“They Should Go to Jail”: MAGA Allies Threaten Jan. 6 Committee Members
Courtesy: nbcnews
MAGA allies escalated their rhetoric on Tuesday, with threats to jail members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol attack. During an interview on Newsmax, host Chris Salcedo and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) targeted prominent committee members, accusing them of illegal conduct and destroying evidence.
Salcedo opened his program by attacking former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), calling them “co-conspirators” in what he labeled a “sham” investigation. Salcedo claimed the committee’s work was “illegal” and “maligned,” echoing Rep. Barry Loudermilk’s (R-GA) recent accusations that committee files were deleted before Republicans took control of the House in 2023.
“Thompson and Cheney have refused to turn over the files even though the files belong to our people, not them,” Salcedo charged. He suggested a probe could uncover “lawless activity” and result in “lawbreakers going to jail!”
Salcedo then played a clip of Thompson defending the committee’s actions during a C-SPAN interview. Thompson dismissed the accusations as political threats, saying Republicans are targeting the committee “just because [they] disagree.”
Burchett, however, was unrelenting. When asked if the committee acted lawfully or if their work was illegitimate, Burchett issued a stark warning.
“Historically, just doing your job in recent history has sent people to meet their maker,” he replied ominously. “It was an illegitimate committee, they had no jurisdiction whatsoever, and they actually imprisoned Steve Bannon for failing to show up.”
Calling the committee’s investigation “bogus,” Burchett added, “If they destroyed evidence, if they hid evidence if they mistreated evidence, then yes, they have violated the law. President Trump is correct, and they should go to jail. If that is the case.”
Burchett then challenged his party to follow through on promises of accountability, saying Republicans need to act decisively after “feeding their constituents red meat.” He expressed skepticism about the GOP’s resolve.
“They’re going to come right back here and sell us down the river,” Burchett said. “That’s why we’re $36 trillion in debt. That’s why no one fears us right now. Because the Republican Party, we’re all puffed up, we’re doing a dagum victory lap.”
After the interview, Burchett doubled down on social media. “If members of the J6 committee destroyed or hid evidence, they should go to jail,” he wrote. “Steve Bannon did four months in prison for not showing up to their clown show. We’ll see in January if this bunch is ready to hold people accountable.”
The renewed threats highlight growing tensions as Republicans continue their efforts to challenge the findings of the January 6 investigation and target its key players.
