Appearing on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” on Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for the Trump-fueled assault on the U.S. Capitol, accusing her of not doing more to secure the building.
Ignoring President Donald Trump’s rhetoric that inspired the violence, the South Carolina Republican expressed outrage over the deadly riot, pointed a finger at Pelosi, and called on his fellow Republicans to unite against Trump’s impeachment despite the insurrectionist attack on the Capitol, which left at least six people dead.
“I understand what happened on January the 6th was one of the low points in my time in office,” Graham told host Maria Bartiromo, one of Trump’s most vocal defenders on cable news.
“It was horrendous to see people take over the Capitol, the House and the Senate, beat officers, defile the seat of government,” he continued. “How in the hell did that happen? Where was Nancy Pelosi? It’s her job to provide Capitol security. We’ll get to the bottom of that.”
Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, slammed Graham on Twitter later Sunday in response to the GOP lawmaker’s accusation.
“This disgraceful attempt to shift blame for the mob attack on the Capitol is absurd & pathetic,” Hammill wrote. “He need only look in the mirror if he wants to start pointing a finger. He has repeatedly cast doubts on results of a fair election & dangerously fanned flames of rightwing quackery.”
The U.S. Capitol Police are, in fact, charged with protecting Congress. The force, composed of more than 2,300 officers and employees, is governed by the Capitol Police Board, which is made up of three voting members: the House sergeant-at-arms, the Senate sergeant-at-arms and the architect of the Capitol.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger have resigned their positions in the wake of the attack. However, Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, whom Trump nominated for the position in December 2019, hasn’t stepped down.
This disgraceful attempt to shift blame for the mob attack on the Capitol is absurd & pathetic. He need only look in the mirror if he wants to start pointing a finger. He has repeatedly cast doubts on results of a fair election & dangerously fanned flames of rightwing quackery. https://t.co/jsKfj0H61K
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) January 17, 2021
