Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz (FL), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) and Louie Gohmert (TX) were outraged yesterday not to be welcomed with open arms at a prison holding people charged with rioting at the Capital on January 6.
The three lawmakers turned up with camera crews in tow demanding to be given a tour and to be allowed to speak to January 6 prisoners to find out about the conditions in which they are being kept. They said they were concerned detainees lacked access to evidence.
Instead, staff at the D.C. Department of Corrections locked the front door and turned their backs on the lawmakers. Prison officials say they made no prior appointment to visit the facility.
Gaetz, Green and Gohmert proceeded to act stunned that prison staff had better things to do with their time than take part in their planned stunt.
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“The supervisor came down and was standing right here and turned her back on me. The other one said she won’t talk anymore and that we’re trespassers,” Gohmert told the press afterward.
“We’re in totalitarian, Marxist territory here. This is the way third-world people get treated,” he added.
Gaetz posted a video of the trio’s attempt to gain access.
BREAKING: The DC Department of Corrections locked out multiple Members of Congress from reviewing the conditions of the January 6th prisoners.
What are they hiding?
cc: @RepLouieGohmert, @RepGosar, @RepMTG pic.twitter.com/6fLmhg7bCC
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) July 29, 2021
“The door’s locked and we’re just here to ask questions and now they’ve locked the door and not given us access,” Gaetz said, while Taylor Greene knocked on the door to request entry.
“This was apparently a bait and switch. We are here just to speak to a supervisor and when the supervisor came out and we came out to have that discussion, they literally ran behind us and locked the doors,” Gaetz added.
Related: Marjorie Taylor Greene demands baby be removed from trans parents
The trio said they wanted to check up on the conditions in which the January 6 accused are being held. Instead, they were informed by staff that they were trespassing and obstructing the entrance.
Here’s the moment we were accused of trespassing while conducting Congressional oversight at the Deplorable Jail.
What are they hiding??
After our visit, I’m even more concerned about the treatment of the prisoners inside. pic.twitter.com/N6Ljmbl93E
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) July 29, 2021
The DC Department of Correction later issued a statement saying all its residents are treated the same, regardless of political belief or background.
It went on to say, “Today, congressional officials arrived at the DC Department of Corrections (DOC) Central Detention Facility (CDF) unannounced with an unauthorized camera crew requesting a facility tour. By doing so, these officials compromised safety and security operations at the DOC. Safety and security related to DOC facilities, staff, and residents is a high priority and for that reason DOC has established procedures and protocols related to visits to its facilities. All visitors, which includes family members of residents, attorneys, and public officials, must adhere to the rules and procedures of the DOC.”
Taylor Greene posted the statement to her own Twitter and disagreed with it, stating, “Inmates in your jail are not residents, they are being detained while awaiting trial.
“You were notified of our intent to visit and regardless Congress has oversight of federal prisons.
“We were told we were trespassing while conducting oversight, which is our job.
“The ‘camera crews’ were members of the press that have the freedom of press, which you denied.
“We have heard horror stories of the treatment of detainees in your facility under your supervision. We look forward to touring your facility very soon.”
The attempted prison visit followed a press conference Greene, Gaetz, Gohmert and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) held on Tuesday to talk about the conditions in which prisoners are supposedly being held. However, protestors showed up and repeatedly shouted at the far-right lawmakers, forcing them to abandon the press conference and run to escape.
Related: Marjorie Taylor Greene & Matt Gaetz actually ran away from their own chaotic press conference
Here’s footage of that incident. Set to the theme from the Benny Hill Show.
By popular demand, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz running from their own protest rally…but set to the Benny Hill theme song.
Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/OJamj15aC6
— Gabe Sanchez (@iamgabesanchez) July 29, 2021
The lawmakers’ attempts to just turn up at the DC Corrections facility and be shown around did not impress most online.
Thousands responded to the video Matt Gaetz posted.
It’s a jail, not a zoo. You don’t get to walk around and use the people as props for your little outrage video.
— MontanaGirlDem 🏞️ (@BeccaRocks7399) July 29, 2021
Nobody can just waltz in with cameras. I expect anyone with average intelligence would know that. It’s not surprising that you had no idea.
— Leslie Warlick (@WarlickLeslie) July 29, 2021
Good. You’re out of line trying to create a scene in a prison. Or are you just checking out your future accommodations?
— Cate (@CoffeeCate144) July 29, 2021
Don’t worry, you’ll have a chance to see the inside of a prison soon enough.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) July 29, 2021
No amount of political theater is going to distract from the investigation you are under. Or the money you are bleeding with this carnival act.
— MoreSkyPlease (@Moreskyplease) July 29, 2021
You know fully well you can’t just walk up to a federal facility unannounced and get in. Hey gang, this is just like the time he tried to pretend he’d been locked out of an impeachment hearing he was supposed to be attending.
— That’s HEDLEY! (@HedleyLamarr23) July 29, 2021
Trying to get a feel for the place, Matty Fivehead?
I don’t know what kind of Venmo allowance you’ll get when you’re in the pokey.
But I think it’s wise that you thought to size up your future digs.— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) July 29, 2021
Chrisk
Wow. That’s a first in history. GOP members of congress taking the time out to protest Prisoner mistreatment. You’d think they were liberals. Well, that is if you didn’t know it was all staged BS. Lol
dhmonarch89
they should have let them in… and locked a cell behind them, it’s where they’re headed anyway- save the courts some money.
frank fuhrman
I totally agree !
SiamSean
Totally agree, but for a different reason: Prisoners do NOT like child molesters… Gaetz would never leave alive.
