<p><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/600d59da1958200011554a5c-1333/GettyImages-1297805096.jpg" border="0" alt="qanon capitol" data-mce-source="Andrew Lichtenstein/Getty Images" data-mce-caption="Trump supporter and QAnon follower Jake &quotThe Q Shaman&quot Angeli attends a &quotStop the Steal&quot rally ."></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Hawaii's Republican Party posted a series of tweets that appeared to defend followers of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/30-of-republicans-have-favorable-view-of-qanon-conspiracy-theory-poll-2021-1">QAnon conspiracy theory</a>.</p><p>The eight-part Twitter thread on Friday night, concluded with a call not to ridicule QAnon supporters.</p><p>The tweet read: "We should make it abundantly clear - the people who subscribed to the Q fiction, were largely motivated by a sincere and deep love for America. Patriotism and love of County should never be ridiculed."</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation=""><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We should make it abundantly clear - the people who subscribed to the Q fiction, were largely motivated by a sincere and deep love for America. Patriotism and love of County should never be ridiculed.</p> Hawaii GOP (@gophawaii) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1353194880898453509'ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p></p><p>In earlier tweets, Hawaii's GOP described the origins of the conspiracy theory that is thought to have <a href="https://www.insider.com/capitol-riots-qanon-protest-conspiracy-theory-washington-dc-protests-2021-1">fueled the deadly siege of the US Capitol building</a>.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/right-wing-conspiracy-theories-qanon-fueled-capitol-siege-instigate-violence-2021-1">The right-wing conspiracy theories that fueled the Capitol siege are going to instigate more violence.</a></em></p><p>One tweet focused on the conspiracy theory's central belief that a 'deep state' engage in coordinated plots to undermine former President Donald Trump.</p><p>It read: "What is the truth' There are highly networked groups of people with specific agendas. Factions and individuals within Government do abuse power - Peter Strozk, Steele Dossier, James Comey, FISA courts, and on."</p><p>It continued: "Powerful people do engage in abusive or predatory behavior."</p><p>Another tweet said: "People who followed Q don't deserve mockery, the world is a complex place, there are bad actors, injustice, corruption."</p><p>The tweets drew criticism from people who felt the Hawaii Republican Party's were attempting to rationalize the disproven QAnon conspiracy theory.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation=""><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The GOP says the people who tried to overthrow the U.S. Government & install a dictator did it out of a sincere and deep love for America<a href="https://t.co/ViNvAHlpwC">https://t.co/ViNvAHlpwC</a></p> William LeGate (@williamlegate) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1353235372134723586'ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation=""><p lang="en" dir="ltr">QAnon is a conspiracy cult & anyone giving it any legitimacy should be barred from holding public office <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StopTeamQ'src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StopTeamQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/FA8csLsCOa">https://t.co/FA8csLsCOa</a></p> Give Tara Dublin Josh Hawleys Book Deal (@taradublinrocks) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1353233903981498369'ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation=""><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That fiction led to death, destruction, and an attempt to end democracy in this country. But this is a chilling preview, I think, of where the GOP is headed with this. Sweeping it under the rug, and bringing the seditionists back into the fold. <a href="https://t.co/vJBtVOZrIi">https://t.co/vJBtVOZrIi</a></p> Katherine Cross (@Quinnae_Moon) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1353221845319786498'ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation=""><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If QAnon people love this country, they have a funny way of showing it. They think every living president before Donald Trump is a Satanic child eater. Then a bunch of them stormed the Capitol. <a href="https://t.co/FBLItijwkT">https://t.co/FBLItijwkT</a></p> Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1353221137178783745'ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Adherents of the conspiracy were on the front line of the insurrection on January 6.</p><p>A QAnon influencerthe 'Q Shaman'played a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/q-shaman-qanon-influencer-capitol-siege-washington-dc-protest-riot-2021-1">highly visible role in the Capitol siege</a>. He has since been arrested and charged with federal crimes.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ashli-babbitt-tweeted-qanon-and-trump-conspiracies-before-capitol-death-2021-1">Ashli Babbitt,</a> who was fatally shot during the attempted coup, also appeared to be a supporter of QAnon.</p><p>Some of the conspiracy theory's adherents believed that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/qanon-trump-capitol-attack-belief-precursor-the-storm-2021-1">storming the Capitol could trigger an event</a> that would result in Trump overthrowing and executing anti-Trump elites.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hawaii-gop-criticized-for-saying-qanon-should-not-be-ridiculed-2021-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-make-beer-with-picobrew-c-home-brew-2020-3">We tested a machine that brews beer at the push of a button</a></p>
Click here to read full news..
