Much to the pleasure of the Alabama political media, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) is right in the firing line when it comes to the Republicans the national media and their Democrats are attempting to blame for the riot at the U.S. Capitol last week.
There have been numerous reckless reactions to this by in-state media, who claim to be above political mudslinging and who supposedly just want to bring the facts to the people.
Al(dot)com’s John Archibald declared that the announcement that the Space Command HQ was coming to Huntsville was “sedition on commission.”
Sedition on commission. https://t.co/MyHtStfoIJ
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) January 13, 2021
The Space Command HQ was a payoff, for sedition, Archibald claims. Alleging a crime without reason or merit. Journalism.
His colleague and intellectual equal J.D. Crowe drew a picture depicting Brooks and every other Alabama Republican who voted for election oversight as members of the Klan and accused them of treason.
Alabama Coup Klutz Klan: Traitors Mo Brooks, Tuberville and the other lemmings should resign https://t.co/0ZviKyVdDZ #alpolitics #trumpsterfire #treason pic.twitter.com/95gZGcV0Zi
— JD Crowe (@CroweJam) January 11, 2021
Alleging a crime without reason or merit. Journalism.
All of this is based on three accused wrongdoings:
1. Brooks was an outspoken proponent of having votes on election irregularities, even though he knew those votes would fail.
This is a completely legal and justified action provided for in the U.S. Constitution.
2. He spoke at a rally six hours before the shameful and seditious actions that took place that day and used the phrase: “Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.”
Not great stuff here by Mo Brooks, but it is not a crime, and it is pretty amazing that a prosecutor is suggesting it be prosecuted.
3. He planned the rally itself.
This allegation is weird, and, until Thursday, Brooks had not been asked about the allegation directly.
It is based on the now-deleted Periscope video by Ali Alexander in which he claims, “We four schemed up of putting maximum pressure on Congress while they were voting.”
Organizer @ali claims he organized the insurrection "with congressman @RepGosar @RepMoBrooks and @RepAndyBiggsAZ. We four schemed up putting maximum pressure on congress while they were voting…"
These 3 congressmen need to be held accountable. https://t.co/ht2R8cqaLw
— Jason Paladino (@jason_paladino) January 8, 2021
What does this mean?
That Brooks himself worked to book the space, the sound equipment and sent the mass emails for the riot.
That seems unlikely. A pressure campaign on members of Congress to vote with him? That’s not normal.
The obvious implication that whoever planned the rally also planned the siege is not backed up by facts.
Brooks was asked about the allegation, if you can even call it that, during a Thursday appearance on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show.”
He said, “I don’t recall ever having met the guy, ever having communicated with the guy, ever having seen the guy. I don’t know where he’s coming from.”
But don’t let that stop the mob from alleging a massive conspiracy, which they are doing by tying in guided tours of the U.S. Capitol in the days preceding the riots.
Brooks thinks Alexander may have been “inspired” by his appearances on radio and TV, suggesting that may have led to him wanting to plan the rally.
But Brooks also pointed out that the rally was not the issue (which it wasn’t).
“[F]rankly, a rally is a great idea … that was a great rally,” Brooks advised. “The rally wasn’t the problem. The problems were these militant groups, along with rally attendees at the U.S. Capitol. That was the problem.”
He continued, “I did not invite anyone, I did not set the time, I did not set the speakers.”
“I have had no communications with anybody involved in the operational planning,” Brooks added.
But this is not going to stop anytime soon. Censuring is all but a certainty; expulsion seems unlikely because of the hurdles required. But an attempted prosecution could be in the congressman’s future because Democrats are emboldened and want to hold as many Republicans as they can accountable.
The District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine is looking for charges.
“I know I’m looking at a charge under the D.C. Code of inciting violence, and that would apply where there’s a clear recognition that one’s incitement could lead to foreseeable violence,” Racine stated.
If all of this seems like a far-fetched nightmare where political speech is criminalized, you are right.
Brooks compared this reaction by his Democratic colleagues and D.C.’s attorney general as dictatorial forces like you would see in communist China or the Soviet Union.
Based on their fervor to make their political foes pay right now, you would be hard-pressed to describe it any other way.
Listen:
Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 AM weekdays on WVNN.
