Arizona Republican’s brothers say he is ‘at least partially to blame’ for Capitol violence

The brothers of Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said their sibling is “at least partially to blame” for the deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Biggs’s brothers, William Biggs and Daniel Biggs, wrote in a letter to the editor to The Arizona Republic that he should be removed from office over what they viewed as his role in inciting the riot.

“By attempting to cause uncertainty in the election’s outcome, Andy is at least partially to blame for the riot at the Capital on January 6,” the brothers wrote. “Political ambition, peer pressure and fealty to [former President Donald] Trump proved to be too strong a drug to resist.

“These are violations of his oath of office and erode the trust of the American electorate. For these reasons we call for the timely removal of Congressman Biggs from office.”

The newspaper noted that Biggs called for a forensic audit of his state’s election systems and once said in an interview that Pennsylvania’s elections were “an utter disaster, and really your immediate remedy is to basically nullify Pennsylvania’s election.”

Aside from Arizona, Pennsylvania was the second state to have its results contested by the House and Senate during the official congressional count of the Electoral College votes that affirmed President Biden as the winner.

Former President Trump refused to concede to Biden, claiming widespread election fraud had led to his loss, claims that were unsuccessfully fought in court in the weeks after the November contest was called.

Biggs’s office didn’t immediately return a request for comment from The Hill.

Biggs isn’t the only Arizona Republican facing public scrutiny from his family. Three of Rep. Paul Gosar’s (R-Ariz.) siblings previously told the newspaper that they asked Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.)  to help remove their brother from Congress over his role in the riot.

Five people died as a result of the siege on the Capitol, which forced lawmakers into secure locations away from both chambers as they were discussing an objection to Arizona’s votes brought by Gosar and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). 

Both Gosar and Biggs were staunch supporters of Trump who voted to uphold objections to Arizona and Pennsylvania’s Electoral votes after the riot was over later that evening. The newspaper noted that Biggs and Gosar have been singled out as key to the planning of the “Stop the Steal” rally that preceded the riot.