Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham slammed both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Thursday for the speeches they made on the anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot.
“What brazen politicization of January 6 by President Biden,” Graham wrote in a tweet Thursday morning, while Biden was still speaking.
What brazen politicization of January 6 by President Biden.
I wonder if the Taliban who now rule Afghanistan with al-Qaeda elements present, contrary to President Biden’s beliefs, are allowing this speech to be carried?
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
Graham expounded on his position in a Twitter thread later Thursday morning. “I still cannot believe a mob was able to take over the United States Capitol during such a pivotal moment – certifying a presidential election,” Graham wrote. “It would have been so easy for terrorists to bootstrap onto this protest and wreak even further destruction on the U.S. Capitol.”
I still cannot believe a mob was able to take over the United States Capitol during such a pivotal moment – certifying a presidential election.
It would have been so easy for terrorists to boot strap onto this protest and wreak even further destruction on the U.S. Capitol.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
“Regardless of the reason for the assault on the Capitol, to lose control in such a fashion twenty years after 9/11 is stunning,” Graham added.
Regardless of the reason for the assault on the Capitol, to lose control in such a fashion twenty years after 9/11 is stunning.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
“Those who defiled the Capitol on January 6 are being prosecuted, as they should be,” Graham continued. “I have consistently condemned the attack and have urged that those involved be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Those who defiled the Capitol on January 6 are being prosecuted, as they should be.
I have consistently condemned the attack and have urged that those involved be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
“I hold the same views of those who attacked the federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon and committed other acts of violence throughout our nation,” he added.
I hold the same views of those who attacked the federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon and committed other acts of violence throughout our nation.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
“Those responsible for Capitol security including our political leaders must also be held accountable,” Graham went on. “We still do not know who planted pipe bombs on Capitol Hill the night of Jan 5. We still do not know why our Capitol was not adequately defended before President Trump spoke.”
Those responsible for Capitol security including our political leaders must also be held accountable.
We still do not know who planted pipe bombs on Capitol Hill the night of Jan 5. We still do not know why our Capitol was not adequately defended before President Trump spoke.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
“We owe a great debt of gratitude and appreciation to the Capitol Police officers who bravely risked their lives to protect the Capitol,” Graham continued. “They were placed in a terrible position, without adequate reinforcements, but did their best to protect an overwhelmed Capitol.”
We owe a great debt of gratitude and appreciation to the Capitol Police officers who bravely risked their lives to protect the Capitol.
They were placed in a terrible position, without adequate reinforcements, but did their best to protect an overwhelmed Capitol.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
Graham closed the thread by condemning Biden and Harris’s speeches as overt attempts to politicize the events of January 6 in order to buoy their floundering approval ratings and ram through a pair of Democratic-backed election overhaul bills. “President Biden and Vice President Harris’s speeches today were an effort to resurrect a failed presidency more than marking the anniversary of a dark day in American history,” Graham wrote.
Finally, President Biden and Vice President Harris’s speeches today were an effort to resurrect a failed presidency more than marking the anniversary of a dark day in American history.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
“Their brazen attempts to use January 6 to support radical election reform and changing the rules of the Senate to accomplish this goal, will not succeed.”
Their brazen attempts to use January 6 to support radical election reform and changing the rules of the Senate to accomplish this goal, will not succeed.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
“The so-called voting rights acts they are pushing are a liberal Democrat federal takeover of our election systems which constitutionally reside with the states,” Graham said of the election bills, which Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is attempting to amend the filibuster in order to pass on a party-line basis.
The so-called voting rights acts they are pushing are a liberal Democrat federal takeover of our election systems which constitutionally reside with the states.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
“The Biden Presidency, one year after January 6, is in free fall not because of the attack on our Capitol, but because of failed policies and weak leadership,” Graham concluded.
The Biden Presidency, one year after January 6, is in free fall not because of the attack on our Capitol, but because of failed policies and weak leadership.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 6, 2022
“The Biden Administration seems to be incapable of dealing with the challenges America faces, and their efforts to politicize January 6 will fall flat.”