The Oregon State Capitol closed its doors until further notice on March 18. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter)
The Oregon House Republicans, including two legislators from the Salem area, distanced themselves from the state party after it adopted a resolution suggesting the violent ransacking of the nation’s capitol on Jan. 6 was a “false flag.”
The Oregon Republican Party issued a statement last week blasting the move to impeach President Donald Trump for inciting a deadly riot targeting the capitol in Washington D.C.
The party also adopted an accompanying resolution giving credence to the conspiracy theory that the violence was staged. The resolution stated that there is “growing evidence that the violence at the Capitol was a ‘false flag’ operation designed to discredit President Trump, his supporters.” To date, no law enforcement agency has found credible evidence the attack was staged.
On Wednesday, the Oregon House Republicans indicated that they were having none of it. The GOP legislators issued a statement blasting the resolution saying there “is no credible evidence to support false flag claims.” The statement indicated the legislators were more focused on the economic and public health crisis the state faces.
“Our focus must remain on urgently helping hurting Oregonians,” the statement said. “Far too many Oregonians have been impacted by lost wages or a lost family member—we are in a crisis and that crisis requires steady leadership and action, not partisan rhetoric. The election is over. It is time to govern.”
Among those signing, the statement includes state Reps. Bill Post, R-Keizer, and Mike Nearman, R-Independence.
-Jake Thomas
