During a Senate hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on Wednesday, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson attempted to push a conspiracy theory claiming that insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 were simply “provocateurs,” only to be shut down by Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar.
The Wisconsin Republican, who is trying hard to deflect blame for his election lies that led to the incident, has insisted that the deadly attack does not qualify as an “armed insurrection.”
“Seeking out the truth, that’s what I’m trying to do,” the senator explained, noting that he had been accused of spreading “conspiracy theories” after reading a conservative column into the record at an earlier hearing. The column used the phrase “agents-provocateurs” to downplay the role of supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Johnson again entered a news report into the record claiming that the attackers were “provocateurs.”
But Klobuchar, who was chairing the hearing, refused to let the remark slide.
“These people that were assaulting the Capitol in military gear and were pinning an officer between a door and were using bear spray on officers in the Capitol, would you title them provocateurs?” Klobuchar asked FBI Counterterrorism Division Director Jill Sanborn.
“It would all depend on the evidence behind the case,” Sanborn hedged.
“Do you think there were some very serious violent people involved insurrection?” Klobuchar pressed.
“100%” Sanborn agreed. “And there were some officers that were injured and a lot of damage was done.”
“And would you describe the atmosphere as festive?” the senator wondered.
“Absolutely not,” Sanborn said.
Watch the video below.
