Photo: Texas Public Policy Foundation
President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics was present at the Capitol during the January 6 riots, but the White House insists he was simply a "bystander," per NBC News.
Newly surfaced footage shows E.J. Antoni, an economist for the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and vocal Trump ally, on both the west and east sides of the Capitol about an hour after the crowd broke through police barricades during the January 6, 2021 insurrection. In one clip, tear gas is visible in the air, and far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones can be heard rallying the crowd over a megaphone.
Though Antoni is not seen crossing barricades or entering the Capitol itself, he was on restricted grounds as police attempted to contain the violent mob.
In a statement, the White House maintained that Antoni was just a "bystander," adding that he was in Washington for meetings nearby and didn't participate in any demonstrations.
“These pictures show EJ Antoni, a bystander to the events of January 6th, observing and then leaving the Capitol area,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said.
Antoni's nomination comes after Trump fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, accusing her without evidence of falsifying jobs data. Antoni has called for suspending monthly jobs reports and has criticized the agency’s methodology.
Antoni's ties to January 6 may hinder his Senate confirmation. Earlier this year, Ed Martin’s nomination to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. was withdrawn after GOP senators raised concerns about his vocal support for Capitol rioters.
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