On January 6, fueled by former President Donald Trump's lies that the presidential election was "stolen," a mob of pro-Trump extremists stormed the United States Capitol, upending the joint session to nationally certify Biden's victory, resulting in the deaths of at least five people.
The riots resulted in the historic second impeachment of then-President Trump a week later, with 10 House Republicans voting in favor, making it the most bipartisan impeachment in American history.
But two weeks and one new President later, Republicans are scrambling to minimize the fallout from the failed insurrection, claiming that a Senate trial against a former President is futile and that the United States should just move on.
Trump's former Ambassador to the United Nations and a favorite for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, Nikki Haley, is one such Republican.
In an interview with far-right Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Haley criticized the efforts to hold Trump accountable for his part in inciting the riots.
Haley said:
"The actions of the President post-Election Day were not great. What happened on January 6 was not great. Does he deserve to be impeached? Absolutely not. ... Now they're going to turn around and bring about impeachment yet they say they're for unity... I mean at some point I mean give the man a break. I mean move on."
Haley's characterization of the failed insurrection as "not great" was considered a gross understatement.
Her remarks were roundly rebuked.
The Senate trial of former President Donald Trump is expected to begin this week.
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