From Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA07)’s reelection campaign:
NEW: Yesli Vega Would Release, Seek Compensation for January 6 Insurrectionists if Elected to Congress
Extremist Yesli Vega Continues to Sympathize with January 6th Rioters
FREDERICKSBURG, VA — In a newly obtained survey from the Virginia Constitutional Conservatives, Yesli Vega, an extremist known for sympathizing with the insurrectionists who attacked the U.S. Capitol, said she would “sponsor legislation” to “release and seek compensation” for the January 6, 2021 rioters.
The survey says those who participated in the January 6th insurrection were “denied their right to speedy trial” and “suffered excessive fines,” and asks candidates, “If elected, [would you] pledge to vote to release and seek compensation” for those who attacked the Capitol.
Yesli Vega – an election-denier – answered in the affirmative.
On April 20, 2022, at a GOP Candidate Forum during the VA-07 Republican primary, Vega sympathized with the January 6 insurrectionists, who she claimed have been “persecuted” for attacking the U.S. Capitol and the law enforcement officers who defended it.
Vega, who has been endorsed by Ginni Thomas – who recently testified before the January 6 Committee for her role in the insurrection – and multiple elected officials who continue to spread falsehoods about the 2020 election — including U.S. Representatives Jim Jordan (R-OH), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), recently refused to “give a yes or no answer when pressed” by the Washington Post about the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election.
Like those who have endorsed her, Vega has spread falsehoods herself about the legitimacy of the 2020 election, saying in part:
“We have a lot of evidence that continues by the way to come out — that the liberal media doesn’t report on it because they don’t want the American people to know — there’s evidence that continues to come out that indicates that the 2020 election was interfered with.”
“At a time when democracy is in peril at home and abroad – we need committed leadership to turn the page on hyper-partisanship – not lies intended to cater to the fringe of our politics,” said Spanberger. “My opponent, a former police officer, isn’t committed to leading and taking seriously her oath to our constitution. As a former police officer, she should be embarrassed by her promise to emancipate the insurrectionists who bloodied and beat the law enforcement who bravely defended our Capitol on January 6, 2021.”
At least 928 people have been arrested and charged with crimes related to attacking the U.S. Capitol in an effort to subvert the peaceful transfer of power. Just this week, Jason Dolan, a member of the Oath Keepers – one of the anti-government groups at the center of the January 6th trials – testified that Oath Keepers boss Stewart Rhodes and other defendants engaged in potentially “treasonous” behavior and were prepared to stop Congress from confirming the 2020 election result “by any means necessary.”
BACKGROUND
Spanberger was in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, and witnessed firsthand the effort to subvert America’s electoral process and toss out the results of a free and fair election.
Earlier this year, Spanberger was ranked the most bipartisan Member of Congress from Virginia and one of the most bipartisan Members of Congress overall.
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