On January 6 of this year, a mob of pro-Trump extremists, prompted by former President Donald Trump's lies that the 2020 election was "stolen" by Democrats, stormed the United States Capitol in a deadly failed insurrection.
Thanks to the former President, many of these extremists were so certain that their actions were patriotic, even heroic, they proudly boasted on social media that they'd taken part in the first siege of the United States Capitol by its own citizens in American history.
Many—including the impeachment managers for Trump's second Senate trial—have noted the rhetoric that inspired the insurrection was broadcast not only by Trump, but by Republican members of Congress who supported him, embracing the lie that the results of the 2020 election were illegitimate.
Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren of California made waves this past March when her staff compiled a nearly 2,000 page report documenting the public social media posts of Republican lawmakers embracing Trump's election lies and promoting veiled calls for violence.
The report includes gems like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) warning supporters that the only way they "get [their] freedoms back is with the price of blood" and Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) claiming, like many of his colleagues, that the election was "stolen."
In a recent op-ed, Washington Post opinion columnist Jennifer Rubin addressed a Republican complaint against Lofgren in response to the report.
Rubin says the complaint was filed by Congressman Earl "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) on behalf of House Republicans mentioned in the report.
According to Rubin, the complaint reads in part:
"At its core, the so-called report repeatedly violates the Commission's rules of decorum and civility by personalizing and politicizing attacks on more than 100 Members of Congress for public statements they made on social media."
Rubin also supplied a statement from Lofgren regarding the complaint:
"The Review does not violate the House of Representatives' Communications Standards Manual, which provides that Members may use official communications resources to conduct official business that relates directly or indirectly to congressional functions and Federal issues of public concern. To the contrary, this Review is critical to our obligations to the Constitution and our understanding of the House's responsibilities under the 14th Amendment."
It continues:
"If there are screenshots of and/or links to communications that are 'disparaging,' including 'personal insults, ad hominem attacks or attacks on a person's character,' those communications were made by the Members of Congress listed, not by me, and the Complainant could properly address his concerns to those Members."
Like Lofgren and Rubin, social media users aren't paying much heed to the Republican misgivings.
Several praised Congresswoman Lofgren for compiling the report and for dismissing the complaint.
If Wyoming Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney's imminent oust from GOP leadership for noting the 2020 election's validity is any indication, Republican election lies are here to stay.
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