Sen. Ron Johnson Swats Down Claims His Capitol Mob Remarks Are Racist

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) wound up in some hot water after he claimed he would have been nervous if Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

However, Johnson responded to his critics as he said “there’s no racism involved” in his comments about the riot.

“It has nothing to do with race. It has everything to do with riots,” Johnson told WISN-AM. “I completely did not anticipate that anybody could interpret what I said as racist. It’s not.”

On Thursday, Johnson said on “The Joe Pags Show” that he did not feel threatened as hundreds of pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol.

“I’ve also been criticized because I made the comment on Jan. 6 – I never felt threatened, because I didn’t,” he said, adding, “Even though those thousands of people were marching on the Capitol were trying to pressure people like me to vote the way they wanted me to vote, I knew those were people that love this country, that truly respect law enforcement, would never do anything to break the law, so I wasn’t concerned.”

He continued:

“Had the tables been turned, Joe, this could mean trouble. Had the tables been turned and President Trump won the election and those were tens of thousands of Black Lives Matter and Antifa protesters, I might have been a little concerned.”

The Wisconsin senator’s comments sparked allegations of racism:

https://twitter.com/robreiner/status/1370571997533544448

Jessica Floyd, president of Democratic super PAC American Bridge 21st Century, also blasted Johnson’s comments as she said in a statement, “Senator Johnson’s remarks are racist and unacceptable. There is nothing patriotic about storming the Capitol to attempt to overturn an election and murder elected officials.”

Johnson has also previously suggested that those who stormed the building were “fake Trump protesters.”