Cawthorn calls jailed Jan. 6 rioters 'political hostages'
Rep.
Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) is describing those in law enforcement custody for allegedly storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying
President Biden's election victory as "political hostages" while repeating false claims that the 2020 election was "stolen."
During the event, which included a question-and-answer session with constituents, Cawthorn cast doubt on Biden's legitimate electoral victory over former
President Trump and warned of violence "if our election systems continue to be rigged and continue to be stolen."
"I'll tell you, anybody who tells you that Joe Biden was dutifully elected is lying," Cawthorn said to jeers from the crowd.
An attendee later asked what Cawthorn was "doing to support the 535 Americans that were held — captured in — from Jan. 6," apparently referring to rioters in law enforcement custody.
Cawthorn described them as "political hostages" and "political prisoners."
"The big problem is, we don't actually know where all the political prisoners are," Cawthorn said. "And so if we were to actually be able to go and try and bust them out — and let me tell you, the reason why they're taking these political prisoners is because they're trying to make an example, because they don't want to see the mass protests going on in Washington."
Another attendee then asked, "When are you going to call us to Washington again?"
"We are actively working on that one," Cawthorn said. "We have a few plans in motion I can't make public right now, but this is something that we're working on. There are a lot of Republicans who don't want to talk about this."
Supporters of the Jan. 6 defendants are planning a rally on Sept. 18, which organizers are calling "Justice for J6," on the Capitol grounds. Local law enforcement
is already making preparations for the event, which is occurring on a Saturday when neither chamber of Congress is scheduled to be in session.
Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) is describing those in law enforcement custody for allegedly storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying President Biden&#…
thehill.com