January 6 committee member says Newt Gingrich’s comment about them facing jail time is 'unconscionable'

On CNN Newsroom With Pamela Brown Sunday, Democratic congresswoman Elaine Luria, who is a member of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, responded to comments made earlier in the day by former Republican congressman Newt Gingrich on Fox News.

On Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo, Gingrich said, “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.”

“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,” Luria said. “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.”

Video Transcript

- It's really unconscionable that I think that the politicization has sunk to this level, that a former Speaker of the House could be threatening current members of Congress who are carrying out their duty. And in fact, performing what is required under the law.

- Democratic Congresswoman Elaine Luria who is on the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection appeared on CNN newsroom with Pamela Brown Sunday, where she reacted to comments made by former Republican Congressman Newt Gingrich on Fox News earlier in the day.

- When you have a Republican Congress, this is all going to come crashing down and the Wolves are going to find out that they're now sheep and they're the ones who are in fact, going to I think face a real risk of jail.

- Committee member Republican Liz Cheney responded by tweeting, This is what it looks like when the rule of law unravels. While Republican committee member Adam Kinzinger simply mocked Gingrich with a GIF of Chris Farley. And Luria said that Gingrich's comment is why the committee's work is so important.

- That there 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.