A photo has emerged online showing Republican congressman Andrew Clyde, who claimed “there was no insurrection” and compared US Capitol rioters to “tourists”, barricading the House chamber during the deadly attack.
“The Rep. Clyde news reminded me of this,” Roll Call photographer Tom Williams tweeted this week, and included a picture of the Georgia congressman in a group of eight men pushing a piece of furniture against doors to the chamber.
Clyde on Wednesday dismissed the actions of the pro-Trump mob who stormed the Capitol on 6 January as “a normal tourist visit”. The violent attack left five dead including one police officer.
“As one of the members who stayed in the Capitol, and on the House floor, who with other Republican colleagues helped barricade the door until almost 3pm from the mob who tried to enter, I can tell you the House floor was never breached and it was not an insurrection,” Clyde told the House Oversight Committee
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Clyde’s remarks were slammed by lawmakers and law enforcement experts. Fred Wellman, the executive director of the Lincoln Project and a former commanding officer of US forces in Iraq, wrote: “How craven is Rep. Clyde to say there was no insurrection?”
“He helped barricade the doors from the ‘tourists.’ They know lying to the MAGA mob equals money. That’s all that matters.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also fired back, pointing out the death threats against her and former vice president Mike Pence, during a press conference on Wednesday.
“Well, I don’t know a normal day around here where people are threatening to hang the vice president of the United States or shoot the Speaker in the forehead,” said Ms Pelosi, as CBS reported. “I don’t consider that normal.”
Hundreds of people responded on Twitter to the photo of Mr Clyde barricading the door.
“It’s a well known fact that it is a time honored tradition to barricade doors when tourists are strolling nearby,” tweeted one user, Robin Messing .
Another user, Vivian Hasch, tweeted: “Do Georgians always barricade doors against normal, everyday tourists?”
Check the image below and some of the reactions from Twitter users.
The Rep. Clyde news reminded me of this:
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 6: Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., second from top left, helps barricade the House chamber door as rioters disrupt the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021. pic.twitter.com/ewizgiuwLn
— Tom Williams (@pennstatetom) May 15, 2021
@Rep_Clyde if nothing bad happened on January 6th, why are you helping to barricade the door from the insurrectionists? Did you bump you head that day that prevents you from remembering what actually happened?
— Diane Rosen (@DianeRosen16) May 15, 2021
It's a well known fact that it is a time honored tradition to barricade doors when tourists are strolling nearby.
— Robin Messing (@RobinSMessing) May 15, 2021
Or this. That noose looks touristy. pic.twitter.com/qWY47yEyNV
— Democracy 4 All 😷💛 (@goodbye56789) May 15, 2021
Tourist: Is this where we get the tickets for the first showing of the certification of the Electoral College Vote?
Ticket Agent: We regret the inconvenience, Sir, but we expect to be taking an extended dinner break before the next showing. pic.twitter.com/TNyrp8hhBI
— Be Kind (@BeKind11361044) May 15, 2021
Ticket Agent: Dude, aren’t you on this shift?
Rep. Clyde: Dude, I’m wiped. I just need a minute.
Ticket Agent: Dude. Didn’t you serve on 3 combat deployments as a Navy officer?
Rep. Clyde: These tourists are just freaking me out. pic.twitter.com/QapCHAnqdz
— Be Kind (@BeKind11361044) May 15, 2021
So….. He's helping to barricade the door to prevent "tourists" from entering.
I see, I see.
Isn't the objective of tours to allow tourists to roam where publicly allowed.
— tellthetruth (@9_tellthetruth) May 15, 2021
In case people have a difficult time picking him out, or in case he can't find himself either, I went ahead and highlighted him. pic.twitter.com/LXsFrVe8x4
— JJ Hershey (@hershey_jj) May 15, 2021
