RFK Jr claims January 6 wasn't that bad, says 'burned' Capitol is 'not the end of republic'

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA: Robert F Kennedy Jr again discussed a controversial topic on the 'Tucker Carlson Live Show Tour' in Anaheim, California.

During his appearance alongside Tucker Carlson and Vivek Ramaswamy, Kennedy Jr downplayed the severity of the January 6 Capitol attack, saying it wasn’t a real threat to the republic. 

Robert F Kennedy Jr's remarks on the January 6 Capitol insurrection

Robert F Kennedy Jr's comments align with his previous questioning of the events of that day.

He questioned the impact of the insurrection on the stability of the United States, suggesting that even if buildings were destroyed, it wouldn’t spell the end of American democracy.

“People broke the law on January 6, if you broke the law you should be punished, but what, was the Republic threatened on January 6th?” Kennedy Jr asked.

He further commented, “Even if a building is burned down, it’s not the end of the republic.”

He said the US military and government institutions were capable of resisting a violent overthrow.

Kennedy Jr implied that despite the violence and chaos on January 6, the functioning of Congress and other national institutions meant the country was never in serious danger.

“We have these agencies, we have institutions in our country that are still functioning, we have a congress, etcetera, that would resist the violent overthrow," he said, according to Daily Beast. 

RFK Jr's previous views on the January 6 riots

This is not the first time Robert F Kennedy Jr has downplayed the events of January 6.

In April, he referred to the rioters as “activists” who had been “stripped of their constitutional liberties.”

He was "concerned about the possibility that political objectives motivated the vigor of the prosecution of the J6 defendants," at the time.

“I want to hear every side,” added KennedyJr, voicing his interest in an unbiased investigation.

 

Although he partially criticized Trump, saying the attack occurred with the former president's “encouragement” and in the context of his belief that the election was stolen, Kennedy Jr suggested he would take further steps.

He said, “As president, I would appoint a special counsel to look into whether Trump allies were unfairly singled out for prosecution, and I will right any wrongs that we discover,”  Associated Press reported. 

RFK Jr had claimed January 6 routers had no weapons 

Robert F Kennedy Jr had also falsely claimed that no weapons were carried by the rioters during the January 6 attack.

He later walked back on his statement and acknowledged his mistake.

“My understanding that none of the January 6 rioters who invaded the Capitol were carrying firearms was incorrect," he said at the time.

“Several have been convicted of carrying firearms into the Capitol building. Others assaulted Capitol police with pepper spray, bludgeons, and other makeshift weapons," Kennedy Jr further clarified his position.

"This behavior is inexcusable,” he said. “I have never minimized or dismissed the seriousness of the riot or any crime committed on that day," he further added.