Will County Gazette

Thomas McCullagh insists he traveled to Washington D.C. in support of President Donald Trump expecting to witness a whole different kind of history.

“I wanted to be there for the rally to support the president and to see history being made,” McCullagh told the Will County Gazette. “I don’t believe in the violence that took place and I don’t think it’s fair to blame the president for it when he never called for it. I think it was just a case of being fed up.”

McCullagh, who garnered nearly 44% of the vote in his 49th District senate run in November, said he didn’t actually witness people storming the Capital and doing all the damage that they did but did see police indiscriminately using tear gas.

“I think the people that went inside and put people’s lives in danger should be arrested, but at the same time we were just there to enjoy a patriotic rally and things digressed,” he said. “There were plenty of people there that weren’t expecting any of that. You could tell by the way they brought their kids and as things started to get out of hand were trying to get out of the area.”

McCullagh said he was long gone by the time people actually breached the Capital and forced their way inside.

Still, he said if he had the choice to do it all over again he wouldn’t hesitate to be there.

“You’re witnessing history and those who caused the violence do not represent the vast majority of Trump supporters and the lawbreakers should go to jail,” he said. “I went there expecting drama; I just thought all of it would play out inside the chamber when it came time to take a vote.”