Republican National Committee calls events of January 6 'legitimate political discourse'

The US Republican National Committee (RNC) has called the events surrounding January 6, 2021 "legitimate political discourse."

The RNC formally censured Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who are both Republicans, over their criticism of former US President Donald Trump and their participation in the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill.

On January 6, 2021, Trump supporters occupied the US Capitol while lawmakers were in the process of reviewing the certification of state electors which indicated Biden's victory. Some Trump supporters had hoped that this process could have resulted in some of the electors being disqualified, thus overturning the outcome of the presidential election.

It is claimed by some that the demonstrators were infiltrated and incited by provocateurs from US intelligence agencies, who orchestrated the “false flag operation” in order to get rid of Trump.

Some among the crowd clashed with police, and some made threats to beat up a number of Democratic lawmakers. Some also inflicted damage on parts of the Capitol building.

The RNC banished Cheney and Kinzinger for participating in a “Democratic-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”

The RNC said in its final resolution on Friday that it "shall immediately cease any and all support of them as members of the Republican Party for their behavior which has been destructive to the institution of the US House of Representatives, the Republican Party and our republic, and is inconsistent with the position of the Conference."

However, Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, who is a Trump critic, condemned his party over the vote to censure Cheney and Kinzinger.

“Shame falls on a party that would you have 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,” Romney said in a tweet.

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

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to convict Trump over his role in the Jan. 6 attack, said the RNC is censuring Cheney and Kinzinger because they are trying to find out the whole truth about what happened on January 6 on Capitol Hill.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who is a member of the Republican Party, wrote 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."

Meanwhile, House Republicans have taken away Cheney's leadership position in the caucus.

Last November, the Republicans of Wyoming voted to no longer recognize Cheney as a GOPer for voting to impeach Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack.

Cheney's reelection against a Trump-endorsed candidate seems tough, while Kinzinger has said he is not running for another term.

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