McCaul says he doesn’t agree with RNC resolution if it applies to violent rioters

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on Sunday said he does not agree with the Republican National Committee’s characterization of Jan. 6 being “legitimate political discourse” if it applies to those who committed violence that day.

“I do not agree with that statement if it’s applying to those who committed criminal offenses and violence to overtake our shrine of democracy,” McCaul told ABC “This Week” host Martha Raddatz when asked if he supported the RNC’s resolution, which also censured two House Republican lawmakers who sit on the panel investigating Jan. 6. 

“I think part of the problem with my party is they view that as a weaponization, that Pelosi’s weaponizing January 6th, politicizing it to her advantage,” he continued. “But at the end of the day, I think that the truth needs to come out.”

Pressed by @MarthaRaddatz on whether he supports the RNC’s resolution, @RepMcCaul says, “I do not agree with that statement if it’s applying to those who committed criminal offenses and violence to overtake our shrine of democracy.” https://t.co/6Gjco58G4f pic.twitter.com/yIP1q16n57

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 6, 2022

The resolution approved by RNC members on Friday indicated that Cheney and Kinzinger are participating in “persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse” by sitting on the Jan. 6 panel, which was brought together last year by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

McCaul said he believed the RNC was referring to “peaceful protesters” on that day but that he did not agree with the statement if it applied to those who committed violence.

When asked whether Cheney and Kinzinger should’ve been censured, McCaul instead encouraged Republicans to unite.

“Republicans need to unify…about what are we going to do for the country to get the majority back in Congress, to get the White House back in 2024.” he said. “It’s not helpful when they see us divided as a party, rather than unified, and we have so much to be unified against, when it comes to Biden’s failed policies.”

–Updated at 1:15 p.m.