Majority of Republicans blame left-wing activists for January 6 attack on Capitol Hill

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A large majority of Republicans believe left-wing or liberal activists deserve the most blame for the Jan.6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump.

A new poll released Wednesday by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) showed the majority of Americans blame the riot on Trump, conservative media platforms and white supremacists. However, 61% of Republicans attribute a large part of the blame for the attack on the U.S. Capitol to liberal or left-wing activists, the only group that a majority of GOP voters believe bears responsibility for the violence.

Following the attack, some GOP lawmakers and conservative activists propagated conspiracy theories that left-wing groups such as Antifa or Black Lives Matter were behind the attack, but no evidence has been found. emerged to support these claims.

In fact, many of the hundreds of rioters who were arrested and charged as part of the Justice Department’s extensive investigation into the assault directly blamed Trump for their actions. Some tried to use this as a defense in court, arguing that they were acting on the president’s instructions.

A large group of pro-Trump protesters raise placards and flags on Capitol grounds January 6 in Washington, DC Hundreds of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol, with numerous police violently assaulting lawmakers and the legislative building. Jon Cherry / Getty Images

Prior to the attack, Trump spoke at a rally and urged his supporters to “walk” to Capitol Hill and “fight like hell.” Hundreds of people did just that in an apparent effort to block formal certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory. The Senate and House of Representatives were working on the certification process when the attack occurred.

The PRRI poll showed that Republicans’ views on who deserves blame varied somewhat depending on their media consumption. Only 53% of GOP voters who trust the news the most blamed left or liberal activists. But 69% of Republicans who said they trusted Fox News the most blamed left-wing or liberal activists, as did 76% of GOP voters who trusted far-right news sources the most.

The PRRI survey was conducted August 9-30 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.86 percentage point.

The results of the investigation were released days before right-wing groups planned to protest outside the United States Capitol in support of the hundreds of people who attacked the legislative chamber in January. Look Ahead America has scheduled the “Justice for J6” event for Saturday and hundreds of people are expected. CBS News reported that members of far-right groups, the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, were planning to participate.

Trump released a statement on Thursday defending those involved on January 6.

“Our hearts and minds are with those so unfairly persecuted in connection with the January 6 protest over the rigged presidential election,” Trump said in the statement shared on Twitter by his spokesman Liz Harrington. “On top of everything else, it has conclusively proven that we are a two-tier justice system. Ultimately, however, JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!”

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