Pennsylvania state Rep. Chris Rabb, a Democratic congressional candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, says he generally opposes incarceration but wants an exception made for what he called “lawless MAGA thugs.”
Speaking on podcaster Wajahat Ali’s show this week, Rabb described himself as a “decarceration person” who believes it is “morally wrong” that the United States, with 5% of the world’s population, accounts for 25% of people incarcerated globally.
“It’s also bad policy, but I will make an exception for all of those f—ers who are lawless MAGA thugs, who have destroyed lives and communities. Lock all of those f—ers up. I know that seems a little hypocritical of me being on the left and being anti-incarceration, but lock those f—ers up,” Rabb said.
Rabb was one of several DSA-aligned candidates who won Democratic primaries this year. On the podcast, he called on members of Congress to impeach and subpoena people he said are “destroying what’s left of our fragile democracy.”
He acknowledged the tension in his position but defended it.
“I hope you all will forgive me in my, perhaps, weakness. It’s not vengefulness, but right is right,” Rabb said. “We should have a level playing field. If there are moms who are going to jail because they changed what school district they are so that their kids could get a better education, and they get locked up, you better believe a Jared Kushner should be experiencing some jail time. So, if that makes me a conservative, gosh, but we need to send a message.”
Fox News Digital said it reached out to Rabb’s campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital: “Trump-deranged Democrats have no agenda except to lob unhinged attacks against the president and obstruct the agenda he was elected to implement. This person is clearly disturbed and should seek help.”
A similar message from Florida
Rabb’s remarks echo comments from Florida Democratic Senate candidate Angie Nixon, a DSA member who has said she does not identify as a socialist. In an interview with CNN’s Kasie Hunt, Nixon said she would like to see her opponent, Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, locked up.
“They are spreading, like, a lot of disinformation and lies on commercials about me, of saying things like I want to abolish prisons and I want to defund the police,” Nixon said. “Why would I want to do that when I want her locked up and punished in jail for what she has done?”
When Hunt pressed her to clarify whether she literally wanted Moody imprisoned, Nixon said: “Basically, yes. Because of what she did, yes. I absolutely would want that to happen. Yes.”
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