Axios founder rips GOP flip-flop on Capitol cops at Jack Smith hearing: 'Give me a break'

Reacting to Republican House members’ attempt to whitewash the Jan. 6 insurrection at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, Axios founder Jim VandeHei was incredulous and furious at the GOP's ever-changing views of the Capitol cops who defended them.

During an appearance on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe,“ the co-hosts shared a clip of Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) reading quotes from GOP lawmakers immediately after the Donald Trump-inspired riot at the Capitol where they praised the work of the Capitol police for saving them, and then contrasted that with their now taking the insurrectionist’s side out of fear of the president.

That led to an outburst from VandeHei when asked about the whitewashing as special counsel Jack Smith was grilled and repeatedly interrupted by Republicans.

“Give me a break,” he exclaimed. “Like we saw what happened. We saw people storm the Capitol. They trashed the center of democracy. They stampeded over police officers. People were killed. Police officers killed themselves because they were so horrified by what had happened that day.”

“And to do anything other than say that that sucks, that's wrong!” he continued. “It should never have happened. It should never happen again. It's really –– the only response that you could possibly have –– and obviously Republicans are quick to defend Trump, but there's not a single Republican that you or I or anyone on this show talked to in the month after that, that would have said anything that they're saying today.”

“So what happened?” he asked. “I mean, you [the GOP lawmakers] were there and you said the same thing for a month, and now you say a completely different thing? You're painting a completely different reality. What the hell happened? I want to know. I mean, I think we all want to know.”

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