Barry Loudermilk, caught lying red-handed about giving a Capitol tour by the 1/6 committee (full video here):
Concerned John Cornyn beginning the slow back-away from the gun compromise:
I’m sure there are many others but they haven’t been discovered.
Parfigliano
Of course he is backing away its all theatre to seem reasonable on guns. Naturally the media fell for it. Again.
First ?
Dorothy A. Winsor
I know Chris Murphy supported the gun control compromise and I trust him. But it’s so minimal. If Rs can’t support that, they’re lost
Martin
It’s like Louis Gohmert said: “A Republican can’t even lie to Congress or lie to an FBI agent or they’re coming after you.”
He’s not wrong.
SiubhanDuinne
Channeling Tom Lehrer there?
These are the only ones of which the news has come to Harvard
And there may be many others but they haven’t been discovered.
joel hanes
Note that the Capitol Police also lied about this
tourreconnaissance operation.Yesterday.
Heads should roll.
Baud
It’d be good if the GOP walls away now. Dems weren’t crazy about the compromise and many wanted the GOP to be portrayed as out of step on guns.
Roger Moore
@Martin:
Fortunately for the Republicans, they can still lie to the media with impunity.
Kay
The committee are not going to ask a question they don’t already know the answer to – if they say there were tours, they have video, if they say there were pardon requests, they have proof of that. They’re not bluffing. They’re presenting the results of an investigation.
It’s riveting though, watching this unfold.
lowtechcyclist
@SiubhanDuinne:
You could say there are some elements of similarity there. ;)
Elizabelle
@Baud:
Agreed. Let the GOP walk away. It was a fig leaf, anyway.
And then hammer even more: elect more Democrats to keep your kids and teachers safe in school.
Baud
@joel hanes:
Someone linked to the Police letter in the prior thread. It was all factual about Loudermilk’s movements. It didn’t say anything about whether the tour was normal or the motives. I’m confused.
mistermix
@SiubhanDuinne: Yep!
@Baud: I’m really torn on this one. I see your point, but I also thought that if something (almost anything) passed that even slightly limited gun access, that was also a win.
Kay
@Baud:
It’s just hugely fucked up they oppose closing the boyfriend loophole. Affirmatively supporting violence against women now.
Baud
@mistermix:
I’d prefer a pass, but there was a lot of criticism of the deal when it happened.
Immanentize
@Baud:
like in the Cask of Amontillado?
Kay
@Baud:
Sadly I think the answer is the NYTimes did some of their great reporting and added some “exoneration” that wasn’t there.
Baud
@Kay:
They are representing their constituents.
Baud
@Kay:
Ah, that explains everything. The exoneration must be next to the hollow rods from Nigeria or whatever the fuck that was in 2002.
Immanentize
@Baud: At the very end of the letter on page 2, the Cap. Police Chief Manger concludes: “we do not consider any of the activities we observed as suspicious.”
That is worrisome.
SiubhanDuinne
@lowtechcyclist:
germy shoemangler
@Immanentize:
“Come drink! the wine will brighten your wits.”
Baud
@Immanentize:
Thanks. I’ll check again. Hard for me to read on my phone.
zhena gogolia
@Baud: So it’s like Barr’s characterization of the Mueller report?
zhena gogolia
@Baud: Aluminum tubes! And yellowcake from Nigeria!
Immanentize
@Baud: i just added the actual quote. I agree about reading on phones
Immanentize
@germy shoemangler: In this Congress it would be, “Come, have a key bump….”
NotMax
‘@zhena gogolia
Niger.
Strzok.
;)
Baud
@Immanentize:
Thanks. Not an exoneration, but I agree that is troubling they don’t regard that as suspicious.
Kay
@Immanentize:
Is it maybe just ass covering though? They’re the Capitol police. The Capitol got attacked. Were they likely to say “this activity the day before we had video of but missed is very suspicious”?
James E Powell
@Parfigliano:
The media did not fall for anything. They are willing, at times enthusiastic, promoters of Republican propaganda.
Baud
@Kay:
Good point.
