The Texas Republican Party removed a party officer who celebrated Wednesday's attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Walter West, the party’s sergeant-at-arms, will be removed from his role, the Texas GOP said.
NBC News reported that West said in a Facebook post: “Deal with them taking back OUR HOUSE!”
The Texas GOP, in its unsigned statement, said it “in no way endorses Walter West’s statement about the lawlessness occurring at the Capitol Building.”
“Whereas we vigorously support the First Amendment right to freely assemble, we condemn violence and pray for all gathering in our nation’s capital and those at the Capitol Building,” the statement continued. “The Texas GOP has always been on the side of law and order and will remain so.”
Rioters breached security at the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon about an hour after a joint session of Congress was convened to certify the Electoral College votes, forcing lawmakers to evacuate under police protection. One woman died from a gunshot wound.
Washington, D.C., is under a 6 p.m. curfew in response to the riot, and the National Guard was mobilized to assist law enforcement.
The violence drew bipartisan condemnation. Some lawmakers and governors have called for Trump to resign or be removed from office before his term ends on Jan. 20.
