Appearing at a Senate Rules Committee hearing with U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger on the eve of the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection event, Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, referred to the attack as a “terrorist attack” and “unacceptable.”
Specifically, Texas’ junior senator said, “We are approaching a solemn anniversary this week, and it is an anniversary of a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol, where we saw the men and women of law enforcement demonstrate incredible courage, incredible bravery, risk their lives to defend the men and women who serve in this Capitol.”
That characterization of Jan. 6, 2021, isn’t sitting well with some of Cruz’s fellow Republicans and conservatives.
Fox News commenter Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night accused Cruz and other Republicans of “repeating the talking points that [Attorney General] Merrick Garland has written for them.”
“He described January 6th as a violent terrorist attack. Of all the things that January 6th was, it was definitely not a violent terrorist attack,” Carlson said. “It wasn’t an insurrection. Was it a riot? Sure. It was not a violent terrorist attack. Sorry. So what are you telling us that it was, Ted Cruz? And why are none of your Republican friends who are supposed to be representing us and all of the people who have been arrested – during this purge – saying anything?”
Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to former President Donald Trump, tweeted, “I’m so done with Ted Cruz.”
Some Democrats, including California’s Sen. Alex Padilla, praised Cruz while noting he was among the GOP senators who voted against certifying election results despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Cruz said he had no second thoughts about his vote to block certification.
“I am proud of leading the effort to defend voter integrity,” Cruz said.
He also said the insistence by Democrats and the media of no mass voter fraud “only inflamed the divisions we have.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.