Trump advocated that those on the former panel who investigated the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot and his role in overturning the 2020 election should “go to jail.”

“I don’t think the incoming president should be threatening his political opponents with jail time,” Schiff told reporters on his first full day as a senator. “That’s not the kind of talk we should hear from the president in a democracy, nor do I think that a pardon is necessary for the members of the Jan. 6 committee.”

President Joe Biden is weighing preemptive pardons over fears Trump may seek retribution against Schiff and other high-profile members of the bipartisan panel, including former Chairman Bennie Thomson (D-MS), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and former Rep. Liz Cheney. Biden is also considering pardons for other political foes who could come under Trump’s microscope.

“We are proud of the work we did in that committee,” Schiff continued. “It was a fundamental oversight obligation to investigate the first attempt to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power in our history.”

Trump said in an NBC Meet the Press interview that aired over the weekend that he would not direct Justice Department officials to bring charges against the committee members but accused them of engaging in unspecified criminal activity.

“For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump said.

In a separate portion, Trump said that “retribution will be through success.” He’s also vowed to pardon those charged with and convicted of crimes related to the Capitol riot.

KEY DATES FOR THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION

The apparent threat to jail political opponents left Republicans in the Senate, conservatives and centrists alike, dodging questions Tuesday about the incoming president’s rhetoric.

“If there’s something that needs to be looked at there, I’m sure the appropriate authorities will look at it,” incoming Senate GOP Leader John Thune (R-SD) said of jailing Jan. 6 committee members. “But I don’t have a comment, really, on those statements.”