TURNING TIDES: Another high profile Republican lays the Jan. 6th violence at Trump’s feet
Arkansas Republican Governor Asa Hutchison blames the events of January 6th on former president Donald Trump. Hutchison told a Fox News Sunday host that the twice-impeached former Republican president is “politically” and “morally” responsible for the violent events of insurrection day.
GOP Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said today that Trump is “politically, morally responsible” for the Jan. 6 riot last year and called for Republicans to do some “soul-searching” after the attack on the U.S. Capitol. https://t.co/PutKDoAuhY
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) June 12, 2022
Hutchison said in the interview:
“You can make the case, and I would agree, that he’s responsible for much of what has happened. make the case, and I would agree, that he’s politically, morally responsible for much of what has happened.”
While stopping short of placing criminal accountability on Trump’s shoulders, Hutchison does go on to say:
“I hope that the future of the Republican Party is different than [under] President Trump’s leadership. I hope we move in a different direction. I believe that what happened on January 6th is a lot at his feet.”
Hutchison’s words echo what many have said — or attempted to say — in the wake of the chaos of January 6th, Democrat and Republican alike. The violence and carnage led to the deaths of a half dozen and left over a hundred Capitol Police officers injured.
Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-KY) placed accountability on Trump’s doorstep at the time of the insurrection. In an unexpected, off-brand — but completely accurate — speech on the Congressional floor after the Capitol was cleared of insurrectionists, McConnell said:
“The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government, which they did not like.”
In another speech rebuking the Big Lie perpetrated by Trump and his sycophants leading up to the Capitol riot, McConnel said:
“Nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale … that would have tipped the entire election. Nor can public doubt alone justify a radical break, when the doubt itself was incited without any evidence.”
Mitch McConnell rebukes Trump: "This election actually was not unusually close!"
— MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) January 6, 2021
Hutchison is right when he says that the Republican Party needs to do some “soul searching.” Acknowledging and recognizing the need for Republicans to shake off the base instincts of the MAGA base, the instincts that drive their inhumanity, dishonesty, and abject cruelty. It’s something that the rest of America has become all too familiar with – and is ready to do away with.
Follow Ty Ross on Twitter @cooltxchick
