Vic Mellor defends his January 6 participation and rejects an apology
Republican nominee for Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District, speaking to reporters outside the State House
“I didn’t do anything wrong, so no, I don’t apologize for anything either.”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
On-scene reporting quotes both candidates and describes Mellor's answers to reporters. It preserves his rejection of wrongdoing and his condemnation of attacks on police.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
The station separately reports the September 10 State House event and quotes both candidates. Mellor denies violence; Magaziner treats his participation as an attack on democracy.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Official statement
About this source
The campaign presents Mellor's January 6 participation as peaceful political expression. The page establishes his campaign's position; it does not independently establish what he did at the Capitol.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Mellor attended Magaziner's press conference, where his participation was criticized. Reporters then asked whether he regretted attending the Capitol or owed an apology.
After the quotation
Mellor denied personal involvement in violence and condemned attacks on police. His campaign describes his participation as protected political expression.
How this statement is classified
Responding to: Mellor maintains that his January 6 participation was legitimate political protest and that he did nothing wrong.
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to Mellor's own January 6 participation, he says his conduct was acceptable and requires no apology. This is a substantive defense, beyond disputing a label. His rejection of violence by others does not make his defense of his own conduct mixed.
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Was Vic Mellor justified in participating in the January 6 Capitol events?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“No one who tried to attack our democracy on January 6th deserves to represent Rhode Island in Congress.”Read statement