Some members of Congress involved in the investigation of former President Donald Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot have openly discussed concerns about their safety and the potential risk of arrest if Trump were to win a second term in November.
In a series of interviews with CBS News, House Democrats who played key roles in the House Jan. 6 select committee, along with some of the police witnesses who testified before it, expressed concerns about potential retribution from a future Trump administration.
In a social media post on March 18, Trump hinted at the possibility of future arrests for some of the participants in the Jan. 6 committee. Trump specifically mentioned the panel’s vice chair, former Rep. Liz Cheney, stating, “She, along with the rest of the Unselect Committee, should go to jail!”
During a recent interview with CBS News, Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat and member of the Jan. 6 select committee, shared his thoughts on the possible ramifications of the events that unfolded on that fateful day. He revealed that he and his wife have engaged in discussions about the potential consequences and what their lives would look like if the worst were to happen. Schiff acknowledged that it is inevitable to ponder the “what if” scenarios and expressed concerns about his personal safety in light of his role in the committee.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a member of the Jan. 6 committee, expressed his concern about President Trump’s threat to imprison him. Aguilar acknowledged the close proximity of the Washington, D.C. jail to the U.S. Capitol and humorously remarked, “Regardless, my family has assured me that they will come to D.C. and visit me, wherever I may be.”
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a prominent California Democrat who played a key role in leading the Jan. 6 committee, noted a striking observation from her experience. She emphasized that when former President Trump makes a statement, he is determined to follow through on it.
“I take that lesson to heart,” she said to CBS News, emphasizing her belief in the sincerity of his words and his commitment to follow through on them.
She admitted that she has experienced harassment from certain Trump supporters.
“He plans to weaponize the Department of Justice and target individuals like me,” expressed former Washington, D.C., police officer Michael Fanone in an interview with CBS News. Fanone, who testified at a public hearing held by the committee in 2021, has been vocal about his criticism of Trump, accusing him of employing authoritarian rhetoric.
Fanone stated that the individual is explicitly stating their intentions.
According to Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer and witness before the select committee, there is cause for concern for those who have testified against or publicly criticized Trump. Dunn, who is currently running for a U.S. House seat in Maryland as a Democrat, acknowledges the fear of potential arrest but emphasizes the importance of staying committed to doing what is right.
The Trump campaign chose not to address inquiries regarding whether Trump plans to take legal action against the Jan. 6 committee members.
According to a statement given to CBS News by a Trump spokeswoman, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney, and the Corrupt Democrats on the sham January 6th Committee have been deceiving the American public for years. They have not allowed key witnesses to testify and have concealed evidence that proves President Trump and his supporters were not involved in any alleged ‘insurrection.’ The spokeswoman asserts that their entire narrative is false and that the real threat to democracy is Joe Biden.
Scholars who specialize in studying the rhetoric and practices of authoritarian regimes criticized Trump’s social media post on March 18th.
According to Erica Frantz, a political science professor at Michigan State University, this type of post is not what you would expect from political leaders in a thriving democracy. As an expert on authoritarian politics, Frantz believes that when political leaders call for the imprisonment of their opponents, it raises concerns about the potential for a slide into authoritarianism.
Frantz explained that when politicians discuss the possibility of imprisoning individuals who express criticism, it can instill fear and discourage others from speaking out.
“It aims to instill fear in them and discourage them from speaking out against Trump,” she explained. “The suppression of critics not only allows leaders with authoritarian ambitions to go unchecked but also enables them to consolidate their power.”
The select committee conducted a highly publicized investigation into Trump, which involved a series of nationally televised public hearings. During the investigation, the committee interviewed numerous witnesses, including Trump’s top White House aides, as they examined his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. In a vote, the committee decided to forward criminal charges against Trump to the Justice Department, accusing him of endangering democracy and inciting the violent Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
The committee disbanded in late 2022 when Republicans gained control of the House. Cheney, along with two other members, lost their campaigns for reelection, while two others retired from the House.
Committee members have stated that they have been subjected to threats and harassment from Trump supporters. According to a senior U.S. House aide, the presidential candidate’s threats to imprison legislators for their public speech and legislative work are in violation of the Speech and Debate Clause, which is meant to protect the independence of Congress.
In a recent statement to the press, Aguilar expressed concerns about the potential consequences of Trump’s continuous use of inflammatory language. Aguilar emphasized that such rhetoric increases the likelihood of ongoing harassment, threats, and endangerment towards public officials. He went on to compare Trump’s behavior to that of dictators he associates with at Mar-a-Lago, highlighting the serious nature of the situation and the need for collective attention and response from members within the political sphere.
