GOP Congressman Says Capitol Rioters Were ‘Peaceful Patriots’
GOP Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona on Wednesday stood up for the insurrectionists who stormed the United States Capitol on January 6th, describing them as “peaceful patriots” and whining that they are being “harassed” by Justice Department investigators.
Gosar is one of dozens of House Republicans who is still loyal to former President Donald Trump and continues to peddle the “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen, even though no evidence of fraud exists.
“Madam Chairwoman, my constituents demand answers, but the truth is being censored and covered up. As a result, the DOJ is harassing – is harassing peaceful patriots across the country. Without accurate answers, conspiracies continue to form,” Gosar said before launching an attack on Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), whose name he mispronounced.
“Russia hoax promoter, riot enabler, and Washington State Representative Pramala [sic] Jayapal, who objected to the electors in 2016 without the required support of a Senator, filed an ethics complaint against me for following the law under 3 US Code 15, The Electoral Count Act, which she herself failed at in 2016,” said Gosar.
“Thirty-three of my Democratic colleagues even wildly speculated that Republican members of Congress gave reconnaissance tours to protesters, offering no proof whatsoever,” he continued. “I’ve repeatedly asked for the Capitol footage from before and during January 6th. Such footage could provide answers and contain exculpatory evidence regarding the outrageous accusations against members of Congress, and most importantly exonerate the many Americans who peacefully protested and never set foot in the Capitol.”
Gosar is lying. GOP lawmakers were witnessed giving tours to people who later attacked the Capitol.
Vox‘s Aaron Rupar posted Gosar’s remarks to Twitter. Watch below:
Rep. Paul Gosar offers unequivocal defense of the January 6 insurrectionists, describing them as "peaceful patriots" who are being "harassed" by the DOJ pic.twitter.com/b4Ijgvfz3V
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 12, 2021
Gosar also demanded to know why Capitol Police shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during the Capitol siege. Babbitt was part of the mob that stormed the building and was neutralized while trying to break through a window inside the structure. Her family is suing the Capitol Police for $10 million.
Gosar claimed during Wednesday’s House hearing that Babbitt was “executed” and that she was “a young lady, a veteran, wrapped in an American flag that was killed in the U.S. Capitol.”
The people have a right to know: who executed an unarmed 100lb woman at point blank range with no warnings, no commands or non-lethal force? pic.twitter.com/eTrgyhM8on
— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) May 12, 2021
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