GOP senator says Trump ‘bears responsibility’ for Capitol riot

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) blasted President Trump on Wednesday, blaming him for the unprecedented violence at the Capitol, which was breached by a mob of Trump supporters. 

“The President bears responsibility for today’s events by promoting the unfounded conspiracy theories that have led to this point,” Burr said in a statement. “It is past time to accept the will of American voters and to allow our nation to move forward.”

Thousands of rioters laid siege to the Capitol as Congress was meeting to certify the Electoral College vote won by President-elect Joe Biden, forcing lawmakers to evacuate for safety. One person died after she was shot as demonstrators entered the Capitol. 

Burr, who had previously said he would not back efforts to challenge the Electoral College vote, said he supported Trump’s legal challenges to the election results, but asserted that no evidence of voter fraud has occurred that would reverse the outcome.

“I supported President Trump’s legal right to contest the election results through the courts, but the courts have now unanimously and overwhelmingly rejected these suits,” he said. “No evidence of voter fraud has emerged that would warrant overturning the 2020 election.”

“Congress will uphold its constitutional duty and certify the results of the election,” he said.

Burr was the latest lawmaker to place blame on Trump for the riot.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said the violence was “an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States,” while Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), said on Fox News that Trump “lit the flame” that led to the riot.

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) didn’t answer a question from reporters as to whether the president bears some responsibility, but said he “was part of it.”

“I don’t have anything to say about it,” Blunt said according to a pool report. “I think it was a tragic day and he was part of it.”

When asked what he wanted to hear the president say in the wake of the of the violence, the Missouri Republican said, “I don’t want to hear anything.”

The violence has led some to call for Trump to either resign or be removed from office.