By: Thomas I. Likness
Eagle News Service
(Eagle News) — U.S. President Joe Biden came out swinging in a speech marking the one-year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection.
“For the first time in our history, a president had not just lost an election, he tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power as a violent mob reached the Capitol,” Biden said Thursday at the U.S. Capitol.
Not mentioning Trump by name, Biden referred to him several times only as the former president.
“He’s not just a former president, he’s a defeated former president, defeated by a margin of over seven million votes,” he said.
Biden says the fight to protect American democracy must continue and called for the protection of voting rights.
He criticized states that are passing laws making it harder for people to vote.
“The former president and his supporters have decided the only way for them to win is to suppress your vote. It’s to subvert our elections,” Biden said. “It’s wrong, it’s undemocratic and frankly, it’s un-American.”
Moments after Biden’s speech, Trump released a statement calling the president’s remarks political theater.
“Biden, who is destroying our nation with insane policies of open borders, corrupt elections, disastrous energy policies, unconstitutional mandates, and devastating school closures, used my name today to try to further divide America,” Trump said.
He repeated his earlier lies that the election was rigged.
Trump was also critical of the House select committee investigating the riot.
The former resident earlier canceled a planned news conference for today in which he was expected to defend his supporters who rioted on Capitol Hill.
He says he will discuss those issues at a rally in Arizona on Jan.15.
On Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives held a moment of silence to remember the five lives lost in the insurrection.
In the Senate, several Senators recounted their experiences that day.
Outside the Capitol, flags flew at half mast.
Members of the House and Senate will take part in a vigil this evening in observance of the anniversary.
(Eagle News Service)