Nine of Stephen Colbert's staffers were arrested by Capitol Police on Thursday night after allegedly illegally entering a building where US House of Representatives work.
They were subsequently charged with illegal entry to House office buildings after hours.
As FOX News reports, the group entered the building after it shut its doors to visitors, and proceeded to take pictures and videos near the offices of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Lauren Boebert.
Capitol Police released a statement on the matter:
"On June 16, 2022, at approximately 8:30 p.m., U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) received a call for a disturbance in the Longworth House Office Building," they said, revealing that the members of Colbert's team were "unescorted and without Congressional ID, in a sixth-floor hallway.""The building was closed to visitors, and these individuals were determined to be a part of a group that had been directed by the USCP to leave the building earlier in the day," the statement continued. "They were charged with Unlawful Entry. This is an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges after consultation with the U.S. Attorney."Among the nine producers is Robert Smigel, who does the voice of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
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The Late Show" has not spoken out on the matter.
Comment: More from
New York Post:
A camera crew for Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" was given unlawful access to the Congressional offices by longtime California Democrat Adam Schiff, House Republicans claim.
"Adam Schiff's cronies snuck in Stephen Colbert's staff to the US Capitol and facilitated unauthorized reconnaissance tours of GOP offices," said an official account for the House Judiciary Committee Republicans.
"On the 50th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, @RepAdamSchiff's cronies sneak in Stephen Colbert's staffers and provide unauthorized reconnaissance tours of Republican offices throughout Capitol Hill," they added in a follow-up message, which included an embedded Fox News segment on the arrests by host Jesse Watters.
The Colbert crew, which included Late Show staffers Jake Plunkett, Allison Martinez, Tyrone Dean, Stephen Romond, Nicoletta Green, Brendan Hurley, Robert Smigel, Josh Comers and David Feldman, were busted by US Capitol Police around 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the Longworth House Office Building.
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Some conservatives online were quick to draw comparisons to the Jan. 6 riot itself. Fox News host Tucker Carlson noted many of those who stormed the Capitol that day had themselves been charged with unlawful entry, and are now facing serious jail time.
"Stephen Colbert's producers just committed insurrection at the US Capitol," he said.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) asked, "Why was @StephenAtHome's staff breaking federal law and at my office last night?"
"Was this an illegal reconnaissance tour or a full-on insurrection? Did they go in? Did Stephen fund this? Is he being charged? I'm demanding answers," she said.
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