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Far-Right Rep. falsely claims 'Democratic machine' paid insurrectionists – after urging them to threaten lawmakers
January 18, 2021
U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn claims "the Democratic machine" paid the Capitol insurrections who attempted a coup on January 6 to overt urn the election, after having told Trump supporters to "lightly threaten" lawmakers. The North Carolina freshman Republican made his false claim in the middle of the insurrection, when he took the time to call in to the radio show of a top Trump ally, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
“I believe that this was agitators strategically placed inside of this group — you can call them antifa, you can call them people paid by the Democratic machine — but to make the Trump campaign, the Trump movement, look bad," said Congressman Cawthorn, a far right grenade thrower who has already aligned himself with the QAnon crop of incoming House Republicans. "And to make this look like it was a violent outrage, when really the battle was being fought by people like myself and other great patriots who are standing up against the establishment and standing up against this tyranny that we see in our country."
<p>Barely weeks before the insurrection Cawthorn told supporters they could "lightly threaten" lawmakers.</p><p>His remarks went unnoticed until Sunday, when <a href="https://avlwatchdog.org/cawthorn-capitol-mob-paid-by-democrats/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Asheville Watchdog</a> first reported them.</p><p>"Only hours earlier," the Watchdog reported, "speaking at the Jan. 6 'March to Save America' protest in Washington, D.C., Cawthorn shouted, 'Wow, this crowd has some fight in it!' He called the protesters 'lions,' and repeatedly called his Congressional colleagues 'cowards' who were hiding in their offices."</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>“It's on," he told his followers on Twitter. </em></p><p>Here's a portion of Cawthorn's speech that day:</p><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w9FDABDlx_k" width="560"></iframe><p>Here's Cawthorn talking to TPUSA's Charlie Kirk (segment begins 4:09:16):</p><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X8a9rvwJUCw?start=14956" width="560"></iframe>
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'Homicidal' white supremacist arrested for Capitol riot after lying to parole officer about Bible handout
January 18, 2021
A self-professed white supremacist from Maryland was arrested for storming the U.S. Capitol after receiving permission from his parole officer to travel out of state.
Bryan Betancur was taken into custody Sunday after his GPS monitor placed him inside the Capitol during a Jan. 6 riot by President Donald Trump's supporters, after he told his parol officer that he'd taken part in the violent action and was paranoid the FBI was watching him, reported WJZ-TV.
<p>"At not time on or before January 6, 2021, was Bryan Betancur granted permission or authorized by rule to enter restricted grounds around the Capitol, nor did he, at any time, have authorization to assemble, display flags, or parade on the Grounds or in the Capitol building," prosecutors said in an affidavit.</p><p>Betancur, who was on probation for a previous conviction for fourth-degree burglary, had told his parole officer intended to visit Washington, D.C, to hand out Bibles with the group Gideon International, but tracking software showed he had instead left the White House Ellipse area, where Trump urged supporters to march on the Capitol.</p><p>Social media photos showed Benancur, who posted online as "bryan_patriot_1776," wearing a Proud Boys T-shirt, flashing the "okay" hand gesture used by white supremacist groups and holding the corner of a Confederate battle flag at the Capitol.</p><p>Betancur, who lived with his mother in Silver Spring, has told law enforcement officers that he's a member of several white supremacist groups and has voiced "homicidal ideations, made comments about conducting a school shooting and has researched mass shootings."</p><p>After his release from prison Betancur has allegedly interacted with "racially motivated violent extremist groups on the internet, expressing his desire to be a 'lone wolf killer,'" according to reports.</p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://w3.cdn.anvato.net/player/prod/v3/anvload.html?key=eyJtIjoiY2JzIiwidiI6IjUyMDc0NTgiLCJhbnZhY2siOiI1VkQ2RXlkNmRqZXdiQ21Od0JGbnNKajE3WUF2R1J3bCIsInNoYXJlTGluayI6Imh0dHBzOi8vY2JzbG9jLmFsLzM4VGVCSWwiLCJwbHVnaW5zIjp7ImNvbXNjb3JlIjp7ImNsaWVudElkIjoiMzAwMDAyMyIsImMzIjoiQmFsdGltb3JlLmNic2xvY2FsLmNvbSJ9LCJkZnAiOnsiY2xpZW50U2lkZSI6eyJhZFRhZ1VybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vcHViYWRzLmcuZG91YmxlY2xpY2submV0L2dhbXBhZC9hZHM%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%3D" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe></div>
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Kayleigh McEnany's MLK Day tweet faces backlash: 'Don’t you have a Confederate flag & zip-ties to hide?'
