A delegation of GOP congressmen, led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, are assembling plans to visit prisoners awaiting trial for participating in the January 6, 2021 riots that rattled Washington and the world.
Republicans continue to criticize the detainment centers where prisoners are being held with minimal recreation time, visitation rights, and black mold infestations. Greene has partnered with House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) to release a letter later today informing D.C. corrections officers of their travel plans.
“We’re going to be addressing the human rights abuse, such as the fact that they’ve been held in solitary confinement up to 23 hours a day, denied the ability to see their families,” Greene said, also alleging “non-working toilets” and issues receiving medical treatment.
The conditions are alleged to be so deplorable that dozens of January 6 participants have submitted requests to be transferred to the federal detention center at Guantanamo Bay, a site notorious for hosting international terrorism suspects as well as the architects of the World Trade Center attacks in 2001.
Since Monday, Fox News primetime host Tucker Carlson has devoted considerable airtime to unreleased footage of the Capitol riot. Carlson also interviewed police officer Tarik Johnson who offered alternative testimony to most of the witnesses called by a congressional committee in the wake. Coverage of the riots, and subsequent reactions by leadership in both parties, have reignited a discussion of how J6 participants should be viewed and what consequences they should face, if any.
Greene and Comer have opened their trip to all committee members and expressed hope that Democrats will join them in visiting with prisoners. Ranking Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) called the plans an example of “selective sympathy” by Republicans and questioned whether his colleagues would similarly visit with prisoners at Rikers Island where deteriorating conditions have been extensively documented.
When asked about her affiliation with any individuals accused of J6 criminal activity, Green said it would not be “appropriate” to associate or contact anyone facing charges. T0 date, nearly 200 people have been sentenced to prison with an average incarceration time of 16 months.