On Wednesday, the House Oversight and Reform Committee held a hearing to further investigate the calamitous events of January 6, when a mob of pro-Trump extremists—motivated by the former President's lies about the 2020 election—stormed the United States Capitol in a deadly failed insurrection.
As committee members posed questions to the former Acting Attorney General and Defense Secretary, Republican representatives repeatedly dismissed the severity of the attack on the Capitol.
One of the most egregious claims came from Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-GA), whose claims about the insurrection were totally at odds with reality.
Watch below.
This is Rep. Andrew Clyde (Q-GA) saying the January 6 insurrection looked like \u201ca normal tourist visit\u201d inside the Capitol. \n\nJust batsh*t crazy.\n\nHas anyone told him it\u2019s all on video?pic.twitter.com/iUtoDTneD2— Rex Chapman\ud83c\udfc7\ud83c\udffc (@Rex Chapman\ud83c\udfc7\ud83c\udffc) 1620843818
Clyde said:
"There was no insurrection, and to call it an insurrection, in my opinion, is a bold-faced lie. Watching the TV footage of those who entered the Capitol and walked through Statuary Hall showed people in an orderly fashion staying between the stanchions and ropes taking videos and pictures. You know, if you didn't know the TV footage was a video from January the sixth, you'd actually think it was a normal tourist visit."
While some videos showed attendees walking in an "orderly fashion" through the Capitol, which was closed to the public, the vast majority of the footage from that day paints a damning portrait.
The insurrectionists shattered windows, ransacked offices, smeared excrement across the walls, and attacked Capitol and DC Metro police officers, with one nearly crushed by rioters between a door.
In comments to reporters the following day, Clyde said his comments were taken out of context and claimed reporters weren't listening to him. He then walked away.
People were stunned to hear Clyde's delusional characterization of events.
i want to reiterate how crazy it is for Andrew Clyde to say this. bonkers. one of the craziest things i\u2019ve heard uttered in a dozen years covering Congress.https://twitter.com/KatyOnMSNBC/status/1392543665080438791\u00a0\u2026— Jake Sherman (@Jake Sherman) 1620865593
OMG! WE ALL WATCHED IT!https://twitter.com/katyonmsnbc/status/1392543665080438791\u00a0\u2026— Carolyn Hughes (@Carolyn Hughes) 1620850846
Rewriting history from 5 months agohttps://twitter.com/KatyOnMSNBC/status/1392543665080438791\u00a0\u2026— The Only Nicholas Hunt-Walker in Existence (@The Only Nicholas Hunt-Walker in Existence) 1620918332
Most tourist don\u2019t break windows to gain entry.https://twitter.com/katyonmsnbc/status/1392543665080438791\u00a0\u2026— lisa_goodheart (@lisa_goodheart) 1620849221
It will take about 30 seconds to watch Andrew Clyde's statement. - you should do that. \n\nThis is a sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives spouting lies that are rebutted by hours of film from every angle. \n\nLiz Cheney is correct that our democracy is in danger.https://twitter.com/KatyOnMSNBC/status/1392543665080438791\u00a0\u2026— Jim Warren (@Jim Warren) 1620906536
Don\u2019t recall smearing feces on walls during a tour to be something normal.https://twitter.com/KatyOnMSNBC/status/1392543665080438791\u00a0\u2026— Melinda Moore (@Melinda Moore) 1620899196
Social media users soon reminded him what the so-called "tourist visit" actually looked like.
The same day House Republicans removed Liz Cheney for telling the truth, a House Republican described January 6th as a "normal tourist visit." \n\nI served on Capitol Hill for 18 years. This was not a normal tourist visit.pic.twitter.com/MPAEINJ0fl— Jeff Flake (@Jeff Flake) 1620865203
\u201cYou would actually think it was a normal tourist visit\u201d https://twitter.com/rexchapman/status/1392546023080333312\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/aH0DZeM2js— danielle jones (@danielle jones) 1620846187
A NORMAL TOURIST VISIT\nFive dead, 425 arrests. @goppic.twitter.com/BkZeMOYFYK— Bombshell DAILY \ud83d\udca3 (@Bombshell DAILY \ud83d\udca3) 1620883216
Some shots of a "normal tourist visit". https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1392546023080333312\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/Ji3gYsQB9T— Gary Frank\ud83e\udd43\ud83d\udc20 (@Gary Frank\ud83e\udd43\ud83d\udc20) 1620847344
Multiple officers from that day have reported experiencing severe emotional distress. Two officers took their own lives in the days following the riots, though it hasn't been verified that the insurrection played a factor in their actions.
@michellewilliams/Instagram
@michelleiwlliams/Instagram
@rileyknoxx/Instagram
@missaries321/Instagram
@mstinaknowles/Instagram
@phinekafriend/Instagram
@terrykaye_/Instagram
@mdltrealtor/Instagram
@corrinecold/Instagram
@iamavanetergray/Instagram
@parkersiders/Instagram
@beyxkelly/Instagram
@joelmchale/Instagram
@thehouseofk9s/Instagram
@kfarley519/Instagram
@_dw06/Instagram
@xoxoblessedupxoxo/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@therealjeffreyross/Instagram
@mikeredmond/Bluesky