Rifts inside the Republican Occasion had been on full show Thursday because the nation marked the anniversary of the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

A yr in the past, a whole lot of then-President Donald Trump's supporters assaulted the federal constructing in an obvious effort to disrupt the formal certification of President Joe Biden's Electoral Faculty victory. Divisions inside the GOP have widened since that day, with some lawmakers inside the get together blaming Trump for the violence whereas others proceed to help and defend the previous president.

The vary of views expressed by Republicans in Congress diverse on Thursday, with some condemning Trump and others attacking Biden and Democrats for focusing consideration on January 6. Different GOP lawmakers remained silent, whereas many condemned the mob of rioters with out mentioning the previous president.

Though Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell beforehand condemned Trump for the January 6 assault, he didn't point out the previous president in his Thursday assertion.

"The US Capitol, the seat of the primary department of our federal authorities, was stormed by criminals who brutalized law enforcement officials and used power to attempt to cease Congress from doing its job. This disgraceful scene was antithetical to the rule of regulation," the Kentucky Republican stated in remarks posted on his web site.

"One yr later, I'm as grateful as ever for the courageous women and men of the U.S. Capitol Police who served our establishment bravely that day and each day since. I proceed to help justice for many who broke the regulation," McConnell stated.

January 6 attack
Republicans haven't responded uniformly to the one-year anniversary of the January 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol. Above, a big group of Donald Trump supporters increase indicators and flags on the federal constructing's grounds on January 6, 2021.Jon Cherry/Getty Photographs

McConnell added that "the Senate didn't bend or break. We caught collectively, stood robust, gaveled again in, and did our job." He additionally advised that Democrats had been trying to use the assault on the Capitol for partisan targets.

"It has been beautiful to see some Washington Democrats attempt to exploit this anniversary to advance partisan coverage targets that lengthy predated this occasion. It's particularly jaw-dropping to listen to some Senate Democrats invoke the mob's try and disrupt our nation's norms, guidelines, and establishments as a justification to discard our norms, guidelines, and establishments themselves," he stated.

Consultant Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, didn't mince phrases in condemning Trump and fellow GOP lawmakers who've downplayed the riot. Cheney served because the No. 3 Home Republican till she was ousted final Could due to her criticism of the previous president and fellow GOP lawmakers who proceed to help him.

"It is crucial, should you have a look at what's occurring as we speak in my get together, the Republican Occasion," Cheney stated throughout a Immediately present interview Thursday.

"Reasonably than reject what occurred on [January] sixth, reject the lies in regards to the election and clarify that a president who engaged in these actions can by no means be president once more, sadly too many in my very own get together are embracing that former president, are trying the opposite means, are minimizing the hazard," she stated.

The congresswoman warned that Trump continues to be a "risk" to the nation. Cheney additionally stated the previous president "continues to make the identical claims that he is aware of brought on violence on January 6."

In the meantime, GOP Consultant Elise Stefanik of New York—who changed Cheney in Could as chair of the Home Republican Convention—condemned the January 6 violence and attacked Democrats.

"I've persistently burdened that there isn't a place in our nation for violence in politics on both facet. I condemned those that broke into the Capitol final yr, and I am grateful for the heroic efforts of police and first responders who stored us protected that day, and who maintain our communities protected each day," Stefanik stated in a press release posted to her web site.

The congresswoman slammed Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi and criticized the Democratic management in Washington. "The injury created by lower than one yr of complete Democrat management in Washington is staggering, and is devastating hardworking households throughout America," she stated.

Republican Representatives Matt Gaetz of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene—two staunchly pro-Trump lawmakers—blasted the Home choose committee investigating the January 6 assault. Gaetz referred to as the committee members "tyrants" on Twitter, whereas Greene stated in a submit that she doesn't "belief our authorities" due to the probe.

Senator Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican who voted to convict Trump in his first and second impeachment trials, warned that the nation should study classes from the Capitol riot.

"We ignore the teachings of January 6 at our personal peril. Democracy is fragile; it can not survive with out leaders of integrity and character who care extra in regards to the energy of our Republic than about profitable the following election. I stated final yr that the easiest way we will present respect for voters who're upset is by telling them the reality," Romney stated in a press release on his web site.

"The accountability that elected officers have on this regard is prime to reversing the malaise gripping our present politics and making certain that our democracy endures," he added.

Trump and his conservative allies proceed to falsely declare that the 2020 presidential election was "rigged" or "stolen" in favor of Biden. They haven't supplied any proof substantiating the allegation, however polls present nearly all of Republican voters consider the conspiracy principle—which Trump doubled down on in Thursday statements.

Consultant Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican who made controversial remarks at a "Cease the Steal" rally forward of the January 6 assault, additionally reiterated his perception that the final presidential election was stolen. "#FakeNewsMedia, #Socialist #Democrats + #RINOs declare little to no voter fraud in America. Immediately is 1 yr anniversary of voter fraud debate in Congress," Brooks tweeted on Thursday.

Regardless of Trump's and his allies' claims, voter fraud didn't tip the 2020 race in Biden's favor. Former Lawyer Normal William Barr, who was broadly seen as one in every of Trump's most loyal Cupboard members, asserted in December 2020 that there was "no proof" to help that allegation after he had the Justice Division examine. Moreover, audits and recounts throughout the nation—together with in states the place the election was overseen by pro-Trump Republicans—have reaffirmed Biden's win.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican who voted to convict Trump for inciting the January 6 assault in his February 2021 impeachment trial, blamed him once more for spurring the violence.

"Immediately marks one yr for the reason that U.S. Capitol was stormed by a mob incited by our former president. These of us who had been there to meet our constitutional tasks can by no means erase what we noticed and heard, nor will we ever neglect the desecration and violence that befell," the GOP senator stated in a press release.

"A yr later, the disappointment and anger of realizing that it was Individuals who breached the middle of our democracy, to thwart certification of a lawful election, stays with me," Murkowski added.

In the meantime, Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and key Trump ally, expressed shock that the rioters had been capable of enter the legislative constructing final yr.

"Whatever the purpose for the assault on the Capitol, to lose management in such a trend twenty years after 9/11 is beautiful," Graham wrote on Twitter, with out mentioning Trump.

"Those that defiled the Capitol on January 6 are being prosecuted, as they need to be," he wrote in a follow-up submit. "I've persistently condemned the assault and have urged that these concerned be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the regulation."

As for Trump, on Thursday he once more promoted his false claims in regards to the 2020 presidential election and blasted the Home choose committee investigating the assault on the Capitol.

"Why is it that the Unselect Committee of completely partisan political hacks, whose judgment has way back been made, not discussing the rigged Presidential Election of 2020? It is as a result of they do not have the solutions or justifications for what occurred," he stated.

Two Republicans—Cheney and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois—are members of the choose committee.

"They need all dialog regarding the Election 'Canceled.' Simply have a look at the numbers, they communicate for themselves. They don't seem to be justifiable, so the complicit media simply calls it the Huge Lie, when really the Huge Lie was the Election itself," Trump stated.

Former GOP Vice President Dick Cheney, who served beneath former President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, shared a starkly completely different perspective. The distinguished Republican visited the Capitol with Liz Cheney, his daughter, on Thursday and took part in a second of silence commemorating the tragic assault. He took goal on the present Republican leaders of the Home.

"It is not management that resembles any of the oldsters I knew once I was right here for 10 years," the previous vice chairman informed reporters. He beforehand served as a member of the Home from 1979 to 1989 and in Home GOP management from 1987 to 1989.