Topline
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) labeled Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) “evil” for his response to a bomb threat that prompted a five-hour standoff at the Capitol on Thursday – the latest flare up of persistent internal tensions within the GOP in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Key Facts
Brooks, who is running for U.S. Senate as a staunch Trump ally, said in a statement that while “the terrorist’s motivation is not yet publicly known,” he understands “citizenry anger directed at dictatorial Socialism and its threat to liberty.”
Brooks decried as “far too common” violence and threats targeting U.S. political institutions, instead urging people to vote Republican in the 2022 and 2024 elections because “America’s future is at risk.”
North Carolina resident Floyd Ray Roseberry, who was arrested Thursday afternoon after threatening to detonate an explosive device outside the Library of Congress, posted videos to social media critical of President Joe Biden and Democrats.
Kinzinger, who has often been critical of his right-wing colleagues, tweeted “Evil” in response to Brooks’ statement, adding in a followup tweet that GOP leaders in Congress must decide if they want members “stoking sympathy for domestic terrorists.”
The incident sent a shockwave through a Capitol community still reeling from the riot, with police evacuating multiple office buildings and homes in the vicinity of the Library of Congress as they negotiated with Roseberry.
Key Background
Brooks is being sued by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) for comments he made at a rally outside the White House shortly before hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. “Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass,” Brooks said – comments Swalwell’s lawyers say were “highly inflammatory” and “intended … to be taken literally.” The Department of Justice last month declined to defend Brooks in the suit and rejected his claims that he was acting in his official capacity when he gave the speech.
Tangent
While Roseberry expressed support for former President Donald Trump in his videos, and his wife told NBC Washington he voted for Trump, Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said his personal life may have been a factor in the incident as well. “We do know that Mr. Roseberry has had some losses of family. I believe his mother recently passed away,” Manger said at a press conference, adding that Roseberry’s family revealed “other issues that he was dealing with.”
What To Watch For
The Capitol complex appears to be safe after Capitol Police gave staffers the all clear to return to a House office building that was evacuated earlier in the day. Manger said there was “no indication” Roseberry acted with co-conspirators but stressed that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
"colleague" - Google News
August 20, 2021 at 04:59AM
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GOP Rep. Kinzinger Blasts Republican Colleague Brooks’ Response To Capitol Bomb Threat As ‘Evil’ - Forbes
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