Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif.) claimed former President Donald Trump is giving a “green light to further violence” if he loses the election since he’s allowing his property to host a fundraiser for J6 political prisoners.
CNN’s “State of the Union” host Dana Bash began by telling Schiff, “Special counsel Jack Smith filed a new indictment against Donald Trump this week for election interference, even after the Supreme Court ruling on immunity.”
“And it comes as 2 pro-Trump organizations are slated to hold January 6 awards gala at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster to pay tribute to all J6 defendants. Now, Trump has been invited to speak. Organizers say he hasn’t ruled it out. What’s your response to the fact that, whether he goes or not, that he’s allowing his property to be used for this event?”
Schiff responded that Smith is correct in continuing to pursue election interference charges against Trump and condemned the former president for allowing his golf club to host a fundraiser for J6 defendants.
“Well first of all, the Justice Department is exactly right to be refiling these charges after that just absurdly dangerous Supreme Court decision attempted to give immunity to a president to commit crimes while they’re in office. So he’s right to refile these charges,” Schiff said.
“But for the president to allow this event to go forward celebrating these people who beat, who gassed, who bear sprayed, who were responsible for the deaths of police officers, who essentially tried to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power the first time in our history, shows you that for Donald Trump, he could give a damn about the country, about the constitution, about the oath of office. It’s only about him.”
Schiff went on to claim that the event essentially means Trump is giving a “green light to further violence” if he loses the election.
“To glorify these people, also it is a green light to further violence should he lose the upcoming election. So just another dangerous disrespectful acquiescence in lawlessness by Donald Trump and his enablers,” he said.
Conservative nonprofit Stand in the Gap is holding the fundraiser for J6 defendants at Trump’s New Jersey golf club on Sept. 5, but he reportedly will not attend.
From PEOPLE:
A description for the gala says the event will “honor and celebrate” the 20 defendants who contributed to the charity song “Justice For All,” which was released in 2023 by Trump and a group of men imprisoned for the riots, who call themselves the J6 Prison Choir. The evening is also said to be in honor of all the rioters “who have shown incredible courage and sacrifice.”
“This gala is not just a celebration of the song’s success but also a crucial fundraiser. The funds raised will provide much-needed assistance to the January 6th defendants who continue to face significant challenges,” the website reads.
Stand in the Gap was founded in direct response to the riots, with the homepage stating that the organization’s mission is “to provide unwavering support to January 6th defendants and their families during their time of incarceration, aiming to alleviate the profound burden they endure.”
