Missouri congressional delegation reacts to first Jan. 6 committee hearing
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Several members of Missouri's congressional delegation shared their thoughts Thursday on the first hearing of the House's select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Their reactions were predictable -- the two Democrats in the state's representation praised the committee's work, while Republican politicians derided it as a biased inquiry and waste of time that could be spent on more pressing matters.
Here are the reactions shared on Twitter:
Fourth District U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville)
Hartzler attacked the committee as both partisan and a waste of time in a Twitter thread posted Thursday afternoon before the hearing began at 7 p.m.
"While Americans struggle to make ends meet, deal with skyrocketing crime, and are inflicted by drugs being funneled across our border, Democrats are busy ignoring the needs of the people in favor of an illegitimate committee weaponized to solely attack former President Trump," Hartzler tweeted.
She represents much of Mid-Missouri and is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
While Americans struggle to make ends meet, deal with skyrocketing crime, and are inflicted by drugs being funneled across our border, Democrats are busy ignoring the needs of the people in favor of an illegitimate committee weaponized to solely attack former President Trump.
— Rep. Vicky Hartzler (@RepHartzler) June 9, 2022
Eighth District U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem)
Smith, who represents southeast Missouri, called the committee a "sham commission" that was meant to "cover up the truth."
This sham commission - complete with a professional television producer - has one job: cover up the truth.
— Jason Smith (@JasonSmithMO) June 9, 2022
The truth is the working class are fed up with gas and food they can’t afford and paychecks that can’t keep up.
We need to FIRE PELOSI and put the people back in charge.
Seventh District U.S. Rep. Billy Long (R-Springfield)
Long, who represents southwest Missouri, was among the many Republicans describing the meeting as a Hollywood-style production.
Like Hartzler, Long is seeking his party's Senate nomination.
The #Hollywood produced #January6hearings reality show summarises today's #Democrat leadership. They don't have solutions for their failed policies, and they are still hopelessly fixated on their #TrumpDerangementSyndrome
— U.S. Rep. Billy Long (@USRepLong) June 10, 2022
First District U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis)
Bush, one of only two Democrats in the congressional delegation, tweeted during the hearing that she was "here to bear witness to what white supremacist insurrectionists" did that day at the direction of former president Donald Trump.
I’m in the room, here to bear witness to what white supremacist insurrectionists, at the direction of a twice-impeached white supremacist President, did to us on that day, January 6th, 2021.
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) June 10, 2022
We need accountability, and we will never forget. pic.twitter.com/cbevYSITiz
Fifth District U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City)
Cleaver shared his thoughts Friday morning, saying what happened on Jan. 6, 2021, "was not a peaceful protest." He shared a 10-minute timeline video from the select committee's presentation with his tweet.
January 6th was not a tourist visit.
— Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) June 10, 2022
It was not a peaceful protest.
It was a deliberate, coordinated attack on the U.S. Capitol and an attempt to overturn a free and fair election by preventing the peaceful transfer of power.
See for yourself. https://t.co/WAM377YVwk
