Rep. Mo Brooks said while he was not involved in the planning of the Jan. 6 rally at the Capitol, he would be “proud” if it turns out his staff assisted in arranging the “lawful” protest.
Brooks, who has come under scrutiny from lawmakers and journalists after a Sunday report from Rolling Stone accused Brooks of involvement in planning ahead of the Jan. 6 riot, has denied knowledge of staff members allegedly helping with the event. But he maintained he would support them if they exercised their First Amendment rights in orchestrating a legal protest.
“I don’t know if my staff did,” Brooks told CNN’s Melanie Zanona on Monday. “But if they did, I’d be proud of them for helping to put together a rally lawful under the First Amendment at the Ellipse to protest voter fraud and election theft.”
GOP MEMBERS LASH OUT AT ROLLING STONE REPORT LINKING THEM TO JAN. 6 PLANNING
Brooks previously denied allegations that he was involved in planning ahead of the Jan. 6 siege, claiming that he did not know of any staff members who may have assisted in planning the rally. The Alabama Republican also denied that he and Rep. Madison Cawthorn spoke with then-President Donald Trump at the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse outside the White House.
“There was a meeting at the White House about voter fraud and election theft activity,” Brooks said. “But I have no recollection of any kind of organizational activity regarding the speeches on Jan. 6.”
The Alabama Republican “had no intentions of going to that rally until Jan. 5, when the White House asked me to speak,” Brooks told the Birmingham News, adding that Jan. 5 was the “beginning of his involvement.”
In March, Rep. Eric Swalwell filed a lawsuit against Brooks, claiming that he and a handful of others bore responsibility for the Capitol Hill siege. Brooks was “finally” served with papers in June after Swalwell encountered difficulty locating the representative for three months.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Brooks has consistently promoted claims about mass voter fraud. In September, Brooks repeatedly claimed the 2020 election was stolen despite officials’ assurances that votes were secure.
A representative for Brooks did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
