Kinzinger Claims Trump Threatened Jan. 6 Committee Members Out of Embarrassment

Former Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) has accused President-elect Donald Trump of threatening to imprison lawmakers who served on the special House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. 

According to Kinzinger, Trump is targeting committee members because the findings of the investigation "embarrassed" him.

In an interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins on Thursday, Kinzinger, one of only two Republican members on the committee, stated, “We were investigating, as per the request from Congress to do that, and we obviously came up with answers that embarrassed Trump.

He was embarrassed by it." Kinzinger continued, "Sorry to embarrass you, Donald, but that’s what we were tasked with — the truth. And history books will record this as the truth. You want to threaten to throw us in jail for that?”

The House select committee's final report, released in 2022, contained several legislative recommendations. One of the most notable proposals was a call to bar Trump from holding office in the future under the 14th Amendment.

The committee argued that Trump’s involvement in the January 6 insurrection should disqualify him from public office, as the amendment prohibits individuals who “engaged in insurrection” from holding government positions.

Kinzinger’s comments come after Trump hinted at the possibility of imprisoning members of the Jan. 6 committee during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

Trump’s statement sparked backlash from former committee members and legal experts, who argued that investigating the attack was a lawful act and that the true perpetrators of any criminal behavior were Trump and his supporters.

Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the other Republican on the committee and a longtime Trump critic, condemned Trump’s remarks, calling his threats “an assault on the rule of law.” Cheney has been a vocal critic of Trump’s actions surrounding January 6 and his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

“Here is the truth: Donald Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election and seize power,” Cheney said, standing firm on her belief that Trump’s actions were a direct attack on American democracy.

The January 6 committee played a key role in revealing evidence related to Trump’s involvement in the attack. Testimonies from former White House aides, officials, and Capitol police officers were presented during public hearings.

The committee presented damning evidence, showing Trump’s inaction as the attack unfolded, and accused him of inciting the violence through his rhetoric and actions. The investigation ultimately recommended four criminal charges against Trump, including obstruction of an official proceeding and inciting an insurrection.

Trump’s latest remarks suggest he may be seeking retribution against those who played a role in the investigation. Critics view his threats as an attempt to intimidate political opponents and rewrite the narrative surrounding January 6.

Legal experts have argued that imprisoning former lawmakers for performing their congressional duties would be a serious breach of the rule of law and could be seen as an abuse of presidential power.

Kinzinger and Cheney, both of whom faced significant political backlash from their own party for their roles in the investigation, have stood by their decision to hold Trump accountable.

Kinzinger, who chose not to seek re-election, and Cheney, who lost her primary race, have maintained that their participation in the investigation was about upholding democracy, not party loyalty.

The January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol remains one of the most controversial events in modern American political history. Trump’s continued efforts to discredit the investigation and target its members only add to the broader debate about accountability, justice, and the future of American democracy.