House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., brushed off questions about certain GOP lawmakers downplaying the Jan. 6 violence at the Capitol.
According to The Hill, McCarthy’s comments came on Thursday during the “Back the Blue Bike Tour” held at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington. The event was a part of the National Police Week commemoration.
The Hill noted Capitol Police officers were in attendance.
McCarthy was asked by a reporter about Georgia GOP Rep. Andrew Clyde’s comments during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on Wednesday about the federal and local government response to the Jan. 6 attack.
“There was no insurrection,” Clyde said, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “And to call it an insurrection, in my opinion, is a bold-faced lie.”
The congressman also claimed that video taken during the violence looked like “a normal tourist visit.”
The Hill said that when asked about Clyde’s comments, McCarthy deflected and said: “With all due respect, I was right here with Congressman Clyde laying a wreath for a fallen officer outside of his district.”
Pressed for additional comments about Republicans who cast doubts on the severity of the violence, McCarthy acknowledged: “What happened on the 6th was atrocious.
“When I look at the rioters that came in, those people should be held accountable to the rule of law, and that’s exactly what’s happening,” McCarthy said.
The Hill noted he was also asked how he could square his insistence the day before that “I don’t think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election” with polls showing most GOP voters don’t believe President Joe Biden was legitimately elected and with former President Donald Trump continuing to maintain the election was stolen from him.
“We’re here to honor National Police Week,” he said.”There are times for politics, and there’s times for not.”
Meanwhile, CNN reported that newly obtained body camera footage shows D.C. Metropolitan Police officer Michael Fanone being assaulted while defending the Capitol during the January 6 violent protest.
CNN said the exclusive footage was captured by Fanone’s own body camera as he was outside on the Capitol steps and tased during a scuffle with the rioters. The news network said his screams can be heard throughout the early portion of the video as one protester says: “I got one.”
