Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) delivered a fiery speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday night, warning that Republicans might try to “kill” Sen. JD Vance. Raskin’s remarks were a reference to the violent protests that erupted on January 6, 2021, when a group of rioters brought a mock guillotine to the Capitol and sought to punish Vice President Mike Pence for not rejecting the Electoral College vote.
Raskin’s speech was characteristic of his long history of bitter and vindictive rhetoric towards former President Donald Trump. As far back as January 2017, Raskin had called for Trump’s impeachment, citing a dubious claim that Trump’s business dealings disqualified him from office.
Raskin’s own record on election certification is also notable. He voted against certifying the 2016 election, a move that seems hypocritical given his later role as a House impeachment manager in Trump’s trial for objecting to the 2020 election results. Additionally, Raskin served on the January 6 Committee, where he helped to investigate Trump and his supporters for their actions on that day.
Raskin’s speech marked a turning point in the Democratic convention, shifting the tone from “joy” to division. His remarks were bookended by similarly incendiary speeches from former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), highlighting the deep-seated animosity that many Democrats still harbor towards Trump and his supporters.
