“This undermines the rule of law and the ability to express oneself peacefully in public squares,” Bush said in the episode.
“This was an expression that was not peaceful,” he added.
“I am appalled by the careless behavior of some political leaders since the election and the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions and the rule of law,” he said. “The violent attack on the Capitol – and the collapse of the constitutionally mandated session of Congress – has been carried out by people whose passions have been spread by lies and false hopes.”
The attack is the deadliest of more than 300 people arrested in connection with the Capitol riots, which killed five people, including a U.S. Capitol police officer, and injured more than 100 law enforcement officers.
Asked directly during the interview whether the election had been rigged, Bush replied: “No.”
The former president has largely stayed out of politics since leaving office in January 2009. He only appeared in the campaign trail in 2016, when his brother – former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush – ran against then-candidate Donald Trump and others in the Republican presidential primary.
In 2017, while supporting the policies supported by Trump, Bush delivered a speech in New York condemning radicalism and white supremacy.
“Like other nations, our identity as a nation is not determined by geography or ethnicity, soil or blood. … This means that people of every race, religion, ethnicity can be full and equal Americans.” George W. of New York City. In the Bush Institute. “It means that bigotry and white supremacy, in any form, is a condemnation of the American cult.”
He added that he “seems excited by the fanaticism,” although he did not say why.
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