As House Republicans defended President Donald Trump from impeachment for inciting an insurrection that led to the sacking of the U.S. Capitol and five deaths, Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) denounced the proceedings for failing to call any witnesses.

Has any one of those individuals who brought violence on this Capitol been brought here to answer whether they did that because of our president? Mast asked. He then waited silently for 20 seconds for an answer, even though House rules did not permit other members to speak during his time. He added, It appears I will receive no answer.

Masts stunt was meant to prove that insurrectionists werent motivated by Trump. But they were theyve said so.

Numerous insurrectionists have stated that they came to Washington, marched on the Capitol and stormed it on Trumps orders. These statements can be read or heard in statements of facts and affidavits from the Department of Justice, on-the-ground news reports and interviews conducted after the insurrection, and from the livestreamed footage that the rioters took themselves.

Our president wants us here, a man live-streaming from inside the Capitol building said, according to a New York Times report . We wait and take orders from our president.

The President asked for his supporters to be there to attend, and I felt like it was important, because of how much I love this country, to actually be there, Larry Brock Jr., an Air Force veteran who was seen on the floor of the Senate in a helmet and fatigues while holding flex-cuffs, told The New Yorker . (Brock was later arrested.)

He said, Hey, I need my digital soldiers to show up on January 6. And we all did, Doug Sweet, a 58-year old who stormed the Capitol and was later arrested, told The Wall Street Journal .