Enlarge image
Mitch McConnell in Congress on Tuesday: "The results of the presidential election have been legally certified"
Photo:
Rod Lamkey / imago images/ZUMA Wire
After a controversial resolution by the US Republicans, the party's highest-ranking representative in the Senate spoke out against downplaying the storming of the Capitol.
The attack on the seat of the US Parliament in Washington a year ago was a "violent uprising" - "with the aim of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power," Mitch McConnell told Congress on Tuesday.
The result of the presidential election had been “legally certified”.
Republican ex-president Donald Trump claims to this day without evidence that there was fraud in the election.
A Republican convention last week passed a resolution calling the storming a "legitimate political expression."
In addition, Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were reprimanded for serving on the House investigative committee into the Capitol attack.
They're the only Republicans on the board.
McConnell explained that the party's role is "traditional" to support all members.
It is not their job to take action against members with dissenting opinions.
After an inciting speech by Trump, his supporters stormed the seat of Congress on January 6, 2021.
They wanted to prevent the confirmation of the November 2020 election victory of Democrat Joe Biden.
The attack killed five people and injured dozens.
The attack on the heart of US democracy shook the country.
Pence at a distance from Trump
Republican and former Vice President Mike Pence only distanced himself from his former President Trump on Friday.
Trump was "wrong" in claiming that he - Pence - could have prevented the election from being certified.
"President Trump is wrong, I had no right to overturn the election," Pence said.
"Under the Constitution, I had no right to change the outcome of our election."
According to US media reports, the distancing could be related to a possible run for president in the 2024 election.
This could put Pence in direct competition with Donald Trump, who is also eyeing a comeback.
According to the New York Times, Pence had already described the storming of the Capitol as a "black day" in Washington.
Now he added, "I know we did our duty that day" and that the Republican Party should "focus on the future."
Otherwise, the collapse of the United States threatens.
sol/dpa