WSnyder
It’s like ‘Summer Camp’, just how USCBP and their contractors handled the kids separated from their families. 20-30 in cages with foil blankets, soiled mattresses. Or like Gitmo, with water boarding and sleep depravation. Maybe more like Sherriff Arpaio’s tents and overflowing latrines. After all, these people tried to Stop and Overturn our Democracy for a tinhorn dictator.
Sadly, these A*holes are being treated way, WAY better than the examples above. But you won’t hear the GOP scum like these Reps talk about that because the Jan 6th Traitors are White.
Cam
Curious when Gaetz is going to be indicted and if he will flee.
lykeitiz
Fighting for acceptable prison conditions for domestic terrorists, like only the GOP can.
jcool
we almost got the answer to a question that’s been nagging me lately – how many stunt queens can you fit in a jail cell?
Roy Moss
Why would anyone be surprised? All conservatives are rotten human beings driven by nothing but ignorance, hate and greed.
Fahd
It seems long overdue for the deep state to deal appropriately with these two.
Thanks to Queerty for keeping us abreast of their doings; it’s important to know one’s enemies.
Cam
I got to walk in unattended once.
Oh. Wait. I was being arrested.
Cam
@Cam (Stolen Screename).
Awww, still so enraged that I keep pointing out all of your different screennames that you’re spending all this time trying to troll me personally?
The Obsession…..delicious.
What I love is, you somehow think doing this is going to make me stop pointing out all of your right Wing troll screennames and let you get back to it.
All you’re doing is showing me how right I was, and how much I must have been blunting your trolling efforts. Just encouraging me to do it more baby! lol
Now back to the accused Republican Child predator Gaetz and Holocaust denier Greene
Cam
FakeCam above is intolerant of any viewpoint of his own, as shown above. I’m actually the real one! You are ALL welcome here!
Down with the Fake, obnoxious, Cam!
Cam
@Cam (Stolen Screename)
Ohhhh, you still think your obsession with me will somehow deflect from the fact that the Republican Party has, as it’s two representatives, an accused child predator in Matt Gaetz, and a bigoted holocaust denier who hates America in Margery Taylor Greene.
Sweetie, your troll game is getting weaker and sadder.
RosemarysBaby
You know what would stop his “troll game” dead in it’s tracks? If you stopped replying to him entirely. You seem to be completely unable to help yourself though. To be honest, your annoyance factor is as high as many of the trolls here. You truly need to learn to let things go.
Just my two cents. I’m sure I’ll be decried a troll now, but my skin is thick enough to build a bridge and get over it.
ted
No worries Matt, you’ll be in there soon with open arms (as in guns).
GwizParks
FreeDUMB
All the DUMB for Free aka GQP!
MynameisSid
I’m surprised they didn’t just act like their buddies inside and break the door down and loot their way through the place!
maddog
What if Gaetz and Greene threw a party and no one came?
Derek Northcutt
It’s “Yakety Sax.” Anyway, I hate people.
rockland2u
no problem. they will find out that traditionally, it is right after sentencing. but no celebrity back door for you two, I wanna see the “perp walk”
cuteguy
Why can’t Matt just admit that he just wants a preview of what’s in store for him?
fur_hunter
…………Sing to the tune of ‘Nothing like a Dame’ from South Pacific…………. Greene is nothing but a C*NT!……….. Nothing but a C*NT……… Greene is nothing but a C*NT…….. Greene is nothing….. but….. a…… C*NT!!!!!
KyleMichelSullivan
Am I supposed to care what the #-G think, say or do? That they aren’t all behind bars is, to me, a travesty of justice.
LMG
All four should have been let in, but not with cameras, taken on a tour and then shown one of the larger cells. Invite them to enter and inspect it to see how prisoners faired in such surroundings. As soon as the last one was in, lock the cell door, drape a sheet over the outside of the cell, and leave them alone. Remember they have to give all communication devices before entering the prison. Anonymously have someone unlock the door and let them out 48 HOURS later.
wolfman6
So why are they visiting? To see where they will be living for the next 30 or 40 years?
SFMike
Outrage is all these lying pathetic traitors have going for them. Together they don’t have enough brain cells to actually have a political view that goes beyond Republican fascist control of America and vast personal power and wealth.
Wil
Congressional oversight of federal corrections facility is accurate, but this is the facility for District of Columbia Department of Corrections. I understand their confusion…everything belongs to Congress in their minds.
BaltoSteve
Gods I hate typing this, but I think they may be correct. Since DC isn’t a state, I think congress has more oversight. I know they have the ability to overturn laws passed in the District. That being said, you can’t just say you are coming down and show up with a circus in tow.
jw8890
Lets be honest mtg was there for one of two reasons, a conjugal visit or to tell them to shut their mouths about her involvement
Jon in Canada
Sorry, but isn’t this the prison where many of their Insurrection co-conspirators are housed; and, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it illegal for con-conspirators to communicate while awaiting trial.
Traitors and morons all.
Tombear
fur_hunter don’t leave out the male C**ts too. Gaetz will truly learn all about male C**ts in prison. For Gomer Pyle their is no hope!
Pharmguy55
Gaetz’s, Gohmert, and Greene have to be the stupidest representatives in the House of Representatives. No one can just show up at any prison in the US without an appointment. It will be a pleasure to see these three idiots in prison for (Greene) harassment and stalking, (Gaetzs) for child abuse and crossing state lines with a minor and Gohmert who should know better but has been hanging with the other morons that has has been losing any intellect he once had.
scotshot
If they’d gotten in they both would have come pregnant.
flapjs
Truly a new definition of “Dumb and Dumber”!
jsmu
GANGreene and Groomer Gaetz actually thought this was a good look?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Invader7
They NOT special. Much to their dismay & shock. Total , typical arrogant ASSHOLE DOUCHE bags !!!
arj
Methinks ol’ Maggie and Mattypoo are havin’ a “fling,” and Looey is lapping up the attention.