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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, on Tuesday explained his reasoning for serving on the House committee conducting hearings on the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol building, saying he felt the “future of self-goverment was threatened.”
Testimony from police officers was heard on Tuesday.
“Like all Americans, I am frustrated that six months after a deadly riot breached the United States Capitol for several hours on live television, we still don’t know exactly what happened,” Kinzinger said in his opening remarks to the select committee Tuesday. “Why? Because many in my party have treated this as just another partisan fight. It’s toxic, and it’s a disservice to the officers and their families, to the staff and employees on the Capitol Complex, and to the American people who deserve the truth. And it’s why I agreed to serve on this committee. I want to know what happened that day, but more importantly, I want all Americans to be able to trust the work this committee does and get the facts out there, free of conspiracy.”
Responding to critics who compared the Capitol breach to the riots over racial injustice that took place during the summer of 2020, Kinzinger cited his service as an Air National Guardsman. Kinzinger said he was directed to confront those riots.
“I condemned those riots and the destruction of property that resulted. But not once did I ever feel that the future of self-government was threatened like I did on Jan. 6,” he said in explaining why he felt an investigation into the Jan. 6 insurrection, but not last summer’s riots, was necessary.
“There is a difference between breaking the law and rejecting the rule of law, between a crime – even grave crimes – and a coup,” he said.
Kinzinger then commended the actions of officers who were testifying to uphold their oaths of office to defend the Constitution.
“While we on this dais were whisked away from the danger, heroes like those here stood their posts before it and paid the price. We are only here now because you were here then,” he said.