The Southern Poverty Law Center is calling for an investigation into the role played by a group led by Alabama AG Steve Marshall in organizing a rally in the United States Capitol that became violent, resulting in five deaths and the acquisition of the United States Capitol by a pro-Trump mob.
Marshall said earlier this week that he “directed an internal review” after reports that the political arm of the Association of Republican Attorneys General – an arm led by Marshall – played a role in organizing and promoting protests around the US Capitol. Marshall said that decisions were made within that group without his authorization, but did not specify further.
The SPLC Action Fund issued a press release on Saturday saying that the Alabama Ethics Committee and the Alabama Bar Association should investigate the matter, not Marshall and RAGA.
“Attorney General Marshall’s account of his involvement in Wednesday’s insurrection is unreliable,” said Margaret Huang, CEO and President of the SPLC Action Fund, in a press release.
“He is asking the public to believe that he was completely unaware of the work of his team to organize the demonstration and the insurrectionist efforts encouraged by the unfortunate President Trump. It seems that he is lying to his constituents – the people of Alabama – and to the American public at large about the outcome of the 2020 elections and his role in the failed but deadly coup. ”
Before the violence, RAGA’s political arm, called the Rule of Law Defense Fund, launched a robotic call urging people to “march to the Capitol building and ask Congress to stop the theft,” according to the story documented, which has a recording of the call.
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday, but previously issued a statement saying that staff at RAGA’s policy agency had made unauthorized decisions without specifying what those decisions were.
“I was unaware of the unauthorized decisions made by the RLDF team regarding this week’s rally,” said Marshall. “Although I am currently making the transition to my newly elected RLDF president, it is unacceptable that I have not been consulted or informed about these decisions.
“I conducted an internal review of this issue. As I said yesterday, I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the actions of those who tried to invade the United States Capitol, a place where passionate but peaceful protesters got together and legislators debated inside. Our country was built based on the rule of law. American democracy guarantees the right to peaceful protest. Those who choose to engage in violence and anarchy must and will be held accountable to the law. “
Huang and SPLC said that was insufficient.
“Any involvement by Marshall or his organization in the US Capitol desecration on Wednesday deserves scrutiny – but not from the very people who promoted Trump’s attempt to interrupt the democratic transition. Despite Trump’s degradation in office, we can and must expect the highest level of honor and ethics from our elected officials, ”said Huang. “As a lawyer and a member of the Alabama Bar Association, Marshall vowed to comply and respect the law. Both the Alabama Ethics Committee and the Alabama Bar Association must conduct independent reviews of Marshall’s knowledge and participation in Wednesday’s uprising and, if guaranteed, impose the appropriate penalties.
“We cannot begin to rebuild our democratic systems without a complete account of how the insurrection took place and the consequences for everyone directly involved. Marshall and any other Alabama employees involved in the events must be held accountable. “