Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) voiced his displeasure at jailing people convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol during a Thursday night debate with his Democratic opponent, Dan Pastor.
Asked by WICU Erie News Now debate moderators how he felt about the House Select Committee’s investigation into the riots and the committee’s subpoena on former President Donald Trump, Kelly described it as a partisan witch hunt and expressed his anger. law enforcement response to riots.
“Did it have to happen? No, Kelly said of the attack on the Capitol. “This relentless pursuit by the president, regardless of the information gathered, should shock everyone in this country.”
“I understand and I completely agree: January 6th should never happen,” Kelly added. “But when you see some people in prison that you can’t get out, you ask yourself: Is this really America? Is this really America?”
Kelly correctly pointed out in the debate that there are only two Republicans on the Jan. 6 committee — Reps. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) — and both are longtime Trump critics. But he did not say the committee exists in its current form because House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (D-Calif.) has rejected the idea of creating a fully independent and bipartisan commission.
“The vast majority of witnesses at these hearings were either Capitol Police or actually Republicans,” replied Pastore, a businessman and attorney. “What does he propose? Do we just sweep it under the rug?
“It’s important that we get to the bottom of this, and that’s what we’re trying to do at the hearings on January 6,” Pastore added.
Elsewhere in the debate, Kelly detailed his loss of faith in the federal government.
“Right now, right now as a nation, we’re at a more dangerous time than we’ve ever been, where we’ve been taken over by the same government that failed the judiciary,” he said. “The FBI is now seen as a threat by most people.”
Kelly is one 147 House Republicans Riots in the Capitol the day after those who voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. He previously filed a lawsuit to invalidate Pennsylvania’s 2.5 million ballots on the grounds that they were cast by the GOP-controlled state legislature. Absentee voting for no reason Violates the Pennsylvania Constitution. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which has a Democratic majority rejected the claim In November 2020.
The pastor later pressed Kelly to clarify whether he believed the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” from Trump.
Kelly refused to give a direct answer, instead stressing that he doesn’t believe in justice.
“My opponent can say whatever he wants: ‘can’t accept’, ‘can’t accept’, ‘can’t accept’,” he said. “What I will not accept is the destruction of America and the trust in our government and our elections.”
The pastor made additional accusations against Kelly in a statement to HuffPost on Friday, calling Kelly “an embarrassment to Western Pennsylvania.”
“His comments show he is unfit to hold public office,” Pastore said. “I am running for Congress to uphold the law of the land and support law enforcement. Mike Kelly is siding with violent criminals and attacking the men and women of law enforcement who keep us safe.
“Mike Kelly believes it is unfair and outrageous that violent criminals who attack police and try to overthrow our government are in prison,” he added. “Kelly’s attacks on federal law enforcement show he has no respect for the law and those who protect us.”
Kelly, a six-term incumbent, is a strong favorite to win re-election in Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District, which covers the northwest corner of the Keystone State. In 2020, Trump defeated President Joe Biden among the district’s voters More than 20 percent.
The pastor’s struggle to raise large sums of money has prevented him from advertising on television earlier in the race.