ETA: it’s like the Uvalde police saying the were working hard during the hour kids are getting shot.
Immanentize
@NotMax: Sick burn!
Benw
Hey, at least we are negotiating with Republicans who are operating in bad faith, instead of members of our own caucus who are operating in bad faith. Progress!
germy shoemangler
@Benw:
Republicans seem to have learned from manchinsinema, where they say “we’re close to a deal!” and then at the last minute murmur “or maybe not.”
Or did republicans play that song first, and manchinsinema are the tribute band?
Immanentize
@Kay: in retrospect, maybe yes he should notice it was suspicious. How can members trust the Chief if he is unwilling now to see what’s what? I would want a some what less credulous leader of the force protecting me. It brings all of his judgments into question, no? He is a low quality hire.
debbie
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
What more do you think Murphy could have gotten?
Kent
I’m ambivalent about this gun stuff.
I’m not sure all that much is gained when Dems agree to such a watered down compromise proposal that will basically do nothing and then it inevitably becomes a “failed” Democratic policy and excuse why gun control doesn’t work.
That is the trap of this fetish for bipartisanship. You then end up owning extremely shitty policy.
Baud
@Kent:
Except the Dems also own inaction. Voters can’t make up their minds what they want.
Kay
@Baud:
They saved lives. Anything less than 100% shot is “saved lives” in their book.
Old Man Shadow
@Kay: Because they honestly believe that most women lie about abuse to ruin men’s lives.
pat
It strikes me this is pretty similar to the anti-abortion movement.
zhena gogolia
@NotMax: You’re right!
Kay
@Kent:
I think this one actually hurts Republicans because they announced it.
Kent
@Baud: Well, Republican obstructionism is a narrative too. Obviously there are no wins when you don’t get good shit done.
Which is the easier narrative?
Your kids are dying because Republicans are obstructing needed policy? Or
Your kids are dying because WE did a really shitty job.
Dorothy A. Winsor
@debbie: Under the circumstances, probably nothing. The guy has been fighting the good fight for a long time. I trust him
Scout211
Another point to remember: Capitol tours were not allowed until April of 2022 due to COVID protocols. Source.
Baud
@Kent:
Well, the second is much easier because it is already dogma among the vast majority of media and social media.
debbie
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
I assume McConnell will back out, but I can’t imagine what his “logic” will be.
Immanentize
@Kay: not only that, but McConnell put his big imprimatur on the deal, which included closing the boyfriend loophole.
Baud
@debbie:
“Dems won’t protect Supreme Court justices so I won’t protect the public.”
Gin & Tonic
@NotMax: Bennet.
WaterGirl
@Baud: JPL linked to an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Betty Cracker
@Baud: Agreed, which is why Dems needed to get caught trying one way or another, and they did. I think Murphy thought and perhaps still does think something will get passed. We’ll see.
Kay
@Immanentize:
They don’t always win. They fuck up a lot. I think this hurts them. It was all over the news as a done deal. Now they’re going to take all the crime prevention out of it? VERY slick.
NotMax
‘@debbie
“Too much thought, not enough prayer.”
//
sdhays
@Kent: The counterpoint is that there has been a logjam in any legislation that reigns in guns for decades now. Stepping away from “only more guns”, even in a tepid way, breaks that jam.
I’m reminded of how the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was trashed as a joke in 1957, but it was part of the path to the much more consequential acts in the 60’s. Congress proving to itself that it can do “something” helps it get to the place where it does “more”.
jnfr
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
They are lost.
Immanentize
@Kay: i agree.
Central Planning
@Elizabelle: It’s not just safe at school. People should want to be safe going grocery shopping, church, a sporting event, or work. Only Ds want that and it should be easy to paint all Rs as against basic safety and security.
Kent
@sdhays: Like I said, I’m ambivalent. I understand the arguments both ways. The ACA is probably another example of a half-good policy that broke the logjam and lead to better things. But don’t think this proposal is in that league.
Kay
@pat:
There’s another huge study:
sdhays
@Kent: I get it. I’m ambivalent too, although I think I come down on the side of “take a win, if we can get it”, even if it’s a tepid win.
