In the past, Republicans sought to equate the predominantly white crowd of rebels with multiracial crowds that protested police brutality against black Americans during the summer.
New evidence from federal prosecutors shows that there was a contingent of white supremacists among the protesters during the January 6 uprising, as well as extremist militias and paramilitary groups. The insurrection left several people dead and hundreds of people were charged in connection with the January 6 events.
Johnson’s comments sparked outrage among Democratic lawmakers.
Representative Mark Pocan, who is from Wisconsin, Johnson, told Johnson in a tweet on Saturday morning, saying the comments were “seriously embarrassing for our state”.
“We have moved from simply old prayers and extremist speeches to extremist and racist prayers,” said Pocan.
MP Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) Called Johnson’s comments “impressive” on MSNBC on Saturday morning, saying the violent crowd showed that “white supremacy is a threat to the lives of all Americans and to our democracy “.
“Damn comment, but certainly not surprising,” said Pressley.
Representative Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) Questioned Johnson’s apparent lack of fear in a tweet on Friday.
“I reviewed many of the videos and statements that we sent out during the impeachment trial. The crowd murdered a policeman and wounded 140 other policemen, ”wrote Lieu. “They would have hurt you if they laid hands on you. That’s why the senators went into hiding that day. Remember?”
Johnson’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
In the interview, Johnson also falsely claimed that the armed uprising was not an armed uprising.
Police officials said they had found weapons and bombs against the protesters. Protesters shouted “Hang Mike Pence”, held up a noose, carried ties, and, among other things, some faced gun charges related to the insurrection, including assaulting a police officer with a dangerous weapon.
Johnson also defended the conspiracy theory that outside provocateurs were part of the disturbances, a statement that Trump supporters often make.
FBI director Christopher Wray said at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that “there is no evidence” that Antifa played any role in the insurrection.