Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) tried to suggest that both Republicans and Democrats were to blame for last week’s storming of the U.S. Capitol which left five people dead, but he quickly got a fact check from CNN host John Berman.

Buck began the interview by remarking:

“Look, I don’t think the president, on a number of occasions, has acted very presidential. That’s not the question here. The question is whether it’s an impeachable offense. What I’m trying to suggest to you is the level of animosity and the level of really vitriol between these two sides has been building for five or six years now. And to say that there’s one speech or one incident that caused this group of people to storm the Capitol is just not accurate. What I’m trying to suggest to you is that both sides are at fault and in America, we need to be very careful—”

Berman cut the congressman off, telling him:

“How is the —first of all, you keep saying sides here. I’m not sure Liz Cheney and Nancy Pelosi are on any sides together. You keep saying both sides. What on earth did any other side do than the side that invaded the U.S. Capitol, where I believe you’re sitting right now?”

Buck tried to recover:

“I’m actually standing in one of the House office buildings, but what did the other side do? You’re asking me what Democrats have done?”

Berman countered:

“One week ago. One week ago, one week ago when the Capitol was overrun. I don’t understand who is to blame for that other than the people who overran the Capitol and the people who may, and whether or not you agree or not, the people who spoke before and may have incited that mob to overrun the Capitol.”

But the Colorado Republican again tried to shift blame:

“First of all, I agree that the people who came into the Capitol are the people who are responsible for this action. But what I’m saying to you is that this animosity has been building over the years. It wasn’t as if the president gave one speech and all of a sudden, people went from perfectly calm and thoughtful demeanor to this violent action that occurred, which is absolutely shameful. I’m not trying to excuse it. but the actions that have led up to this are typical of this impeachment.”

Donald Trump and anyone else who spoke at the rally before the riots happened — Don Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and others — are the ones who lit the match that led to the riots. They and the rioters are the ones responsible and that need to be criminally charged. End of story.

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