'Sad Day': Meager Handful Of Republicans Criticize GOP For Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger Censure
Few Republican leaders spoke out Friday against the GOP for officially censuring Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) for serving on the House select committee investigating the biggest attack on the U.S. Capitol since the War of 1812.
The Republican National Committee called the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection “legitimate political discourse” — even though 140 police officer were injured in clashes with rioters and, to date, more than 740 people have been arrested in the attack. Seven people died during or shortly after the storming of the Capitol.
Cheney lashed out Friday afternoon with a disturbing video of the violence, adding: “This is not ‘legitimate political discourse.’”
This was January 6th.
This is not “legitimate political discourse.” pic.twitter.com/lKgbVyVcJr— Rep. Liz Cheney (@RepLizCheney) February 4, 2022
Maryland’s Republican Gov. Larry Hogan grieved on Twitter: “It’s a sad day for my party — and the country—when you’re punished just for expressing your beliefs, standing on principle, and refusing to tell blatant lies.”
The GOP I believe in is the party of freedom and truth.
It’s a sad day for my party—and the country—when you’re punished just for expressing your beliefs, standing on principle, and refusing to tell blatant lies.— Larry Hogan (@LarryHogan) February 4, 2022
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said in a statement that Jan. 6 “was not ‘legitimate political discourse’ and I’ll say it again: It was shameful mob violence to disrupt a constitutionally-mandated meeting of Congress to affirm the peaceful transfer of power.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) was confounded by the censure. “The RNC is censuring Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger because they are trying to find out what happened on January 6th - HUH?”
The RNC is censuring Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger because they are trying to find out what happened on January 6th - HUH?
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) February 4, 2022
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) pounced on his party early and hard.
“Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol,” he tweeted Friday. “Honor attaches to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking truth even when doing so comes at great personal cost.”
Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol. Honor attaches to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking truth even when doing so comes at great personal cost.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) February 4, 2022
“More important than who wins an election is that we have elections — and that we have democracies,” Romney said in an interview. “As authoritarian regimes around the world continue to gain ground, the United States cannot falter on principles of truth in our elections,” he tweeted.
More important than who wins an election is that we have elections, and a democracy, in the first place. As authoritarian regimes around the world continue to gain ground, the United States cannot falter on principles of truth in our elections. pic.twitter.com/ZoFoR4WcGq
— Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) February 3, 2022
And, so far, that’s about it from the Republican side of the aisle.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
Related...
GOP Mocked For Calling Jan. 6 Capitol Riot 'Legitimate Political Discourse'
Republican Leaders Vote To Formally Censure Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger
As Investigators Close In On Trump, RNC Hugs Him Even Tighter
Liz Cheney: Trump’s Latest Jan. 6 Comments Show He ‘Would Do This All Again’
Adam Schiff Explains Why Trump’s Pardon Promise Is ‘Very Important Evidence’
Sen. Patrick Leahy Rips Unbelievable Jan. 6 Pardon Offer By 'Two-Bit Dictator' Trump
Trump's Speech On Jan. 6 Pardons Proves How 'Unfit' He Is For Office, Warns Jen Psaki
Dangerous Trump Is In 'Burn-It-All-Down Mode,' Warns NYT Reporter Maggie Haberman
Trump Calls On Massive Protests If Prosecutors Go After Him And Offers Pardons To Jan. 6ers