In a virtual legislative panel hosted by Forum News Service, Gov. Tim Walz claimed that the people who stormed the U.S. Capitol had the objective of killing the vice president, the speaker of the house, and other legislative leaders.
In his own words, “The United States Capitol was stormed by people who were intent on killing the vice president, the speaker of the house, and our other legislative leaders at the urging of the president of the United States.”
Walz said the “rhetoric” used by President Donald Trump has been ignored. He declared in the virtual forum, “This denial of the rhetoric that was pushed from the president and continues to be pushed, that there was a fake election to undermine our system, is beyond the pale.”
“I have not heard the words ‘President Trump fomented sedition.’ It would help to hear that,” Walz said.
Earlier in the Monday panel, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt spoke to the division in the country and state, pointing to an event last summer involving a member of the Minnesota Legislature who was “inciting violence.” Daudt was referring to Democrat John Thompson, a candidate endorsed by Walz.
In Daudt’s words, Thompson threatened “to go and burn down communities in this state.”
“That was right from the lips of a current state representative. And I didn’t see that denounced by the leadership of his own party. To me you can’t have it both ways,” Daudt continued.
Daudt said that despite the time spent discussing the Capitol riots, Democrats in Minnesota “turned a blind eye” to the violence, incitement of violence, and violent protests that happened in Minnesota’s own communities.
Daudt vowed to denounce what happened at the Minnesota State Capitol last week if it included violence or inciting violence.
“That is 100% wrong,” he said. “But, Democrats, now join me in saying what happened over the summer was equally or as wrong [as last Wednesday’s events] when it happened right here in our communities by people who are members of the Legislature currently.”
After Daudt’s statement, Walz offered his opinion, saying, “I’m just going to weigh in, and then I’m going to sign off because I too am incredibly disappointed in this conversation.”
“I did not expect this conversation to veer into a condemnation of a House candidate that was roundly criticized, or an idea that we’re going to pretend that what happened in any way is equivalent [to what] happened last Wednesday,” Walz said.
He also noted that there “absolutely” were people in Minneapolis who looted and burned businesses last summer, and that’s why “we have brought them to justice.”
“But it doesn’t change the fact of why those people [were] on the streets of Minneapolis versus why those people [were] in the Capitol building,” he continued.
Walz insisted the election was “free and fair.” He said, “The election has been decided … Just because you’re angry with the result of it isn’t an excuse for what’s happened.”
Walz also said he takes offense at the idea that what happened at the Minnesota Capitol and the governor’s residence on Wednesday was “peaceful” or “okay.” Protesters gathered outside both locations and used threatening language occasionally, which, according to Walz, resulted “in the State Patrol entering the living quarters and removing [his] 14-year-old son to a safe location.”
WATCH:
Rose Williams
Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News.
