Ron Johnson spreads conspiracy theory stating that fake Trump supporters started Capitol riots

[NewYorkExpress]

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/23/politics/ron-johnson-january-6-capitol-attack/index.html

Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson has carved out quite a niche for himself in recent weeks: He's the guy willing to push wild conspiracy theories about what happened before, during and after the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.

Johnson has previously suggested that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (California) impeached former President Donald Trump over his role in the riot as a way to cover up her own malfeasance on that day -- although he's never actually explained what Pelosi did wrong. And Johnson said last week that he didn't believe that what happened at the Capitol was an "armed insurrection," despite ample evidence that it was.

It shouldn't surprise you one bit, then, that Johnson used his time in the first public Senate hearing on the Capitol attack to spread a single eyewitness account suggesting that there were professional provocateurs seeded in the crowd on January 6 that led the largely peaceful gathering to turn violent.

Johnson read excerpts from a piece by J. Michael Waller, which ran in The Federalist on January 14. (Waller works at the Center for Security Policy, a controversial think tank that has been accused of Islamophobia.)

In it, Waller claimed that "a small number of cadre appeared to use the cover of a huge rally to stage its attack," suggesting that these "agents-provocateurs" were a) not Trump supporters and b) were primarily responsible for the violent storming of the Capitol.

[Calthrina950]

It would be a disgrace if Johnson wins reelection next year, assuming that he runs again. Every action he takes further cements his place as one of the most extremist members of the Senate.

[politics_king]

If the Dems don't take this seat... Wow.

[FT-02 Senator A.F.E. 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

I don't understand how smooth brained you'd have to be to think that Trump supporters cultists didn't storm the Capitol. Because obviously the Qanon shaman and the traitor waving the Confederate battle flag are Democrats, right? Or am I overdosing on hydroxychloroquine?

[Hermit For Peace]

These statements are the type of cancer cells that will grow if not nipped in the bud.

So let's nip them in the bud now.

[ProudModerate2]

If the Dems don't take this seat... Wow.

If the can get a good candidate to the general, I think they have a good shot at it.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

So what does he think about all the people who were arrested and are now defending themselves by saying Trump did it? Covert ops? Crisis actors? What does he think about their family members?

[Joe Republic]

Wisconsin Republicans aren’t sending their best.  In fact, they haven’t since... La Follette?

[Thunder98 🇮🇱 🤝 🇵🇸]

Dems better get a good candidate to beat this lunatic conspiraboomer. Easily will be the most important senate race in 2022.   

[HillGoose]

vomitrocious

[Roll Roons]

What the hell is his problem?

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Wisconsin Republicans aren’t sending their best.  In fact, they haven’t since... La Follette?

Alexander Wiley wasn't bad.

[Frodo]

We should do to the conservative brand what they did to liberalism, and make it synonymous with treason, conspiracy theories, lies, and tyranny.  Make it such that no one in mainstream society will want to be identified as one.   

[SnowLabrador]

If the Dems don't take this seat... Wow.

Wisconsin is moving rightward fast, and the Democrats are experts at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I fully expect Johnson to hold on if he runs again.

[GeorgiaModerate]

If the Dems don't take this seat... Wow.

Wisconsin is moving rightward fast, and the Democrats are experts at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I fully expect Johnson to hold on if he runs again.

(ahem) The last governor's race flipped from R to D.  The last presidential race flipped from R to D. 

[7,052,770]

If the Dems don't take this seat... Wow.

Wisconsin is moving rightward fast, and the Democrats are experts at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I fully expect Johnson to hold on if he runs again.

(ahem) The last governor's race flipped from R to D.  The last presidential race flipped from R to D. 

Not to mention the Supreme Court race that Wisconsin Republicans tried to rig and expected to win

[Buffalo Mayor Young Kim]

This man sits in Russ Feingold's chair