Staff
11/3/22
(Politifact) Says “Ron Johnson is making excuses for rioters who tried to overthrow our government, even calling them ‘peaceful protests.’” Public testimony about what happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, might be over for the year, but the matter is far from closed, as a special House select committee has subpoenaed former President Donald Trump….An ad launched Oct. 19 and posted on YouTube by the Senate Majority PAC, which works to elect Democrats to the Senate, made this claim: “Ron Johnson is making excuses for rioters who tried to overthrow our government, even calling them ‘peaceful protests.’” According to NBC News, End Citizens United, another PAC, also helped pay for the ad. When asked to provide backup for the ad’s claim, Tina Olechowski, communications director for End Citizens United, directed PolitiFact Wisconsin to several news articles….An ad from Senate Majority PAC and End Citizens United claimed “Ron Johnson is making excuses for rioters who tried to overthrow our government, even calling them ‘peaceful protests.’” Johnson has clearly minimized and downplayed what happened that day, and sought to direct blame elsewhere. So, there is much to what the ad claims. That said, it blows past statements where Johnson has been more explicit in condemning those who broke the law. We rate this claim Mostly True.