Newly elected representative was present in D.C. for infamous event
Madison Cawthorn
Washington – North Carolina 11th District Congressman Madison Cawthorn has released a statement condemning those who participated in the uprising at the U.S. Capitol Building on Wednesday, Jan. 6.
In a statement, Cawthorn – a conservative Republican and vocal supporter of outgoing President Donald Trump – spoke against the violence, saying it was not the way he wanted his constituents to act.
Cawthorn’s statement referred to the event as “thuggery” and stated that “what unites us is greater than what divides us.”
“When I promised to fight for you in D.C., you elected me with the knowledge that this battle would not be fought with swords or shields but with power, love and a sound mind,” read a passage from the statement. “The God of heaven is our refuge, not the Glock.”
Cawthorn also tweeted against the violence at least three times over the course of the chaos, including saying that the battle was being fought on the House floor, not in Washington’s streets.
“As Americans we cannot tolerate violence,” Cawthorn said in another tweet. “Peacefully protest ONLY. We must let Congress work and uphold law and order. We are the party that backs the blue. I ask you to back the blue now, and let the objections continue in accordance with the Constitution.”
The tweet ended with an emoji of the U.S. flag.
However, while he condemned the violence afterward, he sang a slightly different tune beforehand.
While his brief remarks at the “Stop the Steal” Rally in Washington on the morning of the incident stopped short of inciting violence, Cawthorn reiterated his long-held view that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and used the line “this crowd has some fight in it,” among others.
“My friends, I will tell you right now that there is a new Republican Party rising,” Cawthorn said at the rally. “The founders of our great country saw to it that the people who consent to be governed should have a voice in that government, but my friends, the Democrats with all the fraud they have done in this election, the Republicans hiding and not fighting, they are trying to silence your voice.
“Make no mistake about it, they do not want you to be heard.”
He also told the crowd that they had “the voice of lions” and repeatedly mentioned contesting the election results. He said the Republicans who intended to vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory had no backbone.
“My friends, I encourage you, go back to your states after today, hold your representatives accountable, make sure that they stood up for election integrity and make your voices heard,” he said.
Trump and several other conservative politicians and personalities also spoke at the rally.
Once the rioters breached the Capitol, it took several hours for federal law enforcement to disperse the intruders and secure the building. The melee left five people dead, including a U.S. Air Force veteran – who was shot – and a U.S. Capitol police officer who succumbed to injuries sustained on Jan. 7.
Debate resumed the evening of the incident, with both chambers certifying the results early Jan. 7. In total, 147 Republican congressmen – including Cawthorn – voted against certifying the results, as did six Republican senators. Four other Republicans in North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation voted against certification.
Cawthorn’s 11th District includes Graham County as well as the majority of western North Carolina. Jan. 6 was Cawthorn’s third day in office. He is a native of Hendersonville.