<p>Among the lies and deflections noted by the analysis: the claim by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) that the rioters were not there for "any single reason"; the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/republicans-riot-false-accounts/2021/02/28/9230e3b6-784c-11eb-9537-496158cc5fd9_story.html" target="_blank">false claim</a> that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) blocked Capitol Police requests for assistance; the claim from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that this really wasn't any different from Black Lives Matter's "<a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/06/01/867532070/trumps-unannounced-church-visit-angers-church-officials" target="_blank">siege</a>" on the White House last year; and the claim from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) that many of the rioters were "<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/02/24/ron-johnson-capitol-riot-disinformation/" target="_blank">agent provocateurs</a>" and "fake" Trump supporters.</p><p>Even some Republicans who initially blamed Trump ultimately tried to walk it back.</p><p>"In January, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Trump "bears responsibility" for the attack. A week later, however, he said he didn't actually believe Trump had 'provoked' the mob of his supporters," said the analysis. "And in an interview that aired a day later, McCarthy found a way to both blame Trump for the riot while not really blaming him at all. 'I also think everybody across this country has some responsibility,' he said."</p><p>Ultimately, ten Republicans in the House and seven in the Senate crossed over to accuse Trump of incitement of insurrection for his promotion of far-right conspiracy theories prior to the Capitol riot, and his <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/report-trump-refused-to-call-off-rioters-during-kevin-mccarthy-phone-call-on-jan-6-100967493506" target="_blank">refusal to call off the rioters</a> until well after the destruction was underway.</p>
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