Members of the special committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol said they believe the rampage's criminal acts were committed by President Trump and his supporters after President-elect Trump called for jail time. It is something that was violated, and they are protesting that it is not so. Those who investigated the tragedy that followed.
Lawmakers on the now-defunct committee, which included members of both parties, said President Trump had threatened to prosecute them to punish those who break the law with impunity and try to hold them accountable. They claim that they will form an alliance with the tyrant.
That's why they reject President Trump's threat of prison time.
“In America, we only incarcerate people if they commit a criminal offense and are found guilty unanimously by a jury of their peers. We won’t jail them,” said Rep. Jamie Lakin (D-Md.), a member of the select committee, in an interview with The Hill.
Trump will return to the White House next month, but his critics say the threat is also aimed at scaring off any future investigations into his conduct over the next four years.
“This is not just retaliation against our committee members. This is a case of no one being able to hold him accountable in his second term, seeing what he does and doing the work of Congress.” It's to send a message that it's okay,” said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a fellow January lawmaker. The Sixth Committee, which also led Trump's first impeachment, spoke Monday on MSNBC's “Morning Joe.”
“He is intent on breaking down the checks and balances in our system.”
Amplifying Trump's threats on NBC's “Meet the Press” show on Sunday prompted President Biden to pre-emptively pardon investigators on Jan. 6 and prevent any prosecution by the Trump Justice Department. Pressure mounted to protect them from efforts as well.
That possibility is already being discussed within President Biden, but some of Trump's most vocal critics, including Schiff, say the president has no plans to do so, worried it would set a bad precedent. They argue that the urge to grant amnesty should be resisted. future government.
Raskin declined to comment on the prospect, although he did not appear to rule out the possibility last week following President Trump's recent comments.
“I don't think it's my place to comment on that,” he told The Hill. “That is solely within the authority of the president.”
President Trump called for members of the Jan. 6 selection committee to go to jail during a Sunday appearance on NBC's “Meet the Press,” his first interview with a major network since his presidential victory.
At one point, the president-elect told host Kristen Welker that he intended to seek “success,” a change in tone, and “retribution,” which he also threatened to do against his opponents during the campaign. there were. For the cocky Republicans.
“I really want this country to be successful. I'm not going to go back to the past,” President Trump said. “I want this country to succeed. Retribution will come through success.”
But minutes later, when asked if he intended to forgive himself, the president-elect insisted, “I did nothing wrong,” and blamed members of the Congressional committee for stirring up suspicions against him. It was a complete 180 degree change from his soothing tone up until that moment. .
“Cheney was behind it…and so was Bennie Thompson and everyone on his committee,” President Trump said. “Honestly, they should go to prison…for what they did.”
His comments reignite clashes over the riot at the Capitol nearly four years ago. In the riot, a mob of Trump supporters attacked law enforcement officers and stormed a building in an unsuccessful attempt to invalidate the 2020 election results and force President Trump to serve another term. . More than 140 law enforcement officers were injured, and three died in the days that followed, including two by suicide. One of the rioters was shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer as he tried to enter the Speaker's Lobby, which is adjacent to the House chamber.
Following the attack, Congressional leaders from both parties, including then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) , said Trump was responsible for the violence. But McConnell also fought to ensure the Senate did not convict Trump after the House impeached him.
And Mr. McCarthy quickly changed his tune, conciliating with Mr. Trump and refusing to allow Republicans to participate in the House investigation, appointing all nine members of the select committee set up for that purpose to then-House Nancy Pelosi. He was elected Chairman (Democrat, California). Two of them, then-Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyoming) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Illinois), were Republicans.
In late 2022, the commission released its findings that found Trump to be the driving force behind the violent attacks. The allegations quickly made committee members a top target for Trump and his supporters inside and outside the Capitol.
Cheney lost re-election to a Trump-backed candidate in the August 2022 primary, but voted for impeachment after Cheney questioned her claims of election fraud and was attacked on January 6. After casting his vote, he lost to a candidate supported by the then-former president. , was chosen to be the vice chair investigating the Capitol riot. Kinzinger, meanwhile, chose not to run for re-election amid tough redistricting and became the target of the ire of Trump and his supporters.
Kash Patel, a Trump supporter who is nominated to be FBI director next year, has published a book that includes an enemy list of additional Trump critics, many of whom criticize Trump's actions on January 6th. Ta.
Some have accused Trump of a simple attempt to project his own crimes onto others, following his recent threat to jail investigators.
“Here's the truth: Donald Trump tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election and seize power. He mobilized an angry mob and sent it to the U.S. Capitol, where they attacked police officers and stormed the building. Trump invaded and halted the official counting of electoral votes.For hours, President Trump watched on television as police officers were severely beaten and the Capitol was stormed, refusing to tell rioters to leave. ,” Cheney said in a statement.
“This was the worst constitutional violation by a president in the history of our country,” she continued. “Donald Trump's suggestion that members of Congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional conduct be imprisoned is a continuation of his attack on the rule of law and the foundations of our country.”
Mr. Raskin also did not back down from defending the work he and his colleagues accomplished on the committee.
“I hope that there will be a time again when people can do their jobs and keep their oath of office without being threatened with jail time or more,” Raskin said. “We are proud of the work we did on the Jan. 6 selection committee. We pride ourselves on standing up for the Constitution and the rule of law, and we continue to do so.” . And we will continue to do so.”
