New York Times reporter Katie Benner described supporters of President Donald Trump as “enemies of the state,” adding that they should be considered “legitimate national security threats.”
The House Select Committee on the January 6 Capitol protests started on Tuesday morning, with a number of slightly strange scenes resulting from the committee hearings. As National File reported, one moment during the hearing that left viewers scratching their heads was when Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger exhibited a confusing display of emotions while discussing the events at the Capitol building. In a video clip, Kinzinger can be seen laughing as he discusses January 6. Within seconds, the RINO congressman’s voice turns shaky and he quickly starts crying.
Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn also claimed that he and other black officers were subject to racial abuse during the protests. “One woman in a pink MAGA shirt yelled, ‘you hear that guys? This n****r voted for Joe Biden’,” Dunn said. “Then the crowd, perhaps around 20 people, joined in screaming, ‘boo! F**king n*****r!’ No-one had ever, ever called me a n****r while wearing the uniform of a Capitol Police officer,” he added.
Katie Benner of the New York Times, claimed in a series of tweets that the evidence presented to the committee “underscores America’s current, essential natsec dilemma,” in that “work to combat legitimate national security threats now entails calling [Trump] supporters enemies of the state.” Benner claimed that it as an American value to not use state power against a political figure or party, but then suggested that Trump and Republicans “seem to threaten” the state, and that Republicans are “denying the reality of the January 6 attack.”
Today's #January6thSelectCommittee underscores the America's current, essential natsec dilemma: Work to combat legitimate national security threats now entails calling a politician’s supporters enemies of the state. 1/
— Katie Benner (@ktbenner) July 27, 2021
This dilemma was unresolved by the Russia probe and 2 impeachments. With many Republicans denying the reality of the Jan. 6 attack, I doubt the #January6thCommittee will resolve it either. That leaves it up to voters, making even more essential free, fair access to the polls. 3/
— Katie Benner (@ktbenner) July 27, 2021
Benner immediately came under fire from many conservatives. Representative Jim Banks described Benner’s tweet as the “best summary of the Biden admin’s domestic national security strategy I’ve ever read,” while Sean Davis said that it was not surprising to see the New York Times acknowledge that anyone who opposed the current regime is labelled an enemy of the state. “The lawless U.S. intelligence apparatus is admitting it is weaponizing all of its post-9/11 tools against you.”
"Work to combat legitimate national security threats now entails calling Trump supporters enemies of the state.”
That’s the best summary of the Biden Admin’s domestic national security strategy I’ve ever read. https://t.co/9rs9tpLlAk
— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) July 27, 2021
Today's #January6thSelectCommittee underscores America's current, essential danger: America's elites have deemed their tens of millions of critics actual or would-be domestic terrorists, and threatened to use the full power of the USG & private sector jointly to neutralize them https://t.co/5gHXj3NqZ2
— Benjamin Weingarten (@bhweingarten) July 27, 2021
One of the corrupt FBI’s favorite leak receptacles at NYT is acknowledging what we all see: merely opposing the ruling regime makes you an “enemy of the state.” The lawless U.S. intelligence apparatus is admitting it is weaponizing all of its post-9/11 tools against you. https://t.co/bUR3BSiZ2c
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) July 27, 2021
So your dilemma is whether or not your government should declare open war on its own citizenry? Sounds pretty messed up to me. https://t.co/FIq5nR674k
— Chris Tomlinson (@TomlinsonCJ) July 27, 2021
No, it does not “entail calling a politician’s supporters enemies of the state.” It’s a choice made by hyperbolic, power-abusing goons who are getting support by alleged reporters.
Russia/China also have “reporters” who echo the state. No need for a first amendment to do that. https://t.co/ZPAjfIJJim
— Yossi Gestetner (@YossiGestetner) July 27, 2021