Some Republican officials in the region have spoken out following violent riots at the United States Capitol last week, some sharing conspiracy theories about the events that unfolded and defending protesters' claims of voter fraud and election theft, while others have condemned what occured as acts of violence and domestic terrorism.
Phyllis Nelson, Republican chair of the Board of Finance in Sprague, said last week that she went to Washington, D.C., on a bus to participate in the protests — to defend the Constitution and speak out against election fraud — but did not set foot in the Capitol or on the stairs of the building. She said she left the Capitol grounds by 3 p.m. and left D.C. by 5 p.m., an hour before the city's curfew. Extremist groups stormed the Capitol about 2:15 p.m.