Raskin suggests Stefanik’s Jan. 6 ‘hostages’ remarks due to VP ambitions

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) went after Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) on Sunday after Stefanik called those found guilty of crimes related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots “hostages,” claiming that her divisive remarks are part of her efforts to join former President Trump’s 2024 ticket.

“Stefanik must explain herself. Who’s holding the J6 insurrectionists ‘hostage’?” Raskin said on X, formerly Twitter. 

“Does she no longer believe violence is ‘unacceptable’ and ‘must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law’?” he continued, referring to her previous comments about the riots. “Does her change of heart have anything to do with wanting to be Trump’s running mate?”

About 1,000 people have been convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, including more than 400 for assaulting police officers. 

In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, Stefanik said the imprisonment of those found guilty of Jan. 6 crimes amounted to “weaponization of the federal government.”

“I have concerns about the treatment of Jan. 6 hostages,” she said. “We have a rule in Congress of oversight over our treatment of prisoners. And I believe that we’re seeing the weaponization of the federal government against not just President Trump, but we’re seeing it against conservatives.”

After the Capitol riots in 2021, Stefanik strongly denounced the attack, saying “violence in any form is absolutely unacceptable” and calling on the Justice Department to prosecute those responsible “to the fullest extent of the law.”

Saturday was the third anniversary of the riots, which Democrats marked with calls to take the threat of political violence more seriously for the 2024 election cycle. Stefanik was among a number of Republicans who sought to downplay the violence. 

Raskin also demanded that Stefanik apologize for her comments, pointing to approximately 130 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza amid the brutal war with Israel.

“People convicted of violently assaulting police officers and conspiring to overthrow the government are not ‘hostages,’” he said on X. “Stefanik must apologize to the families of 130 people being held hostage by Hamas right now. Her pandering to Trump is dangerous.”

As Trump retains a massive lead in the GOP primary, speculation is heating up over who his running mate will be. Stefanik is a top candidate and on Sunday declined ruling out a vice presidential bid.

“Well, I, of course, would be honored to serve in any capacity in a Trump administration,” she said Sunday on NBC. “I’m proud to be the first member of Congress to endorse his reelection. I’m proud to be a strong supporter of President Trump, and he’s going to win this November.”

GOP primary rival Nikki Haley and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem are also seen as top names for the job, as well as Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who dropped out of the presidential race in November.