GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik on Sunday echoed Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump as she referred to those sentenced to prison for their roles in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol as “hostages.”
“I have concerns about the treatment of January 6 hostages. I have concerns, we have a role in Congress of oversight over our treatment of prisoners, and I believe we’re seeing the weaponization of the federal government against not just President Trump, but we’re seeing it against conservatives,” the New York Republican said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
The House Republican conference chairwoman’s comments come one day after the three-year anniversary of the January 6, 2021, riot, when hundreds of individuals stormed the US Capitol to keep Trump in the White House. Over 1,200 Americans have been charged criminally for their alleged actions during the riot, and over half of the more than 890 found guilty of federal crimes have been sentenced to prison time, according to the Justice Department.
A few rioters have claimed in court that they are the victims of politically motivated prosecution because they support Trump. But federal judges, including those appointed by Trump, have rejected these arguments.
Republican former Rep. Liz Cheney blasted Stefanik for calling those imprisoned for their actions during January 6 “hostages,” referring to the term as “disgraceful.”
“That word she used is exactly the word that Donald Trump uses. And that’s why she’s using it. And it’s outrageous, and it’s disgusting,” Cheney said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “These are people who were involved in violence against police officers in the assault on the Capitol, and … it’s disgraceful for Donald Trump to be saying what he’s saying.”
Following the Capitol attack, Stefanik made a speech on the…
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