Mike Johnson Refuses to Explain ‘Clear Distinction’ Between J6 Riot and ICE Protests: ‘I’m Not Going to Relitigate’
"We're trying to be intellectually consistent about this," Johnson claimed.
House Speaker Mike Johnson asserted that there was a “clear distinction” between the ongoing protests in Los Angeles against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
On Tuesday, CNN reporter Manu Raju asked Johnson if it was hypocritical to condemn the violent protesters in Los Angeles, given President Donald Trump’s pardon of violent protesters during the Capitol insurrection.
“No,” Johnson replied, rolling his eyes. “I think there’s a clear distinction between the two.” He cited the fires that occurred during the 1992 Los Angeles riots as evidence for Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard and Marines to quell the current protests in Los Angeles.
Rajuu went on to urge Johnson to clarify: “What’s the difference?” »
“Everyone wants me to revisit January 6. I won’t. There’s a very clear distinction between the two.”
“Those who broke the law and destroyed property faced serious consequences,” Johnson added vaguely. “We’re trying to be ideologically consistent on this point.”
This exchange took place as federal forces, including Marines, were deployed to Los Angeles after several days of protests against mass immigration arrests and deportations. Johnson defended the president’s decision to deploy military forces to quell the unrest, saying, “If the Marines are necessary, we must do what is necessary… I applaud the president for that decision.”
Members of the Trump administration strongly condemned the protests in Los Angeles, calling them an “invasion” and the participants “insurrectionists.” This rhetoric and rapid military deployment—despite California Governor Gavin Newsom’s insistence that the action was unnecessary and controversial—stand in stark contrast to Trump’s consistent defense of the rioters on January 6.
On his second day in office, Trump pardoned nearly 1,500 Capitol rioters, whom he called patriots. The Capitol riot left hundreds injured, including 174 police officers, and five people killed. Deaths, including one officer.
So far, no deaths have been reported from the current protests in Los Angeles, which have been confined to about five blocks of downtown.
The National Guard was last deployed to Los Angeles in 1992, when the acquittal of white police officers caught on video beating Rodney King to death sparked a violent uprising. On the third day of the riots, amid widespread looting and arson, thousands of injuries, and dozens of deaths, the mayor and governor asked President George H.W. Bush to deploy the National Guard..
