Mo Brooks Tells Conservatives To ‘Fight’ And ‘Sacrifice’ Like Revolutionary War Soldiers

Topline

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) on Friday doubled down on the rhetoric that led a fellow House member to sue him for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, urging attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference to “fight for America” like soldiers during the American Revolution.

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 15: Rep. Mo Brooks (R-GA) speaks at a news conference on the “Fire Fauci Act” … [+] on Capitol Hill on June 15, 2021 in Washington, DC. The bill, drafted by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) , states that Dr. Anthony Fauci be removed from his position for allegedly deceiving the American people. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

In a speech to the conservative gathering, Brooks, who is running for U.S. Senate with former President Donald Trump’s endorsement, stated, “Our choice is simple: we can surrender and submit, or we can fight back.”

Brooks invoked soldiers in the American Revolution who “fought at Valley Forge,” the site of one of the Continental Army’s winter encampments, adding, “that’s the kind of sacrifice we have to think about.”

Brooks has faced both a censure effort and a lawsuit from House Democrats for telling Trump supporters at a rally shortly before the Capitol riot, “today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.”

Brooks asked attendees at CPAC on Friday if they are “willing to fight for America” and whether America is “worth fighting for,” declaring, “Do it! Do it! Do it!”

Brooks also painted a grim and hyperbolic picture of a country led by Democrats, telling attendees he has “never felt such fear for the future of our country” because “dictatorial socialists want to cancel America.”

Crucial Quote

Brooks, in his speech, reiterated his belief in Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen through widespread voter fraud. “They attack our republic by engaging in unparalleled voter fraud and election theft activities,” he said of Democrats.

Key Background

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-N.Y.) is suing Brooks and Trump, as well as Donald Trump Jr. and Rudy Giuliani, for their alleged roles in inciting the Jan. 6 riot. Brooks’ legal team has sought to dismiss the lawsuit by arguing Brooks was acting in his official capacity as a congressman and is thus immune to such civil litigation.

Tangent

The far-right wing of the GOP made its presence known at the event on Friday, which featured booths selling merchandise promoting the fringe QAnon conspiracy movement and cards touting a “7-pt. Plan to restore Donald J. Trump in days, not years.” Attendees were also reportedly concerned about conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and white nationalist Nick Fuentes making appearances.

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