Stephen Colbert addresses his staff getting arrested at the Capitol
“My staffers were detained, processed and released,” the host said Monday night. “A very unpleasant experience for my staff, a lot of paperwork for the Capitol Police. But a fairly simple story”
Stephen Colbert is defending members of his team who were recently detained on Capitol Hill.
Colbert opened his monologue by describing what transpired at the Capitol, including what his team was up to, where they were, and who they spoke with while emphasizing that they had been granted permission to be there. “After [the crew] finished their interviews, they were doing some last-minute puppetry and jokey make-ups in a hallway when Triumph and my folks were approached and detained by the Capitol police — which actually isn’t that surprising,” Colbert continued, adding that the Capitol police were much more circumspect after the Jan. 6 insurgency last year, which resulted in five deaths.
The Late Show host, 58, detailed the incident that happened in Washington, D.C. last week during his Monday night monologue and defended both his team and Capitol Hill security for how it was handled.
“Last week I heard from my old colleague Triumph the Insult Comic Dog,” Colbert said at the beginning of his monologue, talking about his regular puppet guest. “Triumph offered to go down to D.C. to interview some congresspeople to highlight the Jan 6 hearings. I said ‘Sure, if you can get anyone to agree to talk to you, because — and please don’t take this as an insult — you’re a puppet.”
“The Capitol police are much more cautious than they were, say, 18 months ago, and for a very good reason. If you don’t know what that reason is, I know what news network you watch,” Colbert said.
He added, “The Capitol police were just doing their job, my staff was just doing their job, everyone was very professional, everyone was very calm. My staffers were detained, processed, and released. A very unpleasant experience for my staff.”
Colbert then brought up Fox News‘ account of the incident, in which the cable news network claimed the Late Show team had staged their own “insurgency.” “First of all: what? Second of all: huh? Third of all, they weren’t in the Capitol building!”
Noting that he was “shocked” he had to offer up this explanation, Colbert said, “An insurrection involves disrupting the lawful actions of Congress and howling for the blood of elected leaders, all to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. This was first-degree puppetry. This was high jinks with the intent to goof. Misappropriation of an old Conan bit.”
“Their interviews at the Capitol were authorized and pre-arranged through Congressional aides of the members interviewed,” a CBS spokesperson said. “After leaving the members’ offices on their last interview of the day, the production team stayed to film stand-ups and other final comedy elements in the halls when they were detained by Capitol Police.”
However, they were charged with unauthorized entry by the US Capitol Police, citing their presence in the halls without an escort or formal ID. The USCP stated in a statement that they may file additional charges.“This is an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges after consultation with the U.S. Attorney,” the statement said.
As hearings surrounding the Jan. 6 riot on the Capitol remain underway, the incident came at a time of heightened security and tension within the halls of Congress.
Watch Colbert’s monologue below: