By John Clise
Republican Wood County Senator Mike Azinger has fallen afoul of the Democratic Caucus after travelling to Washington, D.C. to participate in January 6 riots, and his continued promotion of President Trump’s false election narrative.
“The rally was something that our president called for,” said Senator Mike Azinger, R-Wood. “I didn’t necessarily want to make that long trip and stay out in the cold. I didn’t necessarily want to put myself through that. I’d rather watch on TV, but there’s a time where we all have to make a little bit of sacrifice. Our president called us to D.C.” Azinger said recently in an interview with Hoppy Kercheval on WV MetroNews.
During the interview Azinger continued to promote Trump’s false claim of a stolen election, though at least 50 lawsuits regarding alleged fraud have been dismissed.
During an interview with his hometown paper The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, Azinger laid blame for the riot that left five people dead and lead to the suicide of Capitol police officer on the shoulders of left leaning groups such as Antifa though there has been no evidence to prove those allegations.
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations have made multiple arrests of individuals linked to right leaning groups including militias and other groups.
Azinger has also run afoul of West Virginia Democrats prompting the following rebuke from the Democratic Caucus of his actions:
The events of January 6, 2021 at the US Capitol represented a dark day for America. Five Americans died in the violent insurgence on the capitol. Democracy must be determined by ballots, not bullets.
Senator Mike Azinger attended the events on Capitol Hill. We take no issue with the fact that he exercised his constitutional rights. We strongly believe that the First Amendment to our Constitution is the very foundation of our republic.
Rather, what concerns us is his gross mischaracterization of the events.
In an interview with MetroNews, he called it a “great rally” that was “inspiring” and “peaceful.” In truth, it was an attempted insurrection in which a police officer was killed in the line of duty.
He said the event was “quintessentially American. It put shivers up your spine.” In truth, the violence shocked our country to its core because it was so wholly un-American.
He went on to say, “I hope [the president] calls us back.” In truth, there is no place for violent disruption of democratic principles and processes in the United States of America.
We believe it is time for reasonable elected officials from both parties to join together to speak out against violence and for peace.
We call on all of our Senate colleagues, including Senator Azinger, to condemn the violence, to stop flaming the fires of division, to speak with truth, and to support our nation’s cherished tradition of the peaceful transfer of power.
–Senate Democratic Caucus
Azinger has likened the riot at the capitol as a gathering of people who “love our country, love our country, and love God.”
Republican Governor Jim Justice has ordered flags at the capitol to be flown at the capital in honor of the officers who died as a result of the violence at the Capitol on January 6.
In honor of the life and service of United States Capitol Police Officers Brian D. Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, and in accordance with President Donald J. Trump’s proclamation, Gov. Jim Justice has issued a proclamation, ordering that all United States and West Virginia flags on all State-owned facilities be displayed at half-staff until sunset on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
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