GOP senator: Jailing political opponents ‘not who we are’

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a frequent Donald Trump critic, hit back at the Republican presidential nominee’s threat to put Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in jail if he wins, saying on Wednesday that’s “not who we are.” 

“Republicans should not be Ok with Donald Trump threatening to jail his opponent after the election,” Flake tweeted. “That is not who we are.”

Republicans should not be okay with @realDonaldTrump threatening to jail his opponent after the election. That is not who we are.

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) October 12, 2016

{mosads}Flake’s comments come after Trump interrupted Clinton during Sunday night’s presidential debate, noting that if he were the president, “you’d be in jail.” 

Trump added later that if Clinton had been in the private sector instead of secretary of State when she set up a private email server, “you’d be put in jail, let alone after getting a subpoena from the United States Congress.” 

Trump’s comments quickly drew backlash from pundits on social media, who noted that dictators in other countries frequently jail their political enemies.

Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager, quickly wrote off the remark as a “quip.” 

“Whether she goes to jail is not up to Donald Trump. It’s up to whoever adjudicates whatever crime she has or has not committed,” she told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Monday. 

Flake has refused to endorse Trump over concerns that the real estate mogul’s controversial remarks will have a long-term negative impact on the Republican Party.

The Arizona Republican called on Trump to drop his White House bid over the weekend amid political fallout from Trump’s comments in 2005 about groping women without their consent.