Ron Johnson suggests, without evidence, FBI had advance knowledge of January 6 riot but did nothing

Ron Johnson suggests, without evidence, FBI had advance knowledge of January 6 riot but did nothingShow more

In an interview with WISN 12 Tuesday, Wisconsin GOP U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said he had no regrets after recently saying he may have been more concerned if the rioters during the Jan. 6 violence at the U.S. Capitol were members of Black Lives Matter or Antifa.

"There were no racial undertones in my comments," Johnson said. "So I know the left is exploiting that. But there weren't. This is about riots and comparing the rioting we saw throughout the summer."

Johnson has come under increasing scrutiny after making the comments on a talk radio show Thursday.

"Of course a racist is going to say that they’re not racist," State Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) said. "The fact that he’s defending his comments and playing the victim shows he is who he is."

Johnson, the Republican from Oshkosh, has accused Democrats in recent days of "using the race card."

"I’ve condemned the people that have breached the Capitol," Johnson said. "I want to see those folks prosecuted and pay a legal penalty, whatever the judgment’s going to be."

Johnson, who is up for re-election next year, hasn’t decided whether to seek a third term.

He did tell WISN 12 he is not interested in running for governor.

"Target somebody, isolate them and try to destroy them," Johnson said of Democrats. "I’m seeing what's happening here. I don't have a persecution complex. I honestly don’t take this personally because I know who I am. I know what I say. I know what I mean, and I know how it’s being distorted, twisted and lied about."

When asked whether he can win re-election, Johnson said, "If I decide to run, I would think I could win. Sure."