Screengrab.
Sen Ron Johnson (R-WI) set off a flurry of criticism after he used his time during a hearing on the Jan. 6th Capitol insurrection to read from a Federalist article that blamed the riot on outside agitators -- and not fans of Donald Trump -- and then reading into the record that the "mood of the crowd was positive and festive."
Johnson went on to add that the crowd "represented a broad cross-section of America" before adding, "some people stood out. A very few didn't share the jovial friendly demeanor of the great majority -- some obviously didn't fit in."
His comments immediately received furious pushback on Twitter with one former RSC official calling the Wisconsin Republican a "national embarrassment."
You can read a sampling below:
@atrupar There is no end to the sedition Ron Johnson will commit if it protects him and his pals. He cares not a wh… https://t.co/cqgQpnq7SS— Cliff Schecter (@Cliff Schecter) 1614100135.0
@Strandjunker Yep, that was just what Mike Pence & Karen Pence were thinking... "What a festive crowd!"..... https://t.co/OzOVqs4ttl— 🇺🇸PatsLadi99 #TeamJustice 🇺🇸😷🏈🌏🗽⛵🍀✌ (@🇺🇸PatsLadi99 #TeamJustice 🇺🇸😷🏈🌏🗽⛵🍀✌) 1614100857.0
Republican Ron Johnson just finished reading excerpts from a column that blamed the insurrection on antifa, saying… https://t.co/cnrpAFSeaf— Kyle Griffin (@Kyle Griffin) 1614099616.0
Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson‘s sycophantic performance at today’s hearing on the January 6 insurrection is a total… https://t.co/iBYmrHpZSN— Hakeem Jeffries (@Hakeem Jeffries) 1614099921.0
Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson‘s sycophantic performance at today’s hearing on the January 6 insurrection is a total… https://t.co/iBYmrHpZSN— Hakeem Jeffries (@Hakeem Jeffries) 1614099921.0
@SenRonJohnson called the rioters at the Capitol a “festive crowd.” Jesus fucking Christ.— IrishDem ❄️🌊 (@IrishDem ❄️🌊) 1614099938.0
@VickyPJWard @NastyWoman007 That’s weird because @SenRonJohnson says all were positive & festive & jovial. 👇🏽 https://t.co/DwekZJQZ6m— WW🌼Reunite Families💔vote BLUE! (@WW🌼Reunite Families💔vote BLUE!) 1614099586.0
@igorvolsky It’s so frustrating that there are never any consequences to this behavior. He has no business being on… https://t.co/8WIJcsiUWz— HooliganPug (@HooliganPug) 1614101015.0
@amyklobuchar please respond to Ron Johnson reading in right wing blog post from a known insurrectionist. Total dis… https://t.co/LjPKf14y0z— FBNorcal (@FBNorcal) 1614100956.0
Is there a senator who can meaningfully compete for Ron Johnson's crown as America's dumbest senator? Tommy Tuberv… https://t.co/tG31FLTZvE— Ian Millhiser (@Ian Millhiser) 1614100148.0
Ron Johnson is portraying the Capitol insurrection as “festive”. What a traitor.— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@Rex Chapman🏇🏼) 1614099003.0
Reminder that Ron Johnson is a #FourthofJulyTraitor. He's been a Putin mouthpiece since he got back from Moscow. https://t.co/Uj0NPkVGYe— Greg Olear (@Greg Olear) 1614099616.0
Pro-Kremlin propagandists: the gathering was festive. Ron Johnson: the gathering was festive. But I repeat myself. https://t.co/CHxZ11cqNV— Julia Davis (@Julia Davis) 1614099616.0
Senator Ron Johnson should be incarcerated for his constant stream of propaganda and lies. Calling the insurrection… https://t.co/ox1qLqxjp4— Tom Joseph (@Tom Joseph) 1614099406.0
What broke Ron Johnson’s brain? https://t.co/IlcuMZuNwt— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@Molly Jong-Fast🏡) 1614101150.0
@rewegreatyet @atrupar It's almost as if Johnson is blatantly lying to support a bullshit narrative— Brooke Binkowski (@Brooke Binkowski) 1614100096.0
Senator Ron Johnson should be incarcerated for his constant stream of propaganda and lies. Calling the insurrection… https://t.co/ox1qLqxjp4— Tom Joseph (@Tom Joseph) 1614099406.0
@kurtbardella How the people of Wisconsin voted for this man is incomprehensible.— Gina Sacco 🇺🇸 🌊🌊 (@Gina Sacco 🇺🇸 🌊🌊) 1614100343.0
🤦♀️ Festive? strains credulity...and begs the question: what is Ron Johnson hiding? https://t.co/aOMmdkFK5Y— Peggy Gelsi (@Peggy Gelsi) 1614101647.0
Awwww. Ron Johnson says the insurrectionists were in a festive mood. Let's just forget about everything. https://t.co/KTLmovXoG3— ☆ Nickie Kimmel 🇺🇸☆ (@☆ Nickie Kimmel 🇺🇸☆) 1614099052.0
The douchenozzlery is strong with Ron Johnson https://t.co/br6aIZjDbH— Jeff Timmer (@Jeff Timmer) 1614100063.0
Put on your tin foil hats...here is Senator Ron Johnson...justifying January 6th with his mystery witness...redirec… https://t.co/wBPhVoVWQj— Jeff Hendrick (@Jeff Hendrick) 1614099420.0
@RexChapman Ron Johnson thinks that violence, beatings and murder are part of being "festive"? Does he watch the "P… https://t.co/36HVSE4RbK— Glenn N. Smith (@Glenn N. Smith) 1614099584.0
Is it just me or is Ron Johnson batshit crazy? He's reading an article that some guy wrote that said the protesters… https://t.co/38JTdIzodv— MarianeTweets (@MarianeTweets) 1614098970.0
You have to hit yourself in the head with a hammer an awful lot of times to be as dumb as Senator Ron Johnson.— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!) 1614099301.0
Sen. Ron Johnson’s argument seems to be that the Jan. 6th rioters were good, pro-police people, and the Capitol Pol… https://t.co/HSP2VVXBLY— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1614099177.0
