Clyburn warns on Jan. 6 as Trump pokes enjoyable of SC’s Tom Rice

Five years after a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, forcing lawmakers into hiding and halting certification of the 2020 presidential election, the divide over that day was mirrored in separate moments involving South Carolina political figures.

Speaking on the House flooring Tuesday night time, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn warned the risk uncovered that day persists — leaving the obligation of defending American democracy as pressing as ever.

“This was not a peaceful protest; it was unadulterated violence,” Clyburn stated in a ready night speech.

Later, he pointed to the constitutional oath taken by the president and members of Congress.

“That oath is a recognition of the fact that there will be times throughout history when we must deal with the enemy from within,” Clyburn stated.

Clyburn, D-Columbia, delivered a brief speech on the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault. Within South Carolina’s congressional delegation, no GOP member publicly marked the day on social media.

Two members — Reps. Russell Fry of Surfside Beach and William Timmons of Greenville — shared pictures from their front-row seats the place House Republicans gathered to listen to from President Donald Trump on the Kennedy Center that additionally bears Trump’s identify.

There, Trump once more repeated his declare the 2020 election was “rigged,” though judges in a number of circumstances after the election discovered no proof of a fraudulent election. Trump additionally solid doubt on the integrity of America’s election programs total when he advised congressional Republicans, “Our elections are crooked as hell.”

The break up display screen in how Democrats and Republicans marked the day illustrates how America’s two main political events disagree on a shared historical past of the occasions of Jan. 6, 2021.

The White House printed an internet site that cast the day’s history in phrases that blamed the president’s political enemies. The authorities web site additionally celebrated Trump’s pardon of Jan. 6 defendants, which described them as as being “unfairly targeted, overcharged, and used as political examples.”

Roughly 34 defendants with ties to South Carolina acquired pardons. Among them: Tyler Dykes, a Bluffton resident accused of performing a Nazi salute in the course of the assault and who’s now working for Congress.

In his remarks, Clyburn criticized Trump’s pardons, saying he had made “a mockery of the pardon process and smeared his oath to uphold the constitution.”

“These actions demonstrate a blatant disregard of our democratic institutions and the sanctity of the vote,” Clyburn stated.

At a House Republican retreat in Washington, Trump urged get together unity forward of this 12 months’s midterm elections, saying Republicans have “got to win.” If they fail, he stated, he expects to face a 3rd impeachment.

He additionally took intention at former South Carolina U.S. Rep. Tom Rice, one of many 10 House Republicans who voted to question him after the Jan. 6 assault. To date, simply two of these House Republicans stay in workplace.

One of them, U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, introduced in mid-December that he won’t search re-election subsequent 12 months.

Rice, a five-term congressman from Myrtle Beach, was ousted within the 2022 Republican main by Fry — an consequence Trump celebrated as proof that just about all 10 House Republicans who voted to question him at the moment are out of workplace.

“Think of it, everyone’s gone. Everyone’s gone. It makes me feel so good,” Trump stated. “I don’t want to feel vicious, but I’m so happy that everyone — and they’re seriously gone, too. They lost in landslides.”

In retelling Rice’s ouster, Trump overstated the margin of Rice’s loss to Fry, claiming the previous congressman was defeated by 48 factors. In actuality, Rice misplaced by roughly half that.

Trump additionally claimed there have been “riots” exterior Rice’s dwelling. He combined up Fry’s political resume, too, saying he was a state senator earlier than coming to Congress. He represented Horry County as a state consultant.

Trump’s dislike for Rice — and his impeachment vote — was unmistakable.

Recalling the aftermath of the impeachment vote, Trump stated he instantly started looking for a challenger. “Who the hell can run against this guy, Rice?” he recalled asking. “Just give me somebody — a warm body.”

House Republicans laughed as Trump described his efforts to recruit a candidate able to defeating Rice, who had spent almost a decade in Congress. Singling out Fry and urging him to face up, Trump stated the search paid off.

“I looked around for somebody,” Trump stated. “It’s true. This was a good choice.”

Trump stated he spoke to Fry one time and on the finish of the decision advised him, “You’re accepted.”

Hearing that, House Republicans applauded.