J R in WV
@Baud:
I think that was mostly the most exhausting work any of those cops have ever done, sitting on their hands while little kids were being murdered right in front of them!
topclimber
@Kent: Alternately, gun control advocates score a small victory and are more energized to go further.
Not to pick on you, but did I miss the memo that incrementalism is now a bad thing for the BJ set–you know, the scourges of the purity ponies.
JPL
Loudermilk has released a statement stating that the Capitol Police agreed with him there wasn’t nothing suspicious about the tour. Also, the committee did not let him know he that they were releasing the video, and it’s a witch hunt. He and his family are also getting death threats and if true then I feel bad. Maybe they should wear bullet proof backpacks. Maybe he should watch the entire video again just to remind himself what a death threat sounds like.
JPL
Another thing Loudermilk said is that the committee is undermining the Capitol Police. hahahah
The entire statement is here, link
Kay
@JPL:
“No one in the group was criminally charged”
Guffaw.
debbie
@JPL:
Who would be giving death threats and why? Because he got caught out?
ian
Saw this gem from Florida’s governor
The day before Musk signaled he intends to support DeSantis in 2024.
Pretty f*ed up to compare White South African migrants to African Americans
JPL
@Kay: The January 6 committee, interviewed the one with the camera. There’s more to the story. I wonder if the FBI took the cell phone to see who received the pictures.
glc
@SiubhanDuinne:
I was wondering how far down the comments I’d find that. Not far!
debbie
@ian:
That is unbelievable. I hate these people.
gene108
@Scout211:
I believe members could still meet constituents in the Capitol, so members could show constituents around and not violate any rules.
Kay
@JPL:
I’m also wondering where the kids went. They may have been there on a different portion of the tape – Loudermilk says they were – but where did they go?
Baud
@ian:
Common trope among racists.
Ksmiami
@Kent: agreed. Call the GOP the real baby killers and they are coming for your kids. Message the fuck out of this because the Republican party is a monster
Betty Cracker
@ian: This type of shit is how DeSantis created his own MAGA-dope cult among Florida Republicans. He does these “press conference” events almost daily and has an entourage of sycophants to stomp and holler at every word. I’m not at all sure he wouldn’t beat Trump in a head-to-head Republican primary contest in Florida, and Fox News is working hard to endear him to MAGA-dopes nationwide.
trollhattan
@ian: He’s high-larious. Bet if you asked him, Death Santa would claim to be the funniest man in Florida and like Trump, surrounds himself with people who tell him that when he asks.
Steeplejack
Re “normal” tour:
Part of a good thread.
Steeplejack
@ian:
It’s a well-known Twitter joke to pwn the libs. Not original to DeSantis.
gene108
@ian:
It’s pretty much par for the course with conservatives. They’ve been mocking the term African Americans for as long as I can remember.
Betty Cracker
@Steeplejack: Nothing is original to DeSantis, right down to the accordion hand gestures.
JPL
@Kay: Previously Loudermilk said the gift shop, but his story has evolved overtime. At one point he mentioned that he thought tours were okay since the gift shop was open. I appreciate his concern for the Capitol Police. (not)
Paul in KY
@ian: Boy, I bet they really giggled when whatever lickspittle of his typed that up in his twitter feed.
JPL
@Steeplejack: ha In the comments someone suggested that Loudermilk call Rudy.
Steeplejack
Re “But the Capitol was closed!” and/or “The gift shop was open!”
I haven’t been to the Capitol, but in a lot of buildings the “gift shop” is also the snack shop for office workers. “Open” doesn’t necessarily mean “totally business as usual.”
Immanentize
I am waiting to see which Republicans in the House will make a statement supporting Loudermilk. Until and unless McCarthy makes the political decision that it is safe to utter Loudermilk’s name, the Dude is guilty.
debbie
@Immanentize:
Sounds like a job for Gym Jordan. //
germy shoemangler
Scout211
@gene108:
That’s right. That is his constituent “family with young children” version of his ever-changing story. But I think that was the version he tried out in May. He seems to have moved on to defending himself about the tour now. The Capitol police said he did lead a tour, but that it wasn’t suspicious. So “tour” is now the new description of his many versions defending himself.
