Senator Murray: “You will have to excuse me if I don’t take some Republicans seriously when they make this big show about law and order at the same time they are letting this President stab law enforcement in the back.”
Once again, Republicans block Senator Murray’s one-line resolution condemning pardons of rioters who violently assaulted Capitol Police
Senator Murray: “Just this week—mere days ago—President Trump speculated about compensating people who committed crimes on January 6th—about REWARDING their violence with taxpayer dollars. Where is the outrage? Where is the condemnation?”
***VIDEO HERE***
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, took to the Senate floor to rebuke Republicans for their hypocrisy in jumping to condemn violence directed at Tesla dealerships and the richest man in the world, while refusing to condemn full and unconditional pardons for rioters who violently assaulted police officers on January 6th.
Murray’s speech came just after Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) attempted to pass, via unanimous consent, a resolution condemning attacks against Tesla. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) objected to Senator Blackburn’s resolution and in response, attempted to pass via unanimous consent Senator Murray’s resolution that simply condemns the full and unconditional pardons President Trump granted to individuals found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers. Senator Blackburn then blocked the January 6th resolution—marking the second time Republicans have blocked passage of the simple, one-line resolution expressing opposition to the pardons of violent rioters who attacked Capitol Police.
Senator Murray also sharply criticized recent comments by President Trump about providing financial compensation to January 6th criminals.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered on the Senate floor today, are below and HERE:
“M. President, I have been unequivocal in saying in this country we use our voices, and our votes—not violence—to advocate for change. I have said it many times. I will say it many times more. And I say it today.
“But you are sorely mistaken if you think I am going to sit here—feet away from our Capitol police officers—and let the Senate say we stand by the richest man on the planet, before saying we stand by the men and women who keep us safe every single day.
“Where is the solidarity for our officers here? And where—by the way—is the plaque Congress passed into law honoring their sacrifice on January 6th? Do I have to march down to Speaker Johnson’s office and put it up on my own? You can hang it on my door! You just bring the plaque, I’ll get the nails and do it myself.
“Because I am not going to let anyone ever erase this history—and I am not going to let them paper over it with outrage on behalf of the richest man in the world.
“I have no problem condemning violence, I will do that any day of the week. I condemn attacks on car owners, and salespeople. I condemn destroying other people’s personal property. This is not a new position for me.
“But you will have to excuse me if I don’t take some Republicans seriously when they make this big show about law and order at the same time they are letting this President stab law enforcement in the back.
“I am not going to let some Republicans get by selling a charade. Not weeks after they voted to freeze funding levels for law enforcement—in a bill where House Republicans slashed DC’s budget for police officers.
“Not months after Trump tried to halt COPS grants and many Republicans didn’t breathe a word about it. Not when Trump is still in the middle of firing just about as many federal law enforcement workers as he can get away with. And certainly not when some of my Republican colleagues are still ignoring how our lawless President continues to champion the very people who attacked our Capitol Police.
“Just this week—mere days ago—President Trump speculated about compensating people who committed crimes on January 6th—about rewarding their violence with taxpayer dollars. Where is that outrage? Where is the condemnation? What are some of you waiting for?
“And don’t you try for a single second to say ‘oh he’s not talking about the violent ones.’ Y’all know better—we all know better.
“Remember when you tried to say that about pardons? Remember how that worked out? Trump pardoned people who violently attacked police! They are back on the streets—except the ones who already committed new crimes.
“I don’t know how my colleagues keep forgetting what happened on January 6th. I don’t know how on earth it is not burned into their memories.
“But President Trump is talking about people who attacked this building, our offices, our staffs, our democracy. He’s talking about people who smashed windows in we walk by every day. People who brought bats and other weapons to the halls where we meet our constituents. People who beat the Capitol Police who keep us safe every day, the Capitol Police who are standing guard even now, who sit right outside this chamber!
“These are violent criminals, and President Trump is talking about them like heroes. He wants us to write them a check!
“Over my dead body, Mr. President. And I will say it again, and again, and again.
“And unlike some of my Republican colleagues—I will say it the same for people who burn Teslas and for people who smash windows in here at the Capitol.
“I’m tired of watching this; I know our constituents are. We need to demand that Speaker Johnson hang that plaque. It is not too much to ask. And I hope that this body recognize: violence is violence, and we should condemn the attacks on January 6th.”
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