As pro-Trump mob storms U.S. Capitol, Texas Republicans denounce violence

AUSTIN — As a mob of pro-Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to stop the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory on Wednesday, Texas GOP leaders denounced the use of violence, even after some spent weeks trying to avoid offending diehard supporters of President Donald Trump.

Around 3 p.m. CST, after about two hours of chaos in the nation’s capital, Gov. Greg Abbott spoke out, calling for the agitators in Washington to stop violence and obey orders from U.S. Capitol police.

“Peaceful protest is a core tenet of the U.S. Constitution,” Abbott said in a written statement. “Violence and mayhem are not. The violence and mayhem must stop.”

The Republican governor continued, “America is founded on the rule of law, and the law enforcement officers working to restore order at the U.S. Capitol must be heeded.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Trump’s top supporter in Texas, linked Wednesday’s disturbances in Washington to urban unrest that erupted after George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police in late May.

“Those who burned down our cities last year and those who stormed the U.S. Capitol today do not represent the people of this country,” Patrick said in a written statement. “We can disagree loudly and protest peacefully but the behavior we’ve seen today and in the last year can never be acceptable to any American.”

For months, Trump has said without evidence the Nov. 3 election was stolen from him and encouraged his supporters to pressure elected officials to “stop the steal” — a chant repeated by his supporters at rallies across the country on Wednesday.

In Austin, presumptive House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican who is expected soon to join Abbott and Patrick in the “Big 3” at the statehouse in Austin, exhibited distress similar to, if not more outspoken, than Abbott’s.

“What is happening today at the U.S. Capitol is not the act of patriots. It is disgraceful,” Phelan, who is expected to be elected the Texas House’s helmsman when the Legislature convenes on Tuesday, said in a written statement.

“The Bill of Rights guarantees the right to assemble peacefully,” he said. “It does not condone violence, the destruction of property, or trespassing to disrupt proceedings outlined in the U.S. Constitution.”

Earlier Wednesday, Texas Attorney General Paxton and his wife Angela, a GOP state senator, appeared at the pro-Trump rally in Washington. He appeared on the same stage as Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who told those assembled, “Let’s have a trial by fire.”

Referring to his own unsuccessful lawsuit trying to overturn the election results, Paxton told rally attendees, “It is so awesome to be here. I want you to know that Texas fights. We fought.”

“What we have in President Trump is a fighter. And I think that’s why we’re all here. We believe in what he’s accomplished over the last four years. Because we’re here today, the message goes on. We will not quit fighting.”

Paxton later tweeted criticism of the disorder at the U.S. Capitol, saying while he’s “sorely disappointed today in the certification of the election,” he doesn’t “believe violence is the answer.”

Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, also tweeted, “Peaceful protest is part of every American citizen’s birthright. Violence is not.”

Among other Republican statewide officeholders, Land Commissioner George P. Bush denounced “mob” actions, saying there is no place for violence.

“In our Republic, we have our processes in place to prevent mob rule, ensuring the protection of our core values and unique tradition of peaceful transition of power,” he said. “I call on all involved to cooperate with Capitol police and stop this madness.”

Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller noted that “while the right to peaceably assemble is enshrined” in the U.S. Constitution, “the word ‘peaceably’ is sacrosanct.”

In a written statement, Miller — a leading Trump ally in Texas who was considered for federal agriculture secretary in 2017 — said, “Violence and lawlessness are never acceptable, and I strongly condemn those who have put innocent lives and our nation’s landmarks in jeopardy.”

A spokesman for Texas GOP Chairman Allen West of Dallas, another Texan who has disputed the election results and steadfastly stood by Trump, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

However, the state GOP issued a statement saying it had removed party sergeant at arms Walter West from his post -- a minor one, whose duties mainly are to “maintain order” and secure electronic voting devices at State Republican Executive Committee meetings -- after he tweeted approval of the lawlessness in Washington. West called it “taking back OUR HOUSE!”

The state party’s unsigned statement deplored Wednesday’s violence.

“The Texas GOP has always been on the side of law and order and will remain so,” it said.

Separately, party vice chairwoman Cat Parks of Hamilton tweeted a quote from the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., saying “darkness cannot drive out darkness.” Parks also sympathized with protesters’ anger, however.

“Now more than ever, Republican Leadership must ‘Lead Right,’” she said in a written statement. “I support peaceful protest and do not condone violence or destruction of property. This is a sorry symptom of the deafness of our Legislators of Capitol Hill.”

Since news outlets on Nov. 7 called the presidential race for Biden, and as 59 of his and his supporters’ 60 lawsuits failed to change any state’s results, some Texas GOP leaders echoed Trump’s claims. Patrick offered large cash rewards to tipsters whose information results in voter fraud convictions.

Paxton asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the November election by negating 10 million votes in four states. The Trump administration intervened in that lawsuit, which the Supreme Court rejected, saying Texas did not have standing to challenge election procedures in other states.

Earlier, six days after the election, Abbott refrained from congratulating Biden and said the election vote count should be allowed to play out.

While Abbott then echoed some of Trump’s phrases, about how “illegal votes” shouldn’t be counted and elections aren’t certified by the news media, he didn’t endorse or repeat the president’s claim the election was stolen through widespread chicanery.

Abbott, a prolific tweeter, then fell largely silent about the election wrangle.

On Wednesday, as some high-ranking Texas Republicans strongly denounced the D.C. protesters, Democrats blamed some of their counterparts for inciting the mob.

Abhi Rahman, the communications director for the Texas Democratic Party, also blamed Cruz, Paxton and Texas House Republicans for “attempting to overthrow the will of the people to score points with their violent base.”

Some state Democrats even said the incident should spur them to ban guns inside the Texas Capitol in Austin. Properly licensed citizens and lawmakers are allowed to carry concealed firearms into the building.

“This is exactly why allowing firearms into the State Capitol has always been a terrible, pandering idea,” Rep. Diego Bernal, D-San Antonio, tweeted.

The Texas Department of Public Safety locked the state Capitol down Wednesday afternoon and said the building and grounds were closed out of an abundance of caution. A group of about 300 pro-Trump protesters had gathered outside the Capitol.

Matt Mackowiak, chairman of the GOP in Travis County, home to the state Capitol, called the mob violence “treason” and “insurrection.” On Twitter, he added, “this is a deeply sad day for our country.”

Rep. Jeff Leach, a Plano Republican, called for the arrest of protesters who were engaging in physical altercations with Capitol police in Washington and denounced them as “domestic terrorists” and “a true threat to our nation.”

“They must be met with the full weight and force of the law,” Leach said. “Arrest and prosecute them all.”

He added: “I’d say it if it were a left-wing protest and I’ll say it now: If they break the law, arrest them.”

Correction, 9:25 a.m., Jan. 7, 2021: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that on Nov. 7, news outlets called the presidential election for Trump. They called it for Biden.