On Tuesday, a somber silence surrounded the US Capitol as Republican lawmakers remained largely silent on the fifth anniversary of the January 6 insurrection. The day marked a significant omission from Republicans, who had hoped to use this occasion to distance themselves from Donald Trump's tumultuous presidency.
In contrast, Democrats seized the opportunity to condemn Trump and his actions following the violent attack that left nine people dead and dozens injured. They criticized Trump for pardoning almost 2,000 individuals convicted or charged in connection with the insurrection, many of whom were accused of serious crimes before January 6. The House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, denounced these pardons as a "Trump-inspired crime spree" that undermines public safety.
Former US Capitol police officer Winston Pingeon was among those who spoke out about the violence, describing being attacked by rioters who claimed Trump sent them. He condemned President Biden's pardon of criminals who severely beat him and his fellow officers.
The event also saw a small group of protesters gather near the Capitol in solidarity with those involved in the insurrection. Some of these individuals wore shirts indicating they had received pardons, while others expressed remorse for their actions. Among them was Pam Hemphill, a rioter who refused her pardon, and Enrique Tarrio, the former national leader of the Proud Boys group.
As controversy surrounds a plaque honoring US Capitol officers who responded to the attack, Democrats continued to push for its installation. However, Republican lawmakers have yet to fulfill their legal requirement to put it up.
Criticism from Republicans has been limited, with some acknowledging that Trump's actions were problematic but others avoiding direct condemnation of his policies. The anniversary marked a missed opportunity for Republicans to distance themselves from the damage inflicted by Trump on January 6 and to reaffirm their commitment to democracy.
In contrast, Democrats seized the opportunity to condemn Trump and his actions following the violent attack that left nine people dead and dozens injured. They criticized Trump for pardoning almost 2,000 individuals convicted or charged in connection with the insurrection, many of whom were accused of serious crimes before January 6. The House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, denounced these pardons as a "Trump-inspired crime spree" that undermines public safety.
Former US Capitol police officer Winston Pingeon was among those who spoke out about the violence, describing being attacked by rioters who claimed Trump sent them. He condemned President Biden's pardon of criminals who severely beat him and his fellow officers.
The event also saw a small group of protesters gather near the Capitol in solidarity with those involved in the insurrection. Some of these individuals wore shirts indicating they had received pardons, while others expressed remorse for their actions. Among them was Pam Hemphill, a rioter who refused her pardon, and Enrique Tarrio, the former national leader of the Proud Boys group.
As controversy surrounds a plaque honoring US Capitol officers who responded to the attack, Democrats continued to push for its installation. However, Republican lawmakers have yet to fulfill their legal requirement to put it up.
Criticism from Republicans has been limited, with some acknowledging that Trump's actions were problematic but others avoiding direct condemnation of his policies. The anniversary marked a missed opportunity for Republicans to distance themselves from the damage inflicted by Trump on January 6 and to reaffirm their commitment to democracy.
What's up with Reps being so mum on this one? It's like they're trying to sweep it under the rug. I get that some of them still gotta navigate Trump's toxic legacy, but at least have some decency in condemning the violence and whatnot. Instead they're too busy playing politics and letting the Proud Boys and insurrectionists off scot-free 
. It's just so frustrating to see them not owning up to their party's role in perpetuating this toxic rhetoric and enabling these extremists. The only ones who seem to care are the Dems, as per usual 
. And can we please get a plaque up already?! This is getting old... 
. Once you've taken a stand, there's no turning back.
. By not speaking out against Trump, Republicans may have missed an opportunity to show their commitment to democracy and distance themselves from his damaging policies.
. The silence from Republicans on this anniversary of the January 6 insurrection is a stark reminder that some people will prioritize politics over principle and put their own interests ahead of the greater good.
. We can't just sit back and watch while democracy erodes – we need to take a stand, no matter how uncomfortable it may be 
.
They should be using this occasion to have a real conversation about what went down and how they're going to prevent it from happening again in the future. Instead, they're just ignoring it and letting democrats do all the talking. 
it's pretty wild how somber the atmosphere was at the US Capitol on Tuesday, considering what happened 5 years ago 
. I feel like Republicans missed a huge chance to own up to their past mistakes and move forward in a positive direction, but instead they just kinda... sat there 
. Meanwhile, Democrats were like "hey, we're not going to forget about this" and called out Trump's pardons for what they are - a major boneheaded decision 
.
. It feels like we're never going to fully get over this stuff, and it's just going to keep simmering under the surface 
. Meanwhile, Dems are out here calling out Trump for his pardons and saying that it's basically a "Trump-inspired crime spree" 
.
. It feels like they're just trying to save face instead of actually doing something meaningful 
.
. We need more people acknowledging the bravery and sacrifice those officers made on January 6 
️. It's weird that Reps are still avoiding their responsibility to put it up... 
It makes you wonder if we'll ever be able to have a honest conversation about our mistakes and learn from them. Can't help but think that's an important lesson for us all: acknowledging your flaws and taking responsibility is the first step towards growth 
. And meanwhile, Democrats are calling them out for pardoning these guys and condoning the very same behavior that led to all that chaos 
. It's like they're all just gonna sweep it under the rug and move on 
. I get that politics are complicated, but come on, somber silence? That's just weird 
. And what's with these pardons?! 
Trump's trying to rewrite history here? Give me a break! 
.
. it's just not cool that trump got most of these pardons - i mean, who gets pardoned for trying to kill people? 
.
. Republicans have been trying to move on from that dark day, but it's hard to shake off the feeling of guilt and responsibility 
.
. Meanwhile, people like former cop Winston Pingeon are still dealing with the trauma 
. It's just... ugh, can't we just talk about this stuff already? 
It's like they're trying to erase history or something. And what's with the pardons, right? It's like Trump is rewarding people for being violent and putting our country in danger 
The fact that Republicans are avoiding talking about it or distancing themselves from Trump's policies is pretty telling 
. It's like they're trying to sweep the whole thing under the rug and pretend it never happened. But we all know that's not how it works, right? #JusticeForTheCapitolOfficers #TrumpAccountability #DemocracyMatters
. at the same time, i get why democrats want to keep calling out trump's actions, 2000+ people getting pardoned after committing serious crimes on january 6 is just low 
