In a formal written statement on Friday, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. initially claimed that the participants in the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol “carried no weapons,” a statement that was quickly debunked as false. Despite evidence to the contrary, former President Donald Trump has also made this claim multiple times. Kennedy’s campaign attempted to clarify his views on the events of January 6th following controversial comments made in fundraising emails earlier in the week, in which some of the rioters’ actions were downplayed.
After CNN challenged Kennedy’s false claim about the rioters being unarmed, he retracted his statement, acknowledging that he was mistaken. He admitted that several individuals involved in the Capitol breach were carrying firearms, while others used makeshift weapons like pepper spray, bludgeons, and flagpoles. Kennedy condemned this behavior as “inexcusable.” The Department of Justice has charged 122 individuals with entering a restricted area with a dangerous or deadly weapon in connection to the riot, further highlighting the falseness of the initial claim.
Kennedy’s Friday statements also included other claims about January 6 that have been promoted by Trump and right-wing figures. He claimed that many of the protestors broke the law, but promised to appoint a special counsel to investigate any potential abuse of prosecutorial discretion in the case. A few hours later, he retracted the “carried no weapons” claim, stating that he never minimized the seriousness of the riot or any crimes committed that day.
Since early 2021, it has been evident from video footage and court cases that numerous rioters carried weapons on Capitol grounds during the January 6 insurrection. Despite the possibility that most rioters were unarmed, it is clear that at least some of them were armed. Court cases have resulted in convictions for individuals who brought weapons, ranging from guns to batons, onto Capitol grounds. Mark Mazza, Guy Reffitt, and Christopher Alberts are just a few examples of rioters who were armed and faced consequences for their actions.
In conclusion, the claim that the January 6 rioters were unarmed has been proven false through video evidence and court cases. While some may have been unarmed, it is evident that many individuals carried weapons during the insurrection. Kennedy’s initial claim was quickly retracted after it was debunked, highlighting the importance of factual accuracy in public statements. The events of January 6, 2021, were serious and resulted in criminal charges for many participants who were armed with a variety of weapons.
