AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Senator Ted Cruz is taking a beating from both Republicans and Democrats after condemning the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection by supporters of former Pres. Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol.
In comments made Wednesday, Cruz said this year marked “the solemn anniversary of a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol…”
Last year, Cruz, along with Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, were chief among Republican leaders to object certifying the votes — despite several states recounting and certifying their ballots and state officials, in addition to the U.S. Department of Justice, saying there was no evidence of widespread fraud.
Democrats say Cruz’s comment is hypocritical, given his rejection of results certification, which the riots were meant to derail. Meanwhile, some in the GOP theorize Cruz is making a calculated distancing from potential legal ramifications and negative public opinion.
While both Cruz and Hawley (who famously raised his fist in seeming solidarity with the crowd) both rejected the deadly violence, they nonetheless refused certification later that night.
“It wasn’t a violent terrorist attack. So why are you telling us that it was, Ted Cruz?” Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson said Wednesday night. “And why are none of your Republican friends — who are supposed to be representing us and all the people been arrested during this purge — not saying anything?”
“Ted Cruz is a co-leader of the coup,” writes @AngelaBelcamino, meanwhile.
“Well, Ted Cruz can kiss his Presidential hopes and dreams goodbye,” tweeted @Jules31415. “It’s never a good idea to refer to your constituents as terrorists.”
“Ted Cruz voted against the certification of the 2020 election. He acted with 147 others to tell us our vote doesn’t matter,” writes @LesHailYes.
Ultimately, the Jan. 6 insurrection resulted in five deaths and dozens of arrests and over 70 sentencings for rioters. Meanwhile, former Pres. Trump, who recently was subpoenaed by the New York Attorney General related to his business operations, has continued claiming the 2020 Election was stolen and says he intends to run for president again in 2024.