Republican Leadership is now demanding the security footage and photos of the arrest of Stephen Colbert’s production team members that occurred on Capitol grounds last Thursday evening.
On Monday, Congressmen Jim Jordan and Rodney Davis sent a letter to U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief J. Thomas Manger pursuing information on the seven people they say “were not authorized” to be inside the Longworth House Office Building last Thursday.
The letter included two primary requests from the USCP related to the arrests.
“All reports, witness statements, and other material related to the arrest of individuals associated with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on June 16, 2022;” and “All security footage and still photographs related to the arrest of individuals associated with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on June 16, 2022.”
In their letter, the two Congressmen hinted at the sham January 6 committee’s investigation into the Capitol riot.
“Much has been made lately about unauthorized access to House office buildings, including debunked Democrat allegations that Republican members led so-called reconnaissance tours of the Capitol Complex in advance of January 6. Unlike the Democrat allegations of reconnaissance tours, however, the events on June 16 actually resulted in arrests for unlawful entry,” they said.
The USCP acknowledged the arrests in a statement released last week.
“On June 16, 2022, at approximately 8:30 p.m., U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) received a call for a disturbance in the Longworth House Office Building,” Capitol Police said. “Responding officers observed seven individuals, unescorted and without Congressional ID, in a sixth-floor hallway.”
“The building was closed to visitors, and these individuals were determined to be a part of a group that had been directed by the USCP to leave the building earlier in the day,” the statement continues.
“They were charged with Unlawful Entry. This is an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges after consultation with the U.S. Attorney,” it concludes.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is a talk show that airs on CBS. The network acknowledged that a production team involved in filming segments featuring Robert Smigel, known for being the creator, puppeteer, and voice of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, was detained by Capitol Police.
“On Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 16, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog was on-site at the Capitol with a production team to record interviews for a comedy segment on behalf of The Late Show,” CBS said in a statement. “Their interviews at the Capitol were authorized and pre-arranged through Congressional aides of the members interviewed.”
“After leaving the members’ offices on their last interview of the day, the production team stayed to film stand-ups and other final comedy elements in the halls when they were detained by Capitol Police,” CBS continued.