Witness on border safety was additionally at Jan. 6

April 27, 2023 admin

Sparks flew throughout a Wednesday listening to of a Home Judiciary subcommittee after a Democratic member questioned a witness who testified about border safety – but in addition participated within the pro-Trump rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.

The listening to of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Safety, and Enforcement featured the testimony of three witnesses who’re anti-immigration advocates. One in all them, Sheena Rodriguez, runs a fledgling anti-immigration group in Texas.

Rodriguez additionally despatched a number of tweets from Washington, D.C., earlier than, throughout and after Jan. 6, discussing her presence at or across the Capitol.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., used his time within the listening to to query Rodriguez about her function within the rebellion, which left a rioter and a number of other law enforcement officials lifeless, and has led to 1,000 prosecutions to date.

“You requested individuals to battle for Trump, and also you took an image of your self close to the Capitol,” Swallwel mentioned to Rodriguez. “Once you ask individuals to battle for Trump, they usually finally fought for Trump, do you remorse these phrases?”

Rodriguez responded by questioning what her presence on the Capitol on Jan. 6 needed to do with the subject-matter of the listening to, which was border coverage and the plight of unaccompanied minors who cross the US border.

A USA TODAY overview of of Rodriguez’s social media confirmed quite a few posts inserting her at or across the Capitol earlier than, throughout and after the Jan. 6 rebellion. Not one of the posts confirmed she entered the Capitol constructing itself.

Following the trade Wednesday, Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, ripped into Swalwell, and issues acquired private rapidly. Nehls apologized to Rodriguez for Swalwell’s questioning about her credibility, then referred to Swalwell’s “checkered previous” and “alleged affairs.”

Swalwell interrupted, saying “No, no, no. You don’t get to say that s—.”

Swalwell’s Democratic colleagues additionally intervened on his behalf, asking that Nehls’ feedback be taken down. Rep Tom McClintock (R – CA), who chairs the committee, referred to as a recess of the assembly, then requested Nehl if he want to withdraw his phrases.

“Sure,” Nehls responded.

Border coverage:Trump-era restriction to expire in May. But new rules may be no easier on border crossers

What did congressional witness do on Jan. 6?

The tense trade was sparked by Swalwell’s issues about Rodriguez’s {qualifications} as a witness, given her presence on the Capitol protests on Jan. 6.

Rodriguez posted pictures and movies from the Capitol protest on Jan. 6 on her Twitter account and on Instagram. In a single selfie, she’s standing by Doug Mastriano, the Pennsylvania state senator who was questioned by the Jan. 6 fee (and refused to reply any questions).

On Jan. 7, Rodriguez quote-tweeted the FBI, which was asking witnesses to return ahead.

“I might be submitting my info on what I witnessed first-hand,” Rodriguez wrote.

Requested throughout Wednesday’s listening to if she crossed any police barricades on Jan. 6, she replied, “Not that I am conscious of.”

Rodriguez runs the group Alliance for a Protected Texas. Based final 12 months, the group’s mission is “to tell and educate our fellow Texans of the results of unlawful immigration and the open border insurance policies,” based on its web site.

Whereas many activists who favor stricter immigration enforcement rally round the concept the border is “open,” almost 200,000 people have been both apprehended or expelled on the Southwestern U.S. border final month, and greater than 1 million individuals have been both apprehended or expelled since Jan. 1.

Jan. 6 suspects ID’d, however not arrested:After Jan. 6 riot, hundreds of identifiable people remain free

What was the subcommittee testimony speculated to cowl?

Wednesday’s subcommittee listening to centered on unaccompanied youngsters who’re discovered crossing the border. These youngsters enter the custody of the Division of Well being and Human Providers, and usually are later launched to a relative or different sponsor within the U.S.

However conservatives have claimed this method places these youngsters in danger, and Wednesday’s subcommittee meeting witnesses argued that youngsters can be higher off despatched again to their house nations.

These witnesses even have taken hard-line stances on border points, together with echoing extremist rhetoric about immigration.

Alliance for a Protected Texas “often shares info from SPLC-designated anti-immigrant hate teams such because the Middle for Immigration Research, and bigoted conspiracy theorists,” based on America’s Voice, a left-leaning immigration advocacy group.

Rodriguez, who incessantly refers to immigration as an “invasion,” has additionally promoted the racist “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory on her Substack web page. In August, she posted hyperlinks to a brief documentary entitled “Intentional Invasion,” which posits that the Biden administration is purposefully permitting immigrants into the nation.

Rodriguez was joined by Jessica Vaughn, Director of Coverage Research on the Middle for Immigration Research, a bunch that payments itself as a “pro-immigrant, low-immigration” analysis group that seeks “fewer immigrants however a hotter welcome for these admitted.” It has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Regulation Middle.

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