Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) refused an interview when confronted by CNN journalist Jim Acosta over the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, telling Acosta he does not trust the network to report on him fairly or accurately.
“Congressman, is there any way we can get you to talk about Jan. 6?” Acosta, who was seeking to talk to GOP lawmakers about conspiracy theories surrounding the attack, asked Brooks as the lawmaker was unlocking his bike outside the Capitol on Saturday.
“I do not do interviews with CNN because I do not trust CNN to be honorable or truthful,” the Republican said without turning around to face Acosta.
Acosta asked Brooks if he believes “antifa was behind Jan. 6,” to which Brooks replied, “I’ve already said what I’m going to say. I don’t trust y’all to be truthful or honest.”
Acosta pressed Brooks again, asking him if he regrets remarks he made the day of the insurrection, and Brooks repeated that he does not trust CNN and would not make a comment.
“I’m just asking you questions. I’m asking you fair questions, sir. Why can’t you answer the question?” Acosta said, telling the Republican his remarks about Jan. 6 are on video.
“See ya,” Brooks said, throwing his leg over his bicycle and beginning to peddle away. “You guys will lie through your teeth any chance you get.”
“I’ll give you the chance to come on if you don’t mind,” Acosta, whose confrontations with former President Trump made headlines when he was the network’s White House reporter, said as the lawmaker biked away from the Capitol.
Brooks was the first member of Congress to say he would object to the congressional certification of President Biden’s electoral victory.
He has backed Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud and a “rigged election” and suggested outside agitators, not Trump supporters, were responsible for the violence on Jan. 6.