Several Democrats involved in the House Jan. 6 Select Committee investigation into former President Donald Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol incident have expressed fears of potential retaliation should Trump win the presidency again.
These concerns stem from Trump’s public statements, including a recent social media post where he suggested that former Rep. Liz Cheney and other committee members should be incarcerated.
Cheney, a Republican who was one of two from her party serving on the committee, did not win reelection in 2022 after her critical stance against Trump.
Donald J. Trump (Credits: CNN)
The Jan. 6 committee, which disbanded following the GOP’s regain of the House majority after the 2022 midterms, included prominent Democrats like Reps. Adam Schiff, Pete Aguilar, and Zoe Lofgren—all from California.
These members have voiced serious concerns regarding Trump’s threats, emphasizing the gravity with which they view his statements.
Zoe Lofgren, in particular, remarked to CBS News about her observations from the committee’s activities, noting, “When Trump says something, he intends to do it,” indicating a genuine worry about the implications of his threats.
Law enforcement officers who testified before the committee also expressed fears of reprisals in the event of Trump’s return to power.
Donald Trump (Credits: Reuters)
Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol police officer who is now a Democratic congressional candidate in Maryland, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that anyone who has testified against Trump or spoken out publicly should be concerned, as “Trump means what he says.”
In response to these allegations, a spokesman for Trump has dismissed the Jan. 6 committee as a “sham,” accusing it of lying to the public and covering up evidence that would exonerate Trump and his supporters from accusations of inciting an insurrection.
This deep divide underscores the lingering tensions and high stakes as the political landscape continues to grapple with the fallout from the events of January 6.
