Jacob Ogles
Complaints about poor prison conditions. Demands for police to release bodycam footage. Anger suspected terrorists have yet to receive due process.
If this sounds like a list of complaints from left-wing criminal justice activists, think again. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and three other GOP House members outlined these concerns in a letter to the Justice Department demanding better treatment of suspected insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Gaetz, a Panhandle Republican, on Tuesday will participate in a press conference with U.S. Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas, Paul Gosar of Arizona and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
The members of Congress, all of whom voted against certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory over Donald Trump, demanded an in-person meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland explaining alleged mistreatment of the Trump supporters arrested in the wake of the riot.
“The Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that 535 people have been arrested arising out of events on January 6th at the U.S. Capitol Building,” the letter reads. “We are seven months into these matters and answers are not forthcoming.”
Gaetz pressuring the Justice Department on anything now will surely draw criticism as he remains under federal investigation for allegedly sex trafficking a minor and a number of connected matters. The sudden defense of protesters also seems a significant change in strategy from the day of the attack on the Capitol. Then, he blamed the riots on secret antifa provocateurs and anti-police rhetoric from liberals.
“I sure am glad that at least for one day, I didn’t hear my Democrat colleagues calling to defund the police,” he said on the House floor before casting multiple votes to overturn a democratic process.
But since then, he has criticized law enforcement quite a bit, even insinuating the FBI played a role in the Jan. 6 riot.
The letter from representatives suggests the Capitol Police willfully did not protect the Capitol or warn Congress of the threat posed by the rioters, whom several pro-Trump members of Congress encouraged to come to protest the certification of the Electoral College vote.
“We would also like to discuss why we were not warned that ‘armed extremists were planning mayhem’ on January 6th?” the letter reads. “Ms. [Yogananda] Pittman [acting chief of the Capitol Police] testified on February 25th this year that her office was notified in advance that “armed extremists” were targeting the peaceful rally, and potentially targeting us, as members of Congress. Yet we received no notice of this threat. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday and talking with you about these critical issues.”
All of the members who signed onto the letter have made controversial remarks about the insurrection in the months since it occurred. Greene has said the accused rioters were abused and demanded a release of 14,000 hours of raw surveillance footage of the events that day. Gosar has described rioters, who beat and cursed at police guarding the Capitol in a riot that resulted in five deaths, as “peaceful protesters.” Gohmert has described the arrested as “political prisoners.”
17 comments
zhombre
July 26, 2021 at 4:23 pm
Alleged. And which individuals are actually charged with insurrection, sedition or treason?
Tom Palmer
July 27, 2021 at 11:31 am
Article said suspected, not alleged. No one is being charted with sedition or treason, because that charge is rarely made. You can look up the charges, I’m sure. Oh, wait, they were just tourists.
Bob Anderson
July 27, 2021 at 12:39 pm
You spelled “terrorist” wrong
JmjUSA
July 26, 2021 at 4:29 pm
OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author’s opinion…
Should be the moniker in most, if not all of Florida (Biased & B*llsh*t) Politics postings..
Insurrection?
Snake your way to Cuba….
What a poor excuse for a stooge..
Scott
July 26, 2021 at 9:38 pm
Best congressman in america 🇺🇸
Mr Right
July 27, 2021 at 1:23 am
Gaetz would be a great voice on the committee but Pelosi will not let him near it because he speaks truth that goes against her narrative.
Truth is you cannot separate this act from the stealing of an election that was taking place on the house floor. There is evidence to call the election into question. Evidence of systemic vote fraud that was being ignored and swept under the rug to rush the socialists into power. Why? As the audits are revealing the dems cheated in big cities. They know they cheated and do not want to get caught.
Gaetz would bring all that to light.
To be clear it was not an armed insurrection or a coup as some like to think of it. It was a protest. That was much more peaceful than any they had in Portland or Minneapolis last year
Tjb
July 27, 2021 at 9:53 am
Gee, prison life is too hard for the snowflake insurrectionists. Welcome to incarceration. Maybe Trump will let you stay at Mar-A-Lago when you are released.
NM Allen
July 27, 2021 at 10:34 am
How honorable for Matt Gatez to complain about he horrible conditions.
and inhumane treatment Of the of the Jan 6th rioters in a letter n to the BOP director Garland. Unfortunately it us standard practice of how all inmates suffer st the hands of BOP . perhaps you could include my son as a victim also. Nexus in an administrative SHU with 24 hour solitary confinement and unable to call his family because of a mistake in transportation that put him in Mississippi instead of Georgia his designated location. He has been to 5 facilities and been in transit for 3 months. By the way he only has a six month sentence. Mr. Gates do you think Director Garland should know about him as well?
Paul
July 27, 2021 at 2:21 pm
Not defending these folks, but keep in mind, per NPR: “… 43 are accused of committing conspiracy,… 117 are accused of committing acts of violence, particularly against police. …49 are suspected of causing property damage, like breaking windows or doors to gain entry to the building…. 35 are accused of theft…”
No one is charged with acts of terrorism or trying to overthrow the government. One person, out of 550 arrested, was armed with a handgun. Not exactly what I would call an attempt to overthrow the Republic.
Mike Wayne
July 28, 2021 at 11:19 am
Facts, how dare you publish facts! This will to undermine their narrative. Thank You for this refreshing if not common sense reply.
zhombre
July 28, 2021 at 11:29 am
I’ll withhold any opinion about the conspiracy charges because such charges are often nebulous and requires convincing proof; as for assaulting police, trespass, property damage, theft, riot, etc, they can be held to account for their actions and face consequences. Prima facie, none of this equates to insurrection.
Art
July 29, 2021 at 1:55 am
You left out that 50 has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon or causing bodily injury to police officers. Too inconvenient?
Harold Finch
July 27, 2021 at 2:51 pm
Gaetz is the biggest slim ball Jackass ever to serve from Florida. I know him from his time serving in the State Legislature, and he is an evil person.
Scrotie Mcboogerballs
July 27, 2021 at 4:22 pm
Gaetz is another Trump humper that should kill himself for the good of the country.
Keith
July 27, 2021 at 8:55 pm
Well done Jacob Ogles! You twisted facts, displayed liberal bias and tossed in opinion disguised as reporting. I am grateful you are straight forward with your left wing slant. Straight forward slant is an oxymoron like journalist Jacob Ogles. I know, I know. In your eyes I’m a racist. That’s good because I know when that card comes out all logical defenses of a leftists viewpoint have been exhausted.
Michel Wayne
July 28, 2021 at 11:14 am
When Kamala Harris was actively raising funds to bail out looters, rioters and arsonist the right was upset and the many in the left applauded. Now my Congressional Rep thinks he should intervene in the course of justice for trespassers. Yes they were for the most part trespassers. No district one rep illegal is illegal. He should seriously rethink this political move.
jeffery s erwine
July 29, 2021 at 5:37 pm
Yet another yellow journalist from the left.
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