GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Jan. 6 rally — despite supporting its cause, downplaying Capitol riot

Brooks, in comments to CNN, also said he personally had “no involvement” but, unlike the others, allowed for the idea that his staff might have, even saying he would be “proud of them” if they did, because it was an event protected by the First Amendment. But Brooks separately told the Montgomery Advertiser, “If you’re talking about someone participating in meetings, setting the agenda, raising the money, I don’t know of anything that suggests my staff as doing that stuff.”