OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
An outgoing Republican governor has cast aspersions at former President Donald Trump, becoming the latest GOP leader to blame him for the Jan. 6, 2020 riot at the U.S. Capitol Building.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison, who is also a former GOP congressman, made the claim in a Sunday interview with CNN host Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”
He also implored his party to allegedly stop downplaying the events of that day and admit Trump has “responsibility” for what happened.
“According to a Washington Post survey, 63% of Republicans who embraced the big lie about the election are running for statewide positions throughout the United States,” Tapper said, likely a reference to claims by Trump that the 2020 election was “rigged” and “stolen” from him.
“Are you worried at all about individuals who embrace the big lie and support the notion of elections? Are you worried about them elected into positions where they could potentially warp and undermine legitimate election results?” Tapper queried.
“Well, what worries me is that they’re not demonstrating leadership. Whenever you’re running for office, that’s whenever you start about the future, and you help educate the voters as to what happened on January 6, and you make this about the future,” Hutchison, who is in the last year of his final term, said.
“We’re going to win. I feel comfortable with the GOP in the short term. We’re going to have a good 2022,” he added.
“I’m excited about the elections, but at the same time, if we want to be a party of strength over the long term, then we’ve got to not diminish and minimize the consequences of January 6, and this last week was a time of reflection on that, and over the coming years, it’s going to get worse, not better, and so we have to, one, make sure we show that that was unacceptable, we have to define it in the right way,” Hutchison continued, adding: “It was an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power.”
“Thirdly, we have to make sure we are clear that President Trump did have some responsibility for that. Beyond that, let’s move on. Let’s talk about our future, and I think that’s how a candidate runs for office,” he said.
As has been reported a number of times, mostly by conservative media, Trump never implored his supporters to violently attack the U.S. Capitol Building, but rather urged them to “peacefully” assemble to make their voices heard.
For his part, Hutchison has endorsed Sarah Sanders, daughter of former Arkansas GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee, and a former Trump press secretary, to replace him.
Earlier this year and shortly after she announced, Sanders’ campaign took in nearly $5 million during the first quarter, easily outpacing her next-closest GOP primary rival.
USA Features News reported:
According to a press release from her campaign, most of the contributions poured in from out of state, with roughly a third of the cash, $1.5 million, coming from in-state residents.
“I am grateful for the generous support of so many Arkansans—in 60 days we held over 50 events in Arkansas and received more than 6,500 donations across all 75 counties of the state. Our message of limiting government and advancing education and opportunity is clearly resonating,” Huckabee Sanders said in the release.
The overwhelming majority of the almost 35,000 donors gave small amounts of $100 or less, the release noted.
Sanders was Trump’s second press secretary, taking over for Sean Spicer, who is now a Newsmax TV host.
“With the radical left in control of Washington, our governors are our last line of defense,” Sanders said in April.
“I will be on the front line of the fight for freedom and am encouraged to have so many friends across our state and country standing with us,” she added.
Trump has voiced his support for her campaign and has already endorsed Sanders, who is the daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
