Pa. Sen. Doug Mastriano lashes out at 'keyboard warriors' questioning his actions during Capitol rio
State Sen. Doug Mastriano lashed out Tuesday at “anonymous keyboard warriors” he claims are behind a new Huffington Post article that calls into question his prior claims that he was nothing more than a peaceful protestor during the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.
Mastriano, R-Franklin County, has said in the past he never breached police lines after participating on the march on the Capitol. He said that he and his wife left the area “when it was apparent that this was no longer a peaceful protest.” An ardent and very public supporter of former President Donald Trump, Mastriano has condemned the violence that occurred that day.
The Post’s article, published earlier in the day, cites clips published by members of the online “Sedition Hunters” community that appear to show Mastriano in the area of at least one active teardown of police barricades. In January, Mastriano said he never stepped foot near the Capitol.
A second video, time-stamped at 1:59 p.m., shows the senator and his wife in part of a larger group walking past one of the main set of steps leading into the Capitol.
That is right around the time that the Capitol Building itself was first entered by protestors, though violent clashes had been occurring at various spots outside for about an hour prior.
A third still photo is said to show the senator and his wife on the Capitol’s northwest lawn.
None of the photos or videos show Mastriano engaging in any direct acts of violence, inside, or actually seeking to enter the Capitol.
Mastriano, who has talked of possibly running for governor, said last week Trump has encouraged him to run and pledged to campaign for him. The following day, a Trump spokesman said the former president hasn’t endorsed anyone in the race for governor.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/05/sen-mastriano-lashes-out-at-keyboard-warriors-questioning-prior-statements-about-his-actions-during-pro-trump-jan-6-capitol-occupation.html