NEWBURGH – A group of concerned citizens gathered early Monday evening in Newburgh seeking answers to state Assemblyman Colin Schmitt’s motivation and thoughts during the insurrection on January 6, 2021. Schmitt, now running for Congress against incumbent Sean Patrick Maloney was hosting a fundraiser as the protesters gathered outside of the event.
The five protesters were seeking to have Schmitt release video footage of him speaking to protestors that day before they headed Washington D.C. which coincided with the storming of the U.S. Capitol by those who did not accept the results of the 2020 Presidential election. It has been repeatedly reported by Mid-Hudson News that the bus had been chartered to carry members of the Orange County Right to Life organization to the nation’s capitol.
“Colin Schmitt had a role in the January 6th insurrection. Early morning he dispatched a busload of people from the Hudson Valley down to Washington,” said Matt Rettig, who helped organize the protest. Rettig was an unsuccessful challenger to Schmitt in 2020. “We want to know what he said to that crowd, why he was encouraging them, and what role he had at egging them to do the horrible things they ended up doing. We know a few people on that bus have already been arrested.”
Rettig’s comments drew sharp criticism from Orange County Right to Life President Clay Boone. “As we have publicly stated several times, a group of seniors, parents, and faithful members of Orange County Right to Life traveled to Washington, D.C. that day and participated in peaceful activities. No member of our organization was anywhere close to the Capitol and no one from our organization or with us that day was arrested.”
Boone also threatened legal action against Rettig and others, adding “These are despicable lies being advanced by the Assemblyman’s former political opponent for partisan, political reasons. His statement is malicious and defamatory and, unfortunately, we must now seek legal counsel to explore recourse against Mr. Rettig.”
On Schmitt’s bid for Congress, Rettig said “We already have too many people in Congress denying and playing games with the Jan. 6 insurrection, and we don’t need another from the Hudson Valley.”
Michael Kochler, who gathered to protest, echoed Rettig’s sentiments about Schmitt’s potential serving in the U.S. Congress and said “Mr. Schmitt has accomplished nothing in his two terms in the Assembly.” He added “The last thing we need is another do-nothing Congressman, another Jim Jordan representing this district, which would be such an embarrassment. And not to mention the fact, he would bring nothing home.”
