Clyburn: ‘There were people taking selfies. Something’s wrong here’
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) called for an investigation into the riot on the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, suggesting that “something untoward happened” for rioters to find certain offices.
In several interviews on Friday, Clyburn said that rioters didn’t touch his office in Statuary Hall that has his name on it. However, they went to his other office that he says is harder to find.
“How did they know to go there? How come they didn’t go where my name was?” Clyburn said in an interview on SiriusXM’s “The Joe Madison Show.” “They went where you won’t find my name, but they found where I was supposed to be. So something else was going on untoward here.”
In a separate interview on “Meet the Press Daily,” Clyburn elaborated on his call for an investigation, claiming that some people were “taking selfies” with rioters.
“I do believe, with some sensitives here, there were people taking selfies with these insurrectionists,” Clyburn said, seemingly referring to officers who in several videos circulating online can be seen taking photos with rioters. “Something’s wrong here.”
Capitol Police found itself facing backlash after rioters were able to breach the Capitol as Congress was certifying the Electoral College vote. Rioters damaged offices, broke windows and some lawmakers have said laptops and iPads were stolen.
Treatment of the rioters was quickly called out for a double standard between the way they were handled on Wednesday and how Black Lives Matter protesters were treated last year.
Clyburn also spoke on the double standard during his interview on Meet the Press.
“I also remember the day that Black Lives Matter decided to have their peaceful demonstration,” Clyburn said. “There were police officers everywhere, nobody could get to that building.
“But when I drove there on Wednesday morning, no such thing,” he said. “The Capitol steps were bare.”
Five people died during the riot, including one Capitol Police officer. Dozens have also been arrested. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund announced his resignation in the wake of the riot.
–Updated on Jan. 12 at 1:26 p.m.
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