JPL
Rosanne Boyland died after losing consciousness in the crush of a pro-Trump mob as it surged against the police. from nytimes
Rosanne would have been one of Loudermilk’s constituents and she died trying to storm the capitol.
germy shoemangler
@JPL:
Carrying a “don’t tread on me” flag?
Kay
@JPL:
He’s just saying “gift shop” a lot. It’s weird that the guy is taking photos of the stairs and security checkmarks and Nadler’s name plate!
I’m glad that they released the footage because the Capitol police description of what was in it is wrong and it’s a good and fair question why they lied about this.
If they really viewed that tape and saw nothing suspicious then members of congress should be very concerned about security in that building.
germy shoemangler
@Kay:
I was under the impression that all the bad eggs in the capitol police had been fired or retired after the first Jan. 6 investigations. There were some heroes that day and some who were… not so good. I thought the latter were gone now.
Dorothy A. Winsor
The release of the security footage and the clip Liz Cheney released earlier keep the committee’s narrative going on a day when the hearing had to be postponed. I don’t know if that’s a deliberate strategy, but I wouldn’t be surprised
Immanentize
@germy shoemangler: missed by whom?
I may be nostalgic for Petticoat Junction (at least the theme song) but I sure don’t miss it.
Soprano2
@Kay: I like the way they’re releasing information. It’s being done deliberately to keep the press writing about it. You have to give them new things every day to write about, or they lose interest. That’s something TFG understood about them
Immanentize
@JPL: nice catch.
germy shoemangler
@Immanentize:
Missed by the person who used it to download other, better browsers.
JPL
@Dorothy A. Winsor: The security tape release was in response to the Capitol Police statement clearing Loudermilk. imo
Soprano2
@Kay: But Kay, you know they think women lie about abuse all the time! I guess they’re terrified their GF will lie about them being abusive just so the police can take their penis extensions away!
Immanentize
@Kay:
This is precisely my take on this affair. The Chief is not going to protect members because he can’t see danger. My guess is he himself never viewed the viddy feeds, but that’s on him.
Steeplejack
@sdhays:
Reins in guns.
Soprano2
@Immanentize: OH geez, so they don’t consider taking pictures of stairways and police checkpoints suspicious? Sure, that’s what tourists usually take pictures of!
Immanentize
@germy shoemangler: raises hand ♂️
sdhays
@Kay: At this point, I don’t think it’s wise to believe police statements on any subject without corroborating evidence.
If the police department in your jurisdiction says it’s a sunny day outside, look out the window before drawing any conclusions on whether or not you need an umbrella.
Immanentize
@JPL: That is why this is media perfect — the J6 Cmmt did not just throw Loudermilk under the bus. He opened his stupid pie hole and they merely responded.
Soprano2
@WaterGirl: I hate to say it, but it’s possible that Loudermilk didn’t know what they were doing. Not likely, but possible.
MazeDancer
The two provisions which Cornyn wants to “discuss” – supporting red flag laws and closing the boyfriend loophole – are not nothing. They could actually save lives.
It is like being pro-COVID, the GOP just wants to kill people? Cannot understand why they like killing people. Is it like hunting prairie dogs with AR rifles, do they just enjoy seeing living things explode and die?
Steeplejack
@Betty Cracker:
True.
JPL
Tonight’s episode of Ingraham lies will feature the January 6 committee throwing the Capitol police under the bus.
SiubhanDuinne
@Soprano2:
Willing to be clarified or corrected on this, but I have a vague memory of one of the J6 rioters saying something about knowing where the stairwells and tunnels were so they could seal them off and release gas. Presumably when they were full of (Dem, RINO) members and staffers.
Can’t remember now if it was in a deposition transcript or an early video release or what.
UncleEbeneezer
@Kay: Did ANY Republicans vote to restore VAWA? These are people who opposed making lynching a Federal crime until only this year. So nothing surprises me.
