There’s just no evidence at all so far that anti-fascists or fake Trump supporters played a role in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress on Tuesday.
In other words, stochastic terrorism incited by the GOP.
While we’re equal-opportunity in looking for violent extremism of any ideology, we have not, to date, seen any evidence of anarchist violent extremists or people subscribing to ‘antifa’ in connection with the 6th, Ron.
That doesn’t mean we’re not looking, and we’ll continue to look, but at the moment we have not seen that, Ron.
Later in the hearing, asked by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) if there was any evidence that the riot had been organized by people “simply posing” as Trump supporters, Wray said “we have not seen any evidence of that, Ron.
What about “antifa” or Black Lives Matter? Coons asked.
We have not seen any evidence to that effect thus far, Ron.
“ thus far,” gimme a break . . . you won’t be finding any later, either, and you should be making that clear
Can someone put Hawley out to pasture? He’s got to go.
Apparently Cotton and Wray have never heard of the Visa. Cotton thinks people are jumping on planes and flying here from Iran, Libya and North Koreans. What a Moron, Senator Cotton .
Considering his Senate seat will be up in 2024, I’m hoping he doesn’t run for Senate but the White House (and he will lose).
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) read from an article speculating that “agents provocateurs, fake Trump supporters” were behind the riot.
An article, you say? Case closed!
Whitehouse’s fuming examination about the GOP-eyes-only communications between Wray’s FBI and the Senate demonstrated why it is simply scandalous to retain Wray in this position. Biden should have sacked him right away and ordered an investigation into his decisions.
Next stop, “I heard on RWNJ Radio…”
Yup, and specifically by DT, whom Cornyn himself recently absolved. Not sure why Cornyn wanted to introduce that article.
I like that Leahy and Coons are asking it right off the bat as a straightforward question so that Director Wray can demolish it. It preempts Republicans asking it in a convoluted, bad-faith manner that would take Wray longer to answer, and with more qualifications. That’s the kind of bullshit the GOP likes to set up for the evening news clips.
It’s just not enough to say “We haven’t seen any evidence of left-wing involvement.” We need to say, “This bullshit pretense that we need to take seriously questions about antifa’s inolvement in the insurrection is, itself, part of the GOP’s larger insurrectionary scheme. It’s disinformation intended to excuse right-wing insurrectionary violence in the past and keep the path clear for more such violence in the future.”
.
Ha. Yes. “Anti-Fascists” goaded “patriots” into storming Congress. No no! Makes sense.
Antifa is not a thing. Never has been never will be. Its not some loose collection of groups etc etc. Its nothing. There is no such thing as antifa. There are ALOT of groups that are left wing, against the growth of dictatorial forms of gov’t, including fascism, and are raising their voices. This isn’t the black bloc.
Its nice to hear Wray state the obvious. Its looney tunes to know that there are people out there who will discount what he has to say out of hand. They will discount anything that anyone says that goes against their crazy belief system. Almost feels like a waste of time.
Agree with your first and third paragraphs.
But the notion that “there is no such thing as antifa” is … well … here’s one historian on the subject:
But what is antifa? Where did it come from? Militant anti-fascist or “antifa” (pronounced ANtifa) is a radical pan-leftist politics of social revolution applied to fighting the far right. Its adherents are predominantly communists, socialists and anarchists who reject turning to the police or the state to halt the advance of white supremacy. Instead they advocate popular opposition to fascism as we witnessed in Charlottesville.
[…]
Antifa are autonomous anti-racist groups that monitor and track the activities of local neo-Nazis. They expose them to their neighbors and employers, they conduct public education campaigns, they support migrants and refugees and they pressure venues to cancel white power events.
The vast majority of anti-fascist organizing is nonviolent. But their willingness to physically defend themselves and others from white supremacist violence and preemptively shut down fascist organizing efforts before they turn deadly distinguishes them from liberal anti-racists.
Senators, please ask David Wray why he never stepped up and addressed the nation in a national news conference after Jan 6th?
Why was David Wray a no show while our nation was under attack from Trump and the Republican Christian white nationalists?
OF COURSE it is disinformation, and nothing but. The GOP will ride this nag till it collapses. But as a nonpartisan law enforcement officer, Wray himself is constrained to say he’s seen no evidence of it.
You and I can say it’s bullshit, and that’s our job as citizens. Wray’s role is a little different, and public service properly understood is predicated on it.
What’s RonJon’s excuse now? Hey, RonJon, stick to what you know. NOTHING.
Did Lindsey Graham’s head explode?
You’re right about Wray’s constraints. I’m thinking more that some D Senator should ask Wray about the superabundant evidence of right-wing culpability, and then take it upon himself/herself to turn to the GOP caucus and tell them to stop pushing disinformation. Get it in the headlines, for heaven’s sake. “D Senators call GOP antifa theory disinformation, intended to cover for violence.”