Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), who was present at the US Capitol on Jan.6, 2021, is now calling the events that took place that day “staged.”

On Monday, the Justice Department announced that as part of a sweeping legal settlement in Donald Trump’s case against the IRS, the Attorney General established a so-called“Anti-Weaponization Fund” to “provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare,” which could include members of the pro-Trump mob who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Asked by reporters about the possibility of rioters who assaulted cops being rewarded with taxpayers’ money, Norman denied that the insurrection had taken place, even though he was at the Capitol that day and witnessed the events firsthand.

“January 6th was an issue that was made up in the first place,” Norman said. “That was a staged thing from day one.”

“When you had police officers letting people in the building, when you had people that’s not being prosecuted– Ray, I forget his name. There’s no excuse for that,” the congressman added. “There was a riot there, but it was a self-made riot by members who hate Trump. It was made up, in my opinion.”

Several conspiracy theories about the riot at the Capitol have gone viral in right-wing circles and have all been debunked. Among them was the claim that Ray Epps, 62, was an undercover government agent who helped incite the Capitol attack to entrap Trump supporters. Epps pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to the riot and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service. Federal prosecutors and Epps have denied that he was a government plant or an FBI operative.

More than 140 police officers were injured on Jan. 6, including sustaining traumatic brain injuries and irritated lungs from pepper spray.  Trump pardoned approximately 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants and prisoners on his first day back in office in his second term.