Weeks after blocking legislation that would've established a bipartisan commission investigating the January 6 Capitol Riots, Republican lawmakers continue to peddle disinformation regarding the failed insurrection's origins and execution.
That day, a mob of pro-Trump extremists—motivated by his lies about the 2020 election—stormed the United States Capitol in hopes of upending the joint congressional session acknowledging then-President-elect Joe Biden's victory.
The rioters shattered windows, beat police officers, ransacked lawmakers' offices, called for the hanging of the former Vice President, smeared excrement across the walls, and erected a gallows outside. Multiple people died as a result of the riots and two Capitol Police officers committed suicide in the days after.
But Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, in an interview with far-right Fox host Mark Levin, once again dismissed the idea that the riots were violent, pointing to footage of some Capitol infiltrators who simply walked between velvet ropes.
Watch below.
Senator Ron Johnson's Epic Rant on Fox News Falls Flatyoutu.be
Johnson said:
"I think it's extremely important to create an accurate historical record of exactly what happened so the false narrative that thousands of armed insurrectionists doesn't last. That's why I have my staff going and reviewing the relevant parts of the 14 hours worth of surveillance and we're finding out some interesting things."
With his emphasis on the importance of "an accurate historical record" of the riots, it's curious, then, that the Senator voted against the establishment of a bipartisan commission investigating them. The legislation allowed for an equal number of Republican members and granted Republican members subpoena power.
He continued to further claim the riots were "non-violent," further concluding:
"They weren't rioting. It doesn't look like an armed insurrection when you have people that breach the Capitol, and I don't condone it, but they're staying within the roped lines in the Rotunda. That's not what armed insurrection would look like."
People were quick to call him out.
\u2066@SenRonJohnson\u2069 I would invite you to watch the video feeds from inside and outside the Capitol. Apparently @FoxNews didn\u2019t show it, and won\u2019t, it would ruin the @GOP narrative. many who were there, and watched, know what happened!https://www.mediaite.com/tv/sen-ron-johnson-claims-jan-6-was-not-an-armed-insurrection-because-people-stayed-within-the-roped-lines/\u00a0\u2026— G-Ma\u2019ama (@G-Ma\u2019ama) 1623642126
@RonJohnsonWI claims people that take a dump and smear it on the walls are "just jovial"https://www.mediaite.com/tv/sen-ron-johnson-claims-jan-6-was-not-an-armed-insurrection-because-people-stayed-within-the-roped-lines/\u00a0\u2026— Amanda Chase 4 Governor (@Amanda Chase 4 Governor) 1623692685
Oh, I can't even with this guy...https://www.mediaite.com/tv/sen-ron-johnson-claims-jan-6-was-not-an-armed-insurrection-because-people-stayed-within-the-roped-lines/\u00a0\u2026— suzyaz (@suzyaz) 1623635094
I am struck dumb by Senator Johnson. He was not seeing what I was seeing!https://www.mediaite.com/tv/sen-ron-johnson-claims-jan-6-was-not-an-armed-insurrection-because-people-stayed-within-the-roped-lines/\u00a0\u2026— Steven Peterson (@Steven Peterson) 1623680773
It wasn\u2019t armed robbery. They waited in line at the bank before pulling their gun and demanding money!https://twitter.com/Mediaite/status/1404246112131768320\u00a0\u2026— Tanner Woodworth (@Tanner Woodworth) 1623671179
Some debated whether Johnson's characterization was deliberate or delusional.
Russian asset in U.S. Senate tries to rewrite history and get gullible Americans to not believe what everyone in the world saw on January 6. Kompromat on @RonJohnsonWI must be strong. #Insurrectionhttps://twitter.com/Mediaite/status/1404246112131768320\u00a0\u2026— Tim Massie (@Tim Massie) 1623669319
Imagine being an imbecile like thishttps://twitter.com/Mediaite/status/1404246112131768320\u00a0\u2026— Chris Henderson (@Chris Henderson) 1623666572
@SenRonJohnson is not dumb. He's seen the footage. He knows 5 people died. He knows 140 Capitol Police sustained serious injuries. He knows about the suicides. He knows about the indictments. \n\nThis is what pure evil looks like. Fight it. By any means necessary.https://twitter.com/Mediaite/status/1404246112131768320\u00a0\u2026— Deep State Gypsy Skittle Party (@Deep State Gypsy Skittle Party) 1623646943
pic.twitter.com/ad0ANFSHW8— All SHOULD Be Equal Before The Law (@All SHOULD Be Equal Before The Law) 1623636193
Johnson has previously promoted conspiracy theories that the rioters were secretly anti-Trump.
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