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(Video Credit: WTVR CBS 6)
Democratic Virginia Governor Ralph Northam was quizzed on Tuesday about his slow response to deploy the National Guard to rescue stranded and freezing motorists on snowbound I-95 and proceeded to invoke the Jan. 6 riot on Capitol Hill to excuse himself.
WUSA9 reporter Mike Valerio tweeted: “4PM UPDATE – Virginia Gov. Northam just described the response to the January 6th Insurrection, saying it took a long time to deploy the National Guard, as a way of illustrating why his office says the Guard could not be deployed to I-95 on such short notice.”
He went on to add, “4PM UPDATE – Virginia Gov. Northam says still, no injuries on I-95, as thousands are trapped. Says State Troopers are walking up and down offering food, medicine, to people in need.”
Despite Northam’s specious assertion concerning the National Guard, Reuters foreign policy correspondent Idrees Ali appeared to assert otherwise, noting that the disaster was addressed at Tuesday’s Pentagon briefing and they were not asked for help by Northam.
4PM UPDATE – Virginia Gov. Northam just described the response to the January 6th Insurrection, saying it took a long time to deploy the National Guard, as a way of illustrating why his office says the Guard could not be deployed to I-95 on such short notice @WUSA9
— Mike Valerio (@MikevWUSA) January 4, 2022
4PM UPDATE – Virginia Gov. Northam says still, no injuries on I-95, as thousands are trapped. Says State Troopers are walking up and down offering food, medicine, to people in need @WUSA9 #I95
— Mike Valerio (@MikevWUSA) January 4, 2022
“The situation on the I-95 is so bad, that it is (rightly) being asked about at the Pentagon briefing and whether the military has offered to help the situation. Pentagon says no request have been made for them to help,” Ali reported.
The situation on the I-95 is so bad, that it is (rightly) being asked about at the Pentagon briefing and whether the military has offered to help the situation. Pentagon says no request have been made for them to help.
— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) January 4, 2022
“Best I can tell, there have been thousands of VA motorists trapped in freezing conditions for 26+ hours, some of them surely children, seniors and people in need of food, medicine, water, etc. and Ralph Northam… sent a tweet about it 7 hours ago,” political strategist Rory Cooper commented.
Best I can tell, there have been thousands of VA motorists trapped in freezing conditions for 26+ hours, some of them surely children, seniors and people in need of food, medicine, water, etc. and Ralph Northam…sent a tweet about it 7 hours ago.
— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) January 4, 2022
When Northam finally popped his head up after thousands were stranded overnight in freezing temps on the interstate, he claimed, “My team has been working throughout the night alongside @VSPPIO, @VaDOT, and @VDEM to respond to the situation on I-95. State and local emergency personnel are continuing to clear downed trees, assist disabled vehicles, and re-route drivers.”
“An emergency message is going to all stranded drivers connecting them to support, and the state is working with localities to open warming shelters as needed. While sunlight is expected to help @VaDOT clear the road, all Virginians should continue to avoid 1-95,” he added.
An emergency message is going to all stranded drivers connecting them to support, and the state is working with localities to open warming shelters as needed.
While sunlight is expected to help @VaDOT clear the road, all Virginians should continue to avoid 1-95.
— Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 4, 2022
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine was one of those stranded for over 27 hours while trying to get to his office in the Capitol.
“I started my normal 2 hour drive to DC at 1pm yesterday. 19 hours later, I’m still not near the Capitol. My office is in touch with @VaDOT to see how we can help other Virginians in this situation. Please stay safe everyone,” Kaine tweeted on Tuesday morning.
I started my normal 2 hour drive to DC at 1pm yesterday. 19 hours later, I’m still not near the Capitol. My office is in touch with @VaDOT to see how we can help other Virginians in this situation. Please stay safe everyone. pic.twitter.com/Sz1b1hZJZ5
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) January 4, 2022
He later sent out an update saying that he had been on the road for 27 hours. When he finally arrived at his destination, Kaine sent out a tweet expressing relief.
Ok after 27 hours on the road from Richmond to DC, very happy to be back in the Capitol and working on voting rights legislation this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/6XE45ZQUvq
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) January 4, 2022
Almost a foot of snow fell by the time the storm was done Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures plummeted to the teens overnight. As stranded motorists tried to ration gas in their cars by turning them off and on overnight, many just gave up and abandoned their vehicles altogether seeking shelter.
Many online decried Northam’s absence in the midst of an emergency.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is AWOL. Thousands of motorists have been trapped on Interstate 95 for more than 16 hours. He refuses to address reporters. Why hasn't he called out the National Guard? This is what happens when you put Democrats in charge of our state.
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) January 4, 2022
Total disaster on I-95 in VA. @VaDOT says the road is closed between Dumfries Road and Ruther Glen. 48 MILE CLOSURE! DO NOT GET ON 95! Drivers begging Gov. Northam to declare a state of emergency so that National Guard troops can assist. @nbcwashington @RalphNortham pic.twitter.com/ofdv2LRKMK
— First4Traffic (@First4Traffic) January 4, 2022
Northam was derided for not calling out the National Guard soon enough and for using Jan. 6 as an excuse:
During the Texas winter storm everyone on Twitter *lost their minds* about Cruz being spotted at an airport but I haven't seen anyone ask… where is Ralph Northam? Why was the National Guard “on standby” when thousands of people were stranded overnight?
— Lyndsey Fifield (@lyndseyfifield) January 4, 2022
It is always somebody else’s fault. No politician ever takes responsibility.
— Pam Parker (@parker22559) January 5, 2022
😆🤣😆🤣
That’s the best he has to offer!#loser— NoneYa (@larrupin35) January 5, 2022
Same person must write the script for all these damned people 🙄
— HARMONICA (@bar94boss) January 5, 2022
That my friends is called an irresponsible Governor.
— Teresa (@LittleT_Resists) January 5, 2022
— Proud Mary (@ProudMary555) January 5, 2022
Unbelievable!
— Tkg2000 (@TG2000GT) January 5, 2022
So Northam has the NG scheduled for a celebration of January 6th vs. an actual emergency?
— Maureen (@Maureen36781452) January 5, 2022
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