The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol concluded its fifth public hearing on Thursday and revealed that multiple Republican members of Congress – Mo Brooks (Alabama), Matt Gaetz (Florida), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Scott Perry (Pennsylvania), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia) – sought pardons in January of 2021 from then-President Donald Trump after they voted against certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 victory in the Electoral College.
Not long after the bipartisan panel recessed, Gaetz, a fiercely loyal Trump ally and proponent of the Big Lie, took to Twitter to disparage his colleagues and their historic inquiry.
"The January 6 Committee is an unconstitutional political sideshow," he wrote. "It is rapidly losing the interest of the American people and now resorts to siccing federal law enforcement on political opponents."
\u201cThe January 6 Committee is an unconstitutional political sideshow. It is rapidly losing the interest of the American people and now resorts to siccing federal law enforcement on political opponents.\u201d— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@Rep. Matt Gaetz) 1656020439
Gaetz was met with immediate scorn and mockery.
\u201c@RepMattGaetz I beg your pardon?\u201d— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@Rep. Matt Gaetz) 1656020439
\u201c@RepMattGaetz Pardon me? Traitor says what?\u201d— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@Rep. Matt Gaetz) 1656020439
\u201c@RepMattGaetz Trumpers tried to steal the country \nWhat else is there to say?\nOh yeah. They\u2019re still trying to\u201d— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@Rep. Matt Gaetz) 1656020439
\u201c@RepMattGaetz You asked for a pardon, and now the DOJ will impolitely ask you to head to your cell, Matt.\u201d— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@Rep. Matt Gaetz) 1656020439
\u201c@RepMattGaetz So matt gaetz requested a pardon as early as December for anything and everything, "basically from the beginning of time." https://t.co/PQOJvztlDL\u201d— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@Rep. Matt Gaetz) 1656020439
Greene, another stalwart defender of Trump, also reacted defensively, accusing the Committee of "spreading gossip and lies" and conducting a "witch hunt."
\u201cSaying \u201cI heard\u201d means you don\u2019t know.\n\nSpreading gossip and lies is exactly what the January 6th Witch Hunt Committee is all about.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1656023027
But her post only raised more eyebrows. She too faced severe backlash.
\u201c@RepMTG Pardon?\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1656023027
\u201c@RepMTG So, just to be clear, you're not denying that you asked for a pardon. Is that correct?\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1656023027
\u201c@RepMTG Then testify and prove your innocence. If Hillary Clinton did it, so can you\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1656023027
\u201c@RepMTG Clear it up for us. Did you ask for a pardon or not?\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1656023027
\u201c@RepMTG Mr Philbin will confirm what happened. Best come clean now, margaroni.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1656023027
\u201c@RepMTG No 'Witch Hunts' here. You tried to overthrow our Democracy and then wanted a PARDON?\n\nMeaning you knew. You don't deserve to be in our HOUSE. And if you really did ask for a PARDON you should be indicted for attempting to overthrow our elected government.\nhttps://t.co/xbFTjVKpLc\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1656023027
Brooks, meanwhile, has agreed to testify before the Select Committee.
