/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SZE7HP2X7ZBORC3QXBGBNNSJ7E.jpg "U.S. Capitol Police hold protesters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)")
TALLAHASSEE — For weeks, prominent Republican lawmakers in Florida were silent while President Donald Trump spread baseless conspiracy theories about the presidential election he lost.
On Wednesday, while Congress debated whether to certify the states’ election results, a Trump-supporting mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. At least one person was injured as scores pushed past a police barrier, and entered the historic building.
As the violent scene unfolded, the same Republicans who failed to push back against the president’s lies condemned the people who acted on Trump’s behalf. Here’s what they said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who suggested in November that state legislatures could overturn the election results:
“Violence or rioting of any kind is unacceptable and the perpetrators must face the full weight of the law. The Capitol Police do an admirable job and I thank them for their hard work.”
Last summer, when thousands of protesters took to Washington, D.C. to protest police violence — some of the gatherings included looting and property damage — Florida sent 500 national guard members to the district to assist the law enforcement effort. On Wednesday, a spokeswoman for DeSantis said “We are not aware of any requests” for national guard deployment, “but certainly would offer support if needed.”
Sen. Marco Rubio, who did not say whether he planned to vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory Wednesday:
Sen. Rick Scott, who said he most likely planned to vote against the certification of election results from Pennsylvania:
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who signed Florida onto Texas’ ill-fated Supreme Court challenge of the election results:
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Explore all your optionsU.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who planned to object to the certification of electoral college results Wednesday:
U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, who planned to object to the certification of electoral college results Wednesday:
“Violence has no place in our politics. This needs to stop now!”
U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, who planned to object to the certification of electoral college results Wednesday:
U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, who planned to support objections to the electoral college results Wednesday:
“We’re now being evacuated ... this is despicable. This is not who we are as a country.”
U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, who supported Texas’ ill-fated Supreme Court challenge of the electoral results, retweeted this message from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy:
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/QOJL4KVMPRAW3OXPDI7VUL54PA.png "A tweet by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on January 6, 2021.")
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who signed onto a letter supporting Texas’ ill-fated Supreme Court challenge of the electoral results:
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, who would not say how he planned to vote on Wednesday’s vote to certify the presidential election results:
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, who planned to object to the certification of electoral college results Wednesday:
“I condemn the actions of those today who broke through security, U.S Capitol Police and law enforcement to force themselves into the Capitol. I witnessed our law enforcement officers being injured, gassed from their own tear gas and afraid for their lives as they attempted to hold the line. I and 3 other Members were barricaded in a room surrounded by demonstrators until the hallway was clear for us to get out. I want to personally thank Kim Campbell with Sergeant at Arms, Officer Reginald Cleveland and the 2 other officers who were barricaded in the room with us for their professionalism. The violence and lawlessness we saw today was completely unacceptable, and as a nation, we must do better. As I condemned the violence we saw in our nation’s capital from BLM and Antifa, I condemn violence and rioting of any kind, by any group or organization.”
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, who planned to object to the certification of electoral college results Wednesday:
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who planned to object to the certification of electoral college results Wednesday:
U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, who signed onto a letter supporting Texas’ ill-fated Supreme Court challenge of the electoral results:
U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar:
“While I am in Miami recovering from COVID-19, I’m deeply troubled by what is happening in Washington. I am praying for the safety of my colleagues & our law enforcement. There is absolutely no place for violence and rioting in the U.S. Capitol!”
Rep. Chris Sprowls, Florida Speaker of the House:
Sen. Wilton Simpson, the Florida Senate President:
Democrats, meanwhile, also condemned the Trump-fueled mob’s actions
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist
U.S. Rep. Val Demings
U.S. Rep. Darren Soto
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch
U.S. Rep. Al Lawson Jr.
Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau reporter Ana Ceballos contributed to this story.
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