Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., gathered for a press conference outside of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday to denounce the Department of Justice for denying them access to the D.C. federal corrections facility where Jan. 6 political prisoners are being detained and reportedly being mistreated.
At least one attorney for an inmate held at that facility appeared to have been prevented access which could indicate a possible violation of their Sixth Amendment.
RSBN attempted to enter the prison facility with the lawmakers that were patiently awaiting further instructions to go on their solicited tour of the facilities until prison authorities suddenly determined that their presence inside was considered “trespassing.” At this point, they were denied access to viewing the inmates’ living conditions.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., claimed, “Members of Congress need to conduct oversight, yet our letters and calls get ignored. Then we get told we are trespassing.”
“The American people deserve answers,” she said adding that the situation is “outrageous.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed her frustrations about the DOJ’s lack of transparency and the unprecedented blocked access from these facilities.
Clarifying the reason for her visit, she said it was “to give oversight on a federal prison because we suspect there is a two-tiered justice system in the U.S. for Trump supporters that are charged for January 6th, and catch-and-release…for ANTIFA/BLM rioters.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., explained his issue with being locked out of the federal corrections facility and shed light on the ongoing disconnect between Republican legislators and the Biden Administration.
“Every day in America people are locked in prison; it’s not everyday that people are locked out of a prison — which is what happened to multiple members of Congress today,” said Gaetz. “How does the Biden Administration expect us to participate in the representative republic when they deprive us of access to information that would inform our oversight work and our appropriations decisions?”
This comes merely days after a press conference held by Reps. Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar, Louie Gohmert, and Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday, along with Reps. Andy Biggs and Bob Good, who stood outside the Department of Justice demanding answers about how prisoners were being treated after being arrested for their alleged involvements with the Jan. 6 riots. Examples of the alleged mistreatment the lawmakers listed include due process violations and excessive use of solitary confinement.
Democrat lawmakers began highly partisan hearings this week to investigate the Capitol riots on Jan. 6.