Subcommandante Yakbreath
I found this yesterday through File770.com, an sf fandom website and thought it might be of interest:
NOT QUIET ON THE BOOKSTORE FRONT. Sergej Sumlenny tweeted a long thread about “How [the] Russian book market prepared Russians for a full-scale war against Ukraine, NATO, the West, and promoted stalinism and nazism, and how this was ignored by the West.” Thread starts here.
Villago Delenda Est
@Roger Moore: Because the Village is totally in step with fascism now.
Brachiator
@Kay:
I guess I am not entirely surprised. Still, the degree to which women are at risk is staggering.
The sad thing is that gun humpers would react to this report by saying that more women should buy guns and learn to shoot.
Immanentize
@Soprano2: in the video, Loudermilk makes this odd hand gesture — holding his arm out and flicking his wrist down. I immediately thought of the security doors that the insurrectionists breached during the coup. We will know someday, because the Cmmt. and the feds know by now everything that Loudermilk discussed. Hell, that dumbo probably recorded the whole thing for the great future after the revolution.
JPL
@SiubhanDuinne:
Pretty sure that they found pictures on either the leader of Proud Boys or the Oath Keepers. Not sure which. I want to know if the pictures match those taken by Loudermilk’s friends.
Steeplejack
@Soprano2:
You should see my photo album of festive security bollards!
sdhays
@Soprano2: Seems unlikely if he was the one deciding where they should go. Why would he think that security checkpoints and dull office corridors would be what constituents wanted to see when visiting their Congressperson? And if he was just taking them where they said they wanted to go, he didn’t think that all of the dull bits and photos of police weren’t strange?
UncleEbeneezer
@ian: Just listened to one of my fave Black comedy podcasters joke about his “favorite African-American…Charlize Theron.” But obviously who says it and the context matters.
Omnes Omnibus
@Kent: People who have been working on gun control for years seem to think it is a good thing.
UncleEbeneezer
@Soprano2: Their constant-drip method of releasing info has been VERY effective!
pat
@Subcommandante Yakbreath:
That is horrifying.
JoyceH
@UncleEbeneezer:
Hasn’t it, though? I’m impressed. Headlines every day. And I especially like when they wait until a Repub indignantly denies something, and then release the proof. Whoops. Hope there’s lots more like that.
Villago Delenda Est
@MazeDancer: They’re a death cult. They feed on death. They’re Death-Eaters. Look who the chair of the GQp Senatorial Campaign Committe is! The Dark Lord himself!
JPL
I asked USCP about the discrepancy between Chief Manger’s letter a couple days saying the the Loudermilk group was benign – and the 1/6 committee’s interpretation. They largely declined to comment: link
Villago Delenda Est
@JPL: Well, they’ve been caught with their pants down in the stable.
Old School
@SiubhanDuinne:
It was in charging document of some Oath Keepers:
Betty
@Immanentize: I wonder how much ot matters that Simema is the one who pushed this. Not known as a die hard Democrat.
Kay
@JPL:
He can’t make a statement while the investigation is ongoing yet he released a letter saying there was nothing suspicious. He has to choose one of those. Too late for the no statement dodge!
Tony G
@Kay: At this point the GOP doesn’t even try to hide the evil that they are. They have calculated, perhaps correctly, that being openly repulsive helps them with their base more than it hurts them with the dwindling number of independent voters. They are letting their freak-flag fly, as the old saying goes.
SiubhanDuinne
@Old School:
That must be what I’m remembering. Thanks!
lowtechcyclist
Lemme see if I can remember how to do this correctly (apparently not)
Perhaps Lauren Boebert’s best tweet ever, in light of recent revelations:
https://twitter.com/jefftimmer/status/1537093893807816705
Betty
@Soprano2: There a picture of him stopping the tour for the guy to take a picture of the tunnel. He knew.
zhena gogolia
@lowtechcyclist: Good one.
piratedan
I assume that we’re going to have one of these very painful days of testimony where we discover the details on the breaching of the Capitol on just how the decision making process took place to leave it lightly defended. Who made those calls, which officers and administration officials were sympathetic to those attempting to assault legislators (i.e. who stood by and watched them flood the building) and stop the certification.