January 18, 2021
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany felt the backlash of Twitter users on Monday after she marked MLK Day with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools," McEnany wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."<br/><br/>- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left a legacy of faith, love, and equality. <br/><br/>He made America better. <br/><br/>He was a true servant of Christ.<br/><br/>Today, we honor him!<br/>— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) <a href="https://twitter.com/kayleighmcenany/status/1351167440047251456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>While many of the responses McEnany received were supportive, many more criticized her.</p><p>"Republicans hated Dr. King while he was alive, and they have been attempting to co-opt his message for years," one commenter said.</p><p>Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) also faced jeers after she quoted King.</p><p>“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy," Boebert said, quoting King's words in a tweet.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLKDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLKDay</a><br/>— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) <a href="https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1351175425884565506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>"Watching race-baiting, xenophobic traitors quote Dr. King is one of my least favorite MLK Day traditions," a Twitter user replied.</p><p>Read some of the other replies to McEnany and Boebert below.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former Sr Admin Official: “Such a lack of self awareness. She literally stood by and said nothing during an armed insurrection out of fear of her boss." <a href="https://t.co/eaf6Z3Q0ZV">https://t.co/eaf6Z3Q0ZV</a><br/>— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1351175468901425154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Watching race-baiting, xenophobic traitors quote Dr. King is one of my least favorite MLK Day traditions.<br/>— AngryANGRYGoat 🤘🐐 (@Rob_roborob) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rob_roborob/status/1351176434870591498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Yeh, you sure moved us toward that ideal.<br/>— Horn Sannity (@Horn_Sannity) <a href="https://twitter.com/Horn_Sannity/status/1351186307184263177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This make sense 😅🤣🤣😂<br/><br/>Now, don't you have a confederate flag & zip-ties to hide?<br/>— Michael Socash (@HughJassow) <a href="https://twitter.com/HughJassow/status/1351186212539801601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">No. You don't get to quote MLK. Shame on you.<br/>— Bryce Tache (@brycetache) <a href="https://twitter.com/brycetache/status/1351180569665744902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I'm surprised you have heard of him. None of his words resonated, apparently.<br/>— DangerousSnowflake (@CaveatEmproto) <a href="https://twitter.com/CaveatEmproto/status/1351174989224038413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Looks like she's always had an issue with govt, since she continuously breaks the law and then doesn't show up to court.<br/>— Steve 🌊🇺🇸🏒⛷🏕🍻 (@Smitty1648) <a href="https://twitter.com/Smitty1648/status/1351187677283033103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/p7eIi30wRo">pic.twitter.com/p7eIi30wRo</a><br/>— Danny_R (@Amantegi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Amantegi/status/1351177883558014986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Quoted by the young woman who skipped out on a court appointment she was to attend, the woman who seems to think consequences only apply to certain people?<br/>— Jeremy_Hugh (@jeremy_hugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeremy_hugh/status/1351177204747694085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Republicans hated Dr. King while he was alive, and they have been attempting to co-opt his message for years.<br/>— Lauren Boebert Can Eat a Bag of Dicks (@BlackPeter79) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlackPeter79/status/1351177252696956931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The audacity you have to quote Martin Luther King Jr when you lead a white supremacist movement to overturn the United States government less than 2 weeks ago<br/>— AmericaTheBeautiful (@Merica_Da_Beaut) <a href="https://twitter.com/Merica_Da_Beaut/status/1351176906671067142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Well ive heard it all now.. Barbie quoting MLK !!!!<br/>I think now is a good time to stop !!<br/>— Rage Against Stumpy (@RageStumpy) <a href="https://twitter.com/RageStumpy/status/1351174988326432769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Well this is shameless.....<br/>— bipolarbear (@fortressostupid) <a href="https://twitter.com/fortressostupid/status/1351169645307375622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">If you read more of his words, then you would realize you stand against the movement Dr. King lead.<br/>— Daniel Russell (@drussdamonk) <a href="https://twitter.com/drussdamonk/status/1351183828614868996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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