Rep. Andy Biggs has gone on the offensive to separate himself from the protest-turned deadly at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 Joint Session of Congress.
Last Friday, Biggs (R-LD5) issued a press release denying unsubstantiated allegations that he helped Ali Alexander facilitate one of the rallies in Washington D.C. as Congress met to certify the U.S. Electoral College votes.
Alexander, a convicted felon also known as Ali Akbar, is the founder of Stop The Steal project which alleges then-President Donald Trump was cheated out of a second term.
“My reputation as an honest man, who believes in this country and the rule of law, has been deliberately tainted by people who have no regard for the truth,” Biggs’ Jan. 22 statement reads. “I do not know when or if they will tire of their lies and sensational reporting. In the meantime, I will continue telling the truth and fighting for the American values that are vital to my constituents.”
In his statement, the third-term Congressman asked people to “look past the false stories and instead consider the evidence for yourself” while blaming “many on the Left and in the media” who he says are repeating Alexander’s claims despite a complete lack of proof that Biggs was somehow involved with Alexander’s “Wild Rally” near the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 or the subsequent riot.
The statement by Biggs, who is chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, addresses nine specific questions related to the rally and riot. He answered “I have no idea” to the question of why Alexander claimed last month that Biggs, fellow Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, and Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks had “schemed up” something in connection to the certification of the Electoral College votes.
Biggs also denies planning or funding any rallies, disclaims involvement with alleged reconnaissance tours of the U.S. Capitol for rioters who later entered the building, and answered “no” to the question of whether he had phone, text, social media, or email contact with Alexander.
On Dec. 19, Alexander spoke at a Stop the Steal rally in Phoenix attended by several Arizona Republicans, including state GOP chairwoman Kelli Ward. A speech Biggs had recorded for the rally was introduced to the crowd by Alexander, who called the Congressman a “friend.”
After the rally, Alexander posted several videos in which he claimed he, Biggs, Brooks, and Gosar had a plan for “putting maximum pressure on Congress” during the Jan. 6 joint session.
Then after the riot, Biggs issued a short statement through a spokesperson in which he denied any connection to Alexander. The spokesperson also insisted the Congressman recorded his comments for the Dec. 19 Phoenix rally at the request of Gosar’s staff.
Defenders of Biggs question how Alexander, who has no official affiliation to a vetted Republican group, had such easy access to prominent GOP officials in Arizona. Other Republicans simply believe Alexander confused Biggs with another Arizona Congressman who has been a vocal proponent of election fraud causing Trump’s loss.
One point in support of that idea is the fact Biggs’ unequivocal denials have not been countered by Alexander, who would presumably have phone records, videos, or emails to back up his claims about Biggs’s role in some scheme.