[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF JANUARY 6, 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 6, 2026

  Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of the 5th 
anniversary of a day that shook our Nation--the violent assault on the 
United States Capitol. On January 6, 2021, an armed mob stormed the 
people's house in an assault on our democracy, the rule of law, and the 
peaceful transfer of power.
  On January 6, 2021, insurrectionists targeted Congress and our 
country's leaders. This included me, when a man drove across the 
country to the Capitol and was eventually brought to justice for his 
crimes. He was indicted, convicted and imprisoned on 17 gun and 
ammunition charges after police found an arsenal of explosive devices, 
firearms, and other weapons in his truck, along with a hit list of 
targets, which included my name and the notation ``one of two Muslims 
in the House of Reps.'' Rioters also targeted my fellow Hoosier, Vice 
President Mike Pence, erecting a noose and gallows on Capitol grounds 
with calls to ``Hang Mike Pence.''
  That hellish day, the Capitol Police and first responders put their 
lives on the line to save ours, and they deserve our endless thanks. 
Today, my Democratic colleagues and I proudly display a plaque outside 
our offices that memorialize those who fought for our capitol and were 
injured or lost their lives.
  But simply honoring those officers with words is not enough. We must 
honor them with our actions--rejecting misinformation, upholding the 
integrity of our elections, and ensuring no one is above the law. As 
soon as President Trump was sworn in the second time, he took the 
unprecedented action of pardoning all January 6 rioters, including the 
man who was convicted and imprisoned after targeting me. Since their 
release, at least 23 individuals have re-offended and committed crimes 
that include plotting the murder of FBI agents, violent assault, 
strangulation, possession of child sexual abuse material, and reckless 
DUI homicide.
  Despite the clear evidence of crimes committed by these individuals--
on January 6, 2021, and after--President Trump continues to defend 
insurrectionists but demonize immigrant neighbors who have committed no 
violent crimes and are being denied due process. Immigration arrests 
under the Trump administration average 30,000 a month--and yet, less 
than 5 percent of those individuals have been convicted of a crime.
  This sober anniversary is a moment of reflection, especially for 
those of us who were working at the Capitol that day. It is also a day 
of resolve and rededication--to make sure nothing like this happens 
again. We must defend our democracy and our democratic institutions, 
protect the rights of due process, and create peace through justice for 
every American.

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