"But my friends, you know, everything that we’re sitting here talking about, we’re all so passionate right now, the thing that we are wanting to fight for, it doesn’t matter if our votes don’t count. Because, you know, if our election systems continue to be rigged, and continue to be stolen, it’s going to lead to one place, and it’s bloodshed. And I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there’s nothing that I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American"
Later, after Pelosi condemned his remarks, Cawthorn's office issued a press release.
“Speaker Pelosi took advantage of a left-wing media hit job and lied about my words for her gross political agenda," Cawthorn said Sept. 1. "She dangerously and deliberately chose to mischaracterize my comments as violent speech when I clearly called for violence not to occur. Political violence in America is never acceptable, and I warned in my comments that elections must be secure so others do not erroneously choose that path of violence."
"But my friends, you know, everything that we’re sitting here talking about, we’re all so passionate right now, the thing that we are wanting to fight for, it doesn’t matter if our votes don’t count. Because, you know, if our election systems continue to be rigged, and continue to be stolen, it’s going to lead to one place, and it’s bloodshed. And I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there’s nothing that I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American"
Later, after Pelosi condemned his remarks, Cawthorn's office issued a press release.
“Speaker Pelosi took advantage of a left-wing media hit job and lied about my words for her gross political agenda," Cawthorn said Sept. 1. "She dangerously and deliberately chose to mischaracterize my comments as violent speech when I clearly called for violence not to occur. Political violence in America is never acceptable, and I warned in my comments that elections must be secure so others do not erroneously choose that path of violence."
https://youtu.be/2RtsGikgAqA
These comments were towards the end, at 1:22, but go back a good ways before that for better context.