The J6 committee released videos today of a tour of the Congressional buildings being led by GA Rep. Loudermilk on Jan 5.
At the time, no tours were allowed due to Covid restrictions. Loudermilk initially vehemently denied that it ever happened and even demanded that the person who claimed it had happened be investigated by the House Oversight committee. Then he admitted it happened, but claimed it was a constituent and his family. Then he said it was several constituents, but none of them were wearing the red MAGA hats. Then he said there was no evidence it happened, and challenged anyone to prove otherwise.
So the J6 Committee picked up the gauntlet. The video shows Lodermilk leading a group of people - some wearing red MAGA hats - on a tour of the Congressional office buildings. And as most tourists would do, some of them were filming and taking pictures of such interesting things as hallways, staircases, security checkpoints, and the entrances to the tunnels that led to the Capitol itself. Because of course, what tourist doesn't want to capture such memorable moments? "Hey look, Martha - another staircase!"
And then we find out that one of those filming these things was caught on video the next day, taking part in the insurrection and vocalizing threats to several members of Congress.
I'm willing to give Rep. Loudermilk the benefit of the doubt - perhaps he was just a "useful idiot" who had no idea what these people were actually doing. Perhaps they conned him into letting them scope out the building and identify potential security weak points.
Perhaps.
But if so, why did he lie about it? |
