Rep. Elise Stefanik's (R-NY) decision to refer to the violent criminals who attacked the United States Capitol building as "hostages" is stoking some division within her own caucus and The New Republic's Greg Sargent believes that things are only going to get worse for them in the coming months.
In his latest essay, Sargent argues that Stefanik's rant portends "serious GOP mayhem ahead," as the divisions over the Jan. 6th riots will only grow as Trump seizes the Republican presidential nomination and reiterates his pledge to pardon the rioters.
In fact, Stefanik's description of the rioters almost immediately drew blowback from Republicans who represent swing districts.
"They’re criminal defendants, not hostages," Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) explained.
"I don’t defend people who hit cops, who vandalized our Capitol," said Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE).
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Sargent, however, thinks that this distancing will be insufficient in the coming weeks.
"News flash, vulnerable Republicans: This will almost certainly get much worse," he writes. "If you think some throwaway sound bite designed to pump up Sean Hannity creates political problems for you, what will it mean for you if Trump goes to trial this year or even earns a criminal conviction?"
Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) tells Sargent that Democrats are already planning to make the GOP pay for sticking with Trump even if he gets convicted of trying to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 election.
“They’re going to continue to defend him,” she said. “That will cost them at the ballot box.”
