First Lawmaker Testifies Under Oath About US Capitol Riot

On Friday (4/22), Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican and one of the most vocal right-wing members in Congress, testified about her alleged role in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. The congresswoman is being tried under a Civil War era law that bars officials from holding office if they violate their oath to protect the United States.

Greene testified to the Georgia courtroom that she "had no knowledge of any attempt" to illegally interfere with vote counting in Congress that day and denied calling for an "insurrection" in Washington, reports BBC News. Ms. Greene said: "I don't support violence of any kind," and denied having ever called for violence in her social media posts and media appearances, while also repeating false claims that Mr. Trump actually won the election.

Marjorie Taylor Greene: I did not call for violent capitol insurrection (BBC News)

The congresswoman's testimony was the result of being called as a witness when several of her Georgia constituents filed a challenge to her re-election claiming Greene played a role in the January 6 Capitol riot, according to Newsweek. With her political future at risk, the judge who presided over Friday's hearing will make a recommendation to the Georgia Secretary of State whether Greene should remain on the ballot.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Testimony: Judge to Make Recommendation to Georgia Secretary of State (Newsweek)

In a related story on Monday, newly revealed text messages between then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and congressional Republicans including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene cast a renewed spotlight Monday on communication between the Trump White House and allies determined to overturn the results of the 2020 election or stoke chaos in its aftermath, reports The Washington Post.

Jacqueline Alemany and Felicia Sonmez write that, "Greene (R-Ga.) texted Meadows on Jan. 17, 2021, that some members of Congress were calling for Trump to impose martial law to remain in power, according to text messages Meadows recently provided to the committee."

GOP texts cast renewed spotlight on post-2020 election efforts (Jacqueline Alemany & Felicia Sonmez - The Washington Post)