While filming at the United States Capitol on Thursday, a production crew for “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” was arrested by police and punished with unlawful entry.
Officers from the United States Capitol Police responded to a disruption report in the Longworth House Office Building on Thursday night, where they discovered seven people “unaccompanied but without Congressional ID,” according to a statement from the USCP.
“The building was restricted to guests,” the statement added, “and these individuals were found to be part of a group that had been instructed by the USCP to exit the premises previously in the day.” “This is an ongoing criminal investigation that, after consultation with the US Attorney, may result in increased criminal charges.”
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The workers were held after shooting interviews at the Capitol with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, who is spoken and controlled by comedian Robert Smigel, as per a release from CBS.
CBS claimed the conversations, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday, were “approved and pre-arranged by Congressional aides.”
The production team waited at the Capitol after the meetings to record more stand-up and comedic content in the halls when Capitol Police detained them, CBS reported.
On Monday’s broadcast, Stephen Colbert discussed the charges, stating that his crew had authorization and consent to conduct the interviews. The fact that Capitol Police detained them was “nothing shocking,” according to the host.
“The Capitol Police are considerably more cautious than they were 18 months ago, and for good cause,” he joked, referring to the January 6, 2021 insurgency. “I understand what media outlet you watch if you don’t know what that reason is.”
Colbert continued, “The Capitol Police were simply doing their jobs, and my staff were simply doing their jobs; everyone was competent and calm. My employees were arrested, processed, and then released. My employees had a really bad experience.”
Until it was highlighted by Fox News and purportedly linked to the insurgency, the late-night host described it as a “pretty basic story.” “I’m surprised I have to describe the discrepancy, but an insurgency entails disrupting Congress’s authorized operation and wailing for the blood of elected officials, all in the name of preventing a peaceful transition of power.” He described it as “first-degree puppetry.”
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“Drawing any equivalence between such a rioter trying to storm the Capitol to prevent the counters of voter ballots and a cigar-chomping toy dog is a disgraceful and horrific insult to the recollection of everyone who died and outrageously trivializes the service and the courage the police at Capitol displayed on that terrible day,” Colbert continued.
Hearings on the disturbance are still underway in Congress, with witnesses including a US Capitol Police officer, a former US attorney, and a former Fox News political editor being questioned. They spoke about the rioters’ conduct and what occurred in the Trump White House in the days after the presidential election in 2020.
Hearings on the disturbance are still underway in Congress, with witnesses along with a US Capitol Police officer, a former US attorney, and a former Fox News political editor being questioned. They spoke about the rioters’ conduct and what occurred in the Trump White House in the days after the presidential election in 2020.
Democrats Adam Schiff, Stephanie Murphy, and Jake Auchincloss were said to have previously been interviewed by the team. After being hauled out earlier on Thursday, an aide of Auchincloss allegedly invited the team back into the building.
“They got top-secret clearance, shot all day Wednesday and all day Thursday, and were invited inside the offices of the congresspeople they were questioning,” Colbert explained. “That is extremely essential.
“They were doing some last-minute puppets and jokey make-ups in a hallway after they concluded their interviews when Triumph and my folks were grabbed and held,” Colbert added.
As the court meeting by the House committee probing the tragic riots on January 6, 2021, continues, Colbert said Capitol police are on the alert for prospective intruders at legislative facilities.
Schiff is a member of the panel looking into the attack, which intended to prevent Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election from being certified. According to a bipartisan Senate study, the riots resulted in seven deaths and the injuries of nearly 140 cops, with more than 800 people facing criminal charges.
“The Capitol police are much more careful than they were, say, 18 months ago, and for a very valid reason,” Colbert added. Making fun of Fox News’ propensity to minimize the Capitol attack, Colbert added, “If you don’t know now what the rationale is, I know what media outlet you watch.”
Despite the fact that they were quickly freed, Colbert described the arrests as “a pretty unpleasant experience” for his employees – and “a lot of paperwork for the Capitol Police.”
“The Capitol police were simply doing their job,” he continued, “and my staff was just doing their job.”
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