Jamie Raskin shoots down Matt Gaetz’s Jan. 6 talking points: ‘That’s not going to work’

Rep. Jamie Raskin's resumé includes not only "Democratic congressman from Maryland," but also, "constitutional law professor." And far-right Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida got more than he bargained for when, during a January 6-related House Rules Committee hearing this week, he tried to argue that former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results were on solid legal ground.

The 58-year-old Raskin and Republican Gaetz argued over the merits of Trump's post-election lawsuits. When Raskin pointed out that those lawsuits bombed in the courts, Gaetz spoke of the need for a legal "remedy" — and Raskin showed him why his use of the word "remedy" was problematic.

"There's no remedy because there's no violation, Mr. Gaetz," Raskin stressed, noting that the courts found zero evidence of the widespread voter fraud that Trump falsely claimed occurred in 2020.

"There's no violation, there's no fraud," Raskin continued.

Gaetz responded that the courts didn't "take up the facts" on "jurisdiction or remedy," and a frustrated Raskin responded, "You know what? That might work on Steve Bannon's podcast, but that's not going to work in the Rules Committee in the United States House of Representatives."

Raskin went on to ask Gaetz why he has opposed a congressional inquiry into the violent January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol Building. When Gaetz said that such an inquiry is "unwarranted," Raskin responded, "So, you don't want to know any more…. You don't want to know the answer."