White House rejects RNC censure that declared Jan. 6 ‘legitimate

White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiWhite House science adviser resigns after internal probe found he bullied staffers Overnight Health Care — White House sticks by school mask mandates White House stands by school mask mandates despite some states lifting rule MORE on Tuesday said the White House rejects the notion declared by the Republican National Committee that the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol was “legitimate political discourse.”

“I think it clear to Americans that what happened on Jan. 6 was not ‘legitimate political discourse.’ Storming the Capitol and an attempt to halt the peaceful transition of power is not legitimate political discourse, neither is attacking and injuring over 140 police officers, smashing windows and defiling offices,” Psaki told reporter. 

The RNC has sparked backlash for describing Jan. 6 as “legitimate political discourse” in a resolution censuring Reps. Adam KinzingerAdam Daniel KinzingerRomney says he texted with niece McDaniel after RNC censure Senate GOP keeps distance from RNC’s Jan. 6 rhetoric Schumer: RNC’s Jan. 6 rhetoric ‘chilling and plainly dangerous’ MORE (R-Ill.) and Liz CheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyRomney says he texted with niece McDaniel after RNC censure Senate GOP keeps distance from RNC’s Jan. 6 rhetoric Schumer: RNC’s Jan. 6 rhetoric ‘chilling and plainly dangerous’ MORE (R-Wyo) on Friday for being the two Republicans who sit on the House panel investigating the matter.

“We certainly reject the notion that that was legitimate political discourse as we think a…large number of Americans would as well,” she said.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate GOP keeps distance from RNC’s Jan. 6 rhetoric Trump, Pence avoid going scorched-earth Schumer: RNC’s Jan. 6 rhetoric ‘chilling and plainly dangerous’ MORE (R-Ky.) on Tuesday broke with the RNC and called Jan. 6, when a mob of former President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump says Joe Rogan should ‘stop apologizing’ amid controversy over podcast Fox News host Brian Kilmeade hits Trump on Arizona election claim: ‘That’s an outright lie’ Nikki Haley: Pence ‘did what he thought was right’ on Jan. 6 MORE’ followers breached the building, a “violent insurrection.”

Psaki noted that some Republicans and former officials in the Trump administration also have rejected that characterization, which she called “telling.”

“It’s telling to all of us that some leading Republicans have rejected that characterization, including the former president’ national security adviser and the chief of staff to the former vice president, who as he put it, had a front row seat that day including as rioters chanted for the former vice president to be hanged,” she said. 

Former national security adviser H.R. McMaster on Sunday said Jan. 6 amounted to “illegitimate political discourse” and Marc Short, former chief of staff to ex-Vice President Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceNikki Haley: Pence…