Jan. 6 Rioter Running for Congress Storms Out of Debate
A convicted Jan. 6 rioter running for Congress in Georgia’s 2nd District ditched a live, televised Republican primary debate on Sunday, part of a bizarre stunt in which he walked out of the venue after receiving a question about whether he would support Republicans’ recent plan to overhaul the U.S. farm bill to cut food stamps, a program providing aid to help low-income Americans purchase food.
Chuck Hand, a construction superintendent, was convicted of a misdemeanor for illegally entering the U.S. Capitol building during the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, and was sentenced to 20 days in prison and six months of probation. He is facing Wayne Johnson, a former finance professional who most recently served as a Trump administration official with the Department of Education.
“I’m not interested in debating the issues of the 2nd District with a man who doesn’t even reside in it, especially one who orchestrates attacks on my wife,” Hand said after being asked his first question. “I’m more concerned about beating [Democrat] Sanford Bishop, representing you and passing the America First agenda and putting Donald Trump back in the White House.”