Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said President-elect Trump's threat to jail members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol was a “no-brainer.” “This is a signal that it is not appropriate to detain him.” account. “
“This is not just retaliation against our committee members,” Schiff said Monday on MSNBC's “Morning Joe.”
“This is intended to send a message that no one should hold him accountable in his second term.…He is trying to break down these checks and balances in our system. That's the intention,” Schiff added, referring to Trump. “There's more danger there than with the committee members.”
In his first sit-down interview since winning the November election, President Trump told “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker that he urged his top appointees to go after political opponents. Although he indicated he did not intend to issue a specific order, Trump noted that the following members are in jail: He served on the House committee that investigated on January 6th.
“All of us who served on the January 6th committee are proud of the work we did,” said Schiff, who served on the committee. “When the president incited a violent attack, , we have exposed one of the darkest chapters of our history.” Capitol Hill is only trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power. ”
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who served on the committee on Jan. 6, also spoke out against Trump's threats, calling his comments “an attack on the rule of law.”
“Here's the truth: Donald Trump tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election and seize power,” she said in a statement provided to The Hill.
Meanwhile, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who also served on the committee, said he was “not worried at all” that President Trump would put him in jail.
President Biden is considering preemptive pardons for people who could be targeted under the incoming Trump administration, but reactions have been mixed.
“I have more confidence in our system.” [to be] It can withstand potential abuses of power by the president. …I think the court is strong enough to withstand his worst threats. And I don't think a preemptive pardon makes sense,” Schiff told NPR last month.
“Frankly, I don't think this is so far-fetched that it's not worth much consideration. I would urge the president not to do something like that. I think it's defensive and unnecessary. I think it will.”
