right extremists against the American government.\n\nAnd the NCGOP put him in our legislature. #ncpol— Carolina Forward (@Carolina Forward) 1635863155
Loftis claimed that, though he was at the door and gassed when it was breached, he was peaceful throughout the riots.
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