Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) reacted to a suggestion made by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R) about members of the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.
Gingrich commented on the investigation during an appearance on Fox News, saying, “I think when we have a Republican congress, this is all gonna come crashing down, and the wolves are gonna find out that they’re now sheep, and they’re the ones who will, in fact, I think, face a real risk of jail.”
Cheney reacted in a tweet, “A former Speaker of the House is threatening jail time for members of Congress who are investigating the violent January 6 attack on our Capitol and our Constitution. This is what it looks like when the rule of law unravels.”
A former Speaker of the House is threatening jail time for members of Congress who are investigating the violent January 6 attack on our Capitol and our Constitution.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) January 23, 2022
This is what it looks like when the rule of law unravels. https://t.co/vpQZjTg9em
Kinzinger tweeted a GIF mocking Gingrich’s comments.
https://t.co/gzd7LbkFkd pic.twitter.com/JAMz2LBFQp
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) January 23, 2022
Additionally, another member of the committee reacted to Gingrich’s comments.
Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) told CNN, “It’s really unconscionable that, you know, I think, that the politicization has sunk to this level that a former Speaker of the House could be threatening current members of congress for carrying out their duty and performing under the law.”
She added, “That there would be some threat of jail, I mean, that’s just not something that happens in the United States, and that is why the work we’re doing is absolutely so important on the committee, is to make sure that we uphold the foundations of our democracy.”
The Washington Post noted that several former Trump administration officials are cooperating with the committee, including former Attorney General Wiliam Barr.
“We’ve had conversations with the former attorney general already. We have talked to Department of Defense individuals,” Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), the chairman of the committee, said.