‘That Is The Reality!’ CNN’s Jake Tapper Torpedoes Trump And Republicans In Blistering Jan 6 Denunciation

CNN anchor Jake Tapper took on attempts to rewrite the January 6 riot President-elect Donald Trump inspired in a blistering commentary on the “vicious” assault being “whitewashed” by some Republicans.

Four years ago, Trump cheered on a mob as they hunted then-Vice President Mike Pence through the Capitol grounds chanting for him to be hanged because he refused Trump’s demand to go along with a plot to overturn the election.

But Trump and his supporters have promoted a series of falsehoods about that day as Trump prepares to pardon many of the rioters. On the anniversary of the attack, Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) posted just such an account.

On Monday’s edition of CNN’s The Lead, Tapper opened the show by acknowledging Vice President Kamala Harris for fulfilling her duty to certify the election, sans riot.

He then launched into a scathing denunciation of Trump and Republicans, and of the violence he says they’re trying to “whitewash” ahead of those pardons:

TAPPER: It’s official. Congress has now certified Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential election victory. The democratic process, multi- democratic process today playing out as the Founding Fathers intended, rather uneventfully.

Vice President Kamala Harris fulfilling her constitutional duty, presiding over the counting of the Electoral College votes that certified her own election loss to Trump.

Just a short time ago after the ceremony, she spoke about that moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today, I did what I’ve done my entire career, which is take seriously the oath that I have taken many times to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Even the winter storm pulverizing our nation’s Capitol did not stop the certification. The Capitol grounds are covered in snow. The last time America certified a presidential election, the capitol grounds were covered with an angry mob, One that soon turned violent.

On this day four years ago, election lies by Mr. Trump fueled many of his supporters to storm the Capitol, viciously assaulting police officers while trying to stop the election certification and overturn Trump’s legitimate loss.

I don’t have to tell you every detail of what happened. You probably watched some of this live as it unfolded, and maybe you even remember this moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: I want people out there to remember how they feel right now as they watch these images live because there is going to be an attempt by the people who were part of this effort. President Trump, House Minority Leader McCarthy, Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Hawley, et cetera, there is going to be an attempt to whitewash what’s going on right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Now, you might recall in the immediate aftermath of the attack, Republican leaders, including Kevin McCarthy, condemned it. McCarthy took to the floor of the house to say Trump bears responsibility. Now, of course, Mr. Trump, the president-elect, calls January 6th a day of love.

Even today brand-new alternate histories, alternate realities are emerging about what happened that day. Today, Republican Congressman Mike Collins of Georgia posted on social media, quote, on this day in history in 2021, thousands of peaceful grandmothers gathered in Washington, D.C., to take a self- guided, albeit unauthorized tour of the U.S. Capitol building. Earlier that day, President Trump held a rally where supporters walked peacefully to witness the certification of the 2020 election. During this time, some individuals entered the Capitol, took photos and explored the building before leaving, unquote.

That is not an accurate description of what happened here, at least here on Planet Earth on that day. Of course, there were some Trump supporters peacefully protesting and many did not enter the Capitol, but no one is taking issue with them. The issue with the people doing this to this policeman.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

TAPPER: That cry of pain by that law enforcement officer, that not backing of the blue, that is the reality of January 6, 2021. More than 600 people have been charged with assaulting or obstructing police in that effort, to undermine the free and fair election of 2020.

Now, in two weeks Donald Trump, the president- elect, will return to the White House and he has promised to grant presidential pardons to Capitol rioters.

We do not know which ones he is talking about.

Watch above via CNN’s The Lead.