Has anyone attempted to perform any dot connection with those on the tour and if they were also present the next day?
cain
@JPL:
Tourism is getting really dangerous – there outta be a law..
Villago Delenda Est
@lowtechcyclist: She apparently isn’t aware of how Jesus felt about hypocrites.
cain
@lowtechcyclist:
I couldn’t give two shits about her and what she’s done as an adult – we’ve been fighting for people like her to do exactly that. Touching and fondling Ted Cruz though should probably be a crime against humanity.
I’m happy to see both Ted and Lauren head off to the sunset. Feel bad for her kids though.
sdhays
@lowtechcyclist: For those who aren’t aware of the recent accusations (I wasn’t):
ETA: Apparently, this is the same outfit behind the demise of Madison Cawthorn. So it seems Maddy isn’t the only one in their crosshairs.
Subcommandante Yakbreath
@pat: It is. Even if Sumienny is exaggerating, it’s still a lot of mind rotting propaganda over a decade. Helps to understand why average Russians might be more supportive of the war than we’d like to believe.
WaterGirl
@Villago Delenda Est: Did I miss some news about Boebert
Never mind. i see an answer at #141.
CindyH
@Tony G: They don’t need to – thanks to their wins in 2010 and therefore the power of redistricting, they are gerrymandered to ensure continued control.
Gretchen
@Kay: closing the boyfriend loophole was the reason a lot of people thought this was a good bill even if it didn’t go as far as we would have liked. 70% of mass shooters have some history of domestic violence or a member of their family is one of the victims of the shooting. Sandy Hook and the Texas shooter both shot female family members before their shooting sprees. Cornyn doesn’t want to close the loophole.
Mai Naem mobile
I guess Conwoman Kyrsten couldn’t schmooze Conman Cornyn into a gun safety bill. I am shocked! Shocked I say!
Kay
@Gretchen:
I objected to the bill because of the “school hardening” billions. I think “school hardening” is a scam and the security companies are GOP donors. Lafayette, Indiana public schools paid 400k to a “security company” who also make body armor. They’re profiting on both gun nuts and fear of gun nuts. I refuse to turn schools into detention centers because gun nuts refuse to either regulate their own behavior or accept regulation. I think school hardening is a negative but with the mental health funding that’s a wash, so I would need the boyfriend loophole closed and red flag to get to “positive”.
But I do think Murphy has them between a rock and a hard place. If they back out they’ll get blamed for killing it.
StringOnAStick
@MazeDancer:
Yes, they do. My late nephew (thanks to brain cancer linked to his Iraq war service) loved to go out and shoot prairie dogs for exactly that reason. He thought it was fun. That’s who gun nuts are.
Kay
@Gretchen:
I just don’t want to give 5 billion dollars to these bullshit “security experts” to harden schools. It’s an enormous amount of money. If they’re worried about the mental health of students they can spend it on music and sports and swimming pools and beautiful green spaces around schools. I hate bad investments. This is one. I don’t know why US children have to have such grim, joyless, narrow public policy. They never get anything “good” or “extra”. Did you see that Uvalade campus? It had already been “hardened”. As someone who spends a lot of time in juvenile detention centers I’ll tell you it looks like one. It’s a low income district. That’s why it looks like that.
StringOnAStick
@Subcommandante Yakbreath: Wow, that’s quite a thread and sure shows how years of propaganda can turn citizens into drones for Putin. Putin’s project has been decades in the making and I feel like our intelligence services missed this stuff because too many agents are also conservative to revancist in their own outlook. Scary.
Almost like how years of FOX made drones for tRump! But surely decent Americans would not fall for such stuff. s
Brachiator
@sdhays:
Is it better to be a licensed paid escort?
Gravenstone
@joel hanes: Or, that they didn’t have an issue with Congress critters running recon ops. In either case, your statement holds true.
Scout211
The Seefried verdict is in: one felony, four misdemeanors each. Source.
So a bench trial is not a free ride.
matt
Cornholio strikes again!
ChiJD Doug
@SiubhanDuinne: drat. I was about to make this exact comment. Good on ‘ya.