‘It was made up’: Republican Rep. Ralph Norman just claimed January 6 was staged, and a reporter pushed back with one question he couldn’t answer

Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina recently claimed that the January 6 Capitol riot was a staged event. He made these comments during a press appearance where he dismissed the events of that day as fabricated. The remarks came while he was being asked about the Department of Justice’s new $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, created as part of a settlement in President Donald Trump‘s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS.

The fund is meant for victims of what the DOJ calls lawfare and weaponization, and it has raised serious questions about whether January 6 rioters could receive payouts from it. When a reporter asked Norman directly about this, he gave a blunt answer about the riot itself. “Look, January 6th was an issue that was made up in the first place,” Norman said.

When the reporter asked if he truly believed the riot was made up, Norman replied, “That was a staged thing from day one.” According to Mediaite, the reporter then asked about his own colleagues who were seen on video fleeing and barricading themselves inside the Capitol to escape the mob. Norman acknowledged that a riot did happen, but claimed it was “a self made riot by members who hate Trump.”

The claim that January 6 was staged falls apart under basic scrutiny

Norman’s claims directly contradict what happened that day. Over 140 police officers were injured during the attack, many suffering traumatic brain injuries and other serious, long-term conditions. The riot also caused around $3 million in damage to the Capitol building. The idea that the mob was organized by far-left groups has been widely debunked, including by some of the rioters themselves. 

Jonathan Gennaro Mellis, who was charged with assaulting police officers, once wrote on Facebook, “Don’t you dare try to tell me that people are blaming this on antifa and BLM. We proudly take responsibility for storming the Castle.”

The Anti-Weaponization Fund has sparked a legal battle as well. According to NPR, two Capitol Police officers, Daniel Hodges and Harry Dunn, have filed a federal lawsuit to block the fund, calling it both illegal and dangerous. Officer Hodges, who was crushed in a doorframe by rioters during the attack, spoke plainly about his opposition to the fund.

“Why would you pay people who attacked the police at the Capitol of the United States who tried to stop the peaceful transfer of power?” he said. He also warned that giving these individuals significant money could lead to more harassment and violence against officers who are still receiving death threats. This controversy comes as Republicans continue to struggle with damaging political revelations in recent weeks.

Brendan Ballou, a former federal prosecutor representing the two officers, described the fund as potentially the most corrupt use of presidential power in American history. The legal challenge also points out that Trump was effectively on both sides of the settlement, since he sued the federal government and then created the fund as part of that same resolution.

Some January 6 rioters are already expecting to receive money from the fund. Jake Lang, who was charged with assaulting officers before receiving a presidential pardon, said he plans to apply for compensation and joked about becoming a billionaire. “If you sacrifice for your country, if you do the right thing in the face of evil, you will be rewarded for your bravery, for your patriotism, for the love of your country,” Lang said.

There are also concerns that the fund could reach people who have gone on to commit further crimes. Andrew Paul Johnson, who received a full pardon from President Trump for his role in the riot, is currently serving a life sentence for sexually abusing children. Reports say Johnson told his victims he would share government restitution money with them to keep them quiet. 

The broader political debate around the fund has drawn sharp reactions from commentators, with some prominent voices openly rejecting the two-party system altogether. Vice President JD Vance has said the administration is reviewing cases individually, but the fund remains a deeply divisive issue in Washington.