Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, eyeing the Republican presidential nomination, reaffirmed his belief in a CNN town hall that the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, might have been an inside job. He faced questions from CNN’s Abby Philip, who challenged his statements and highlighted the lack of evidence supporting such claims.
Ramaswamy, known for his willingness to voice unconventional theories, defended his position by pointing to the government’s alleged misinformation on various issues, including the origins of COVID-19 and Hunter Biden’s laptop. He argued that these instances make it plausible for the government to lie about its involvement in the Capitol riot.
Accusing Philip of “establishment” bias, Ramaswamy insisted on the importance of discussing these claims, drawing applause from the audience. However, Philip countered with the fact that there is no evidence of federal agents actively participating in the Capitol breach, a point supported by FBI Director Christopher Wray’s testimony.
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Ramaswamy claimed that the FBI had not disclosed the number of agents involved, citing a policy on not revealing specifics. Philip emphasized that the absence of evidence does not prove government involvement.
Pressed for evidence, Ramaswamy pointed to alleged entrapment, suggesting that the U.S. Capitol Police’s unredacted footage showed officers welcoming rioters into the building. Philip disputed this, emphasizing that the majority of the footage depicted officers being overrun by violent rioters.
With just a few weeks until the Iowa caucuses, where Ramaswamy is polling fourth, he faces the challenge of convincing voters of his credibility. The Biden campaign dismissed his claims as dangerous and criticized his focus on sensationalism over addressing real issues.
