Fox News host Maria Bartiromo absurdly suggested Sunday that if Republicans win back control of the House of Representatives after the upcoming midterm elections in November and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) becomes Speaker of the House, he should do something to “help” the people who have been charged with felonies for their part in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

McCarthy was a guest on “Sunday Morning Futures,” and was asked by Bartiromo:

“I know that we’re 156 days away from the midterm elections. What are you going to do to that committee, the Jan. 6 Committee, should you become the majority because right now as we speak, there are honest — and people sitting in jail because they were at the Capitol on Jan. 6. They are still in jail a year later.”

The California Republican responded with what can best be called a non-committal answer:

“We live in America. People have a right to have a say and to go to court. They shouldn’t be held for this long inside. You watch what is happening to political opponents with this one-party rule. In 156 days, we’re going to become energy independent, we’re going to secure our border, we’re going to make our streets safe again but we need you to help us.”

McCarthy then added:

“We are not going to bend. We are not going to let them go after our First Amendment rights and go after the individuals that they’re trying to do for political purposes.”

Does Bartiromo even understand how the U.S. government and judicial systems work? Even if McCarthy were to become Speaker, there’s nothing he can do about the people who have been indicted for their role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. That decision can only be made by the Justice Department, which doesn’t answer to the Speaker. Attorney General Merrick Garland is a member of the executive branch and his boss is President Joe Biden, not anyone in the House or Senate.

If the Jan. 6 defendants didn’t want to be charged with crimes, they should have stayed home and not taken part in an act of domestic terrorism.

Featured Image: Screenshot