'I didn't follow that case': AZ GOP Rep's false Jan. 6 claim swiftly fact-checked by C-SPAN host

24 March 2023

U.S. Rep Andy Biggs (R-AZ) was quickly fact-checked after claiming no Jan. 6 rioters were charged with seditious conspiracy for attempts to overturn the 2020 election, The Daily Beast reports.

During a C-SPAN interview, the MAGA congressman was challenged by Washington Journal host, Greta Brawner, as well as viewers who called in — which is a "rite of passage" for the show's guests, according to The Daily Beast.

Referring to Bigg's ability to answer caller's questions regarding former President Donald Trump's "promise to pardon" Jan. 6 rioters, @Acyn shared a brief clip of the interview, writing, "LOL this isn't going great for Biggs."

An Oregon-based caller criticized the lawmaker's party, saying, "Trump wants to pardon the traitors that have been convicted of seditious conspiracy? Come on! What the hell's wrong with you Republicans?!"

Biggs replied, "I appreciate the call, and I'm not sure I understand what you’re saying, but I think you're talking about the former president saying if he gets elected he'd issue some pardons or clemency to some of the people arrested and prosecuted on Jan. 6."

The congressman continued, "Not all were convicted of seditious treason. In fact, none were! So that's important to understand."

Brawner stepped in, promptly correcting the MAGA Republican's assertion, noting, "Congressman, USA Today had this headline back in November of 2022 that Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers founder, was found guilty of seditious conspiracy."

Failing to acknowledge his blatantly false claim, Biggs said, "Oh, OK. Yeah, well, I didn't follow that case."

According to The Daily Beast, both "Rhodes and co-defendant Kelly Meggs both are face up to 20 years in prison as of 2022, for "planning an armed rebellion" in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

Regarding Biggs' level of trustworthiness as a congressional leader, The Atlantic reports:

Take Representative Andy Biggs, a Republican of Arizona, who's not typically a good source for reliable information or sound views about democracy. Biggs claimed that there was massive fraud in the 2020 presidential election, supported legal efforts to overturn the election, and blamed antifa for the insurrection on January 6, 2021.

Watch the video below or at this link.

The Daily Beast's fulll report is available at this link (subscription required). The Atlantic's report is here (subscription required).

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