Trump calls for retribution against political opponents who investigated January 6

In his first post-election television interview, President-elect Donald Trump expressed a desire for members of the now-defunct House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection to face jail time.

Speaking to NBC News’ Meet the Press, Trump singled out the committee’s members, including former Republican Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, stating that they should be incarcerated for their role in the investigation.

Trump’s comments marked an escalation in his long-standing rhetoric against those who have scrutinized his actions surrounding the 2020 election and the Capitol riot.

Asked if he would raise the minimum wage in 19 states that voted for him where employers may still pay as little as $7.25 per hour, Trump implied that he would consider it but he said, “you have a lot of businesses that are open and thriving because of the lower minimum wage.”

He also criticized a California law that raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers at restaurant chains with at least 60 locations to $20 from $16 an hour. After California’s $20 fast-food minimum wage went into effect, workers made more money, employment remained stable, and a $4 burger cost only 15 cents more.

Michael Reich, a professor at UC Berkeley, said the minimum wage has been a consistent political football since Franklin D. Roosevelt signed America’s first one into existence in 1938, but research in the intervening decades has repeatedly found “minimal” negative impacts.

Trump stunned observers by suggesting that those involved in the congressional committee’s inquiry “should go to jail,” raising concerns about the erosion of democratic norms, as such calls for retribution are often associated with authoritarian leaders.

The House Select Committee, which disbanded in early 2023 after Republicans regained control of the House, concluded that Trump played an active role in instigating the violence on January 6 as part of his broader effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The committee’s investigation, which featured testimony from various witnesses, laid out a detailed account of how Trump and his allies allegedly attempted to subvert the democratic process.

There is a direct link from the Biden administration’s failure to promptly prosecute Trump’s election-related crimes to the defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, which paved the way for his return to power in January.

Trump’s remarks were particularly pointed regarding Cheney, who lost her House seat in 2022 after standing firm against Trump’s efforts to challenge the election results.

Cheney, along with Kinzinger, was one of only two Republicans on the committee, which was chaired by Representative Bennie G. Thompson. Cheney responded to Trump’s claims by reiterating that the investigation was grounded in facts and the Constitution, countering Trump’s accusations of “treason” and “lies.”

“Donald Trump’s suggestion that members of Congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional actions should be jailed is a continuation of his assault on the rule of law,” Cheney said in a statement. “His comments are dangerous and undermine the very principles of democracy.”

Trump’s call for the imprisonment of political adversaries is unusual in democratic settings and has drawn sharp criticism. Legal scholars have warned that such rhetoric threatens the separation of powers and judicial independence, with experts noting that no factual or legal basis supports Trump’s demand for an investigation into the committee’s work.

Victoria Nourse, a professor at Georgetown Law, emphasized that jailing political opponents is characteristic of autocratic regimes.

“Kings and despots jail their political opponents,” Nourse said, adding that Trump’s continued threats could deepen divides within his party and embolden the faction that opposes him.

In the same interview, Trump also addressed his ongoing grievances with Jack Smith, the special counsel investigating his involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and his handling of classified documents.

Although Trump disparaged Smith as “very corrupt,” he stated that he would not instruct his attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, to investigate him further.

Trump’s remarks have sparked further debate about his potential plans for his administration’s legal approach.

While he expressed an unwillingness to personally direct any investigations into Smith, he left open the possibility for Bondi and other appointed officials to pursue such matters at their discretion. This has raised concerns about political interference within the Justice Department, which critics warn could undermine its independence.

Additionally, Trump repeated his commitment to pardoning those involved in the January 6 riot, referring to them as victims of a biased legal system.

His comments come as the Department of Justice continues to prosecute dozens of individuals charged in connection with the Capitol attack. However, legal observers have indicated that such executive actions would likely have little impact on the ongoing judicial proceedings.

During the interview, Trump also defended his hardline immigration stance, reiterating his vow to deport all undocumented immigrants and to end birthright citizenship, a move that would require a constitutional amendment.

His rhetoric on immigration, including a threat to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, echoes policies from his first term.

Trump’s return to the White House, marked by an aggressive agenda on both legal and policy fronts, signals a confrontational approach to his second term, should he be elected.

However, his calls for retribution against political opponents and his disdain for the judiciary have raised alarms about the future of U.S. democracy under his leadership.