Richard Ojeda, a newly elected Democrat from North Carolina, is under fire after saying he would accept jail time for physically attacking Stephen Miller, President Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff. Ojeda defeated North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson, the Republican chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, in Tuesday’s election, according to the report.
Not long after President Trump announced Miller would move from a deputy position to chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles, former West Virginia House member Derrick Evans shared video of Ojeda’s remarks. The source also describes Ojeda as a retired U.S. Army major. A language warning accompanied the clip, which is probably the least surprising part of this whole mess.
According to the quoted remarks, Ojeda said, “You know, I’d be willing to go to jail to kick the sh*t out of him.” He then described an elevator scenario, saying, “I’d be more than happy to find myself in an elevator with him, and I’d whoop his a** from the first floor to the fifth floor,” before adding that he would be happy to go to jail.
That is not a policy argument. It is not tough oversight. It is talk about physically assaulting a federal official, followed by a boast that jail time would be worth it. Congress is supposed to be a place for legislation and debate, not a reality show audition for an elevator brawl.
Evans’s post summarized the video by saying a new Democrat congressman-elect from North Carolina was willing to go to jail to beat up Stephen Miller.
New Democrat Congressman Elect from North Carolina says he would be willing to go to jail to beat up Stephen Miller.
Richard Ojeda says if he catches Stephen Miller in an elevator then he would “whoop his ass from the 1st floor to the 5th floor.”
“Stephen Miller needs to be… pic.twitter.com/NKHbqz1qe3
— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) November 6, 2026
George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley responded to the remarks in equally direct terms: “Nothing says an age of rage like running on a beat down. Democrat Richard Ojeda, who was just elected to Congress, has declared that he would be ‘happy to go to jail’ if he has a chance to physically assault the incoming Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.”
Nothing says an age of rage like running on a beat down. Democrat Richard Ojeda, who was just elected to Congress, has declared that he would be "happy to go to jail" if he has a chance to physically assault the incoming Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) November 6, 2026
The political rhetoric surrounding Miller’s new role also forms part of the larger dispute. The report says Democratic leaders and members called for his “eradication” as a government figure, labeled him a “malignant tumor,” and accused him of white supremacy and inhumane policies. Policy disagreements can be argued loudly, but threatening a beatdown is a different category of conduct altogether.
The report also notes that North Carolina representative-elect LaKesha Womack, a Democrat who defeated incumbent Rep. Tim Moore, is due in court November 10 over an alleged felony car theft charge tied to a 2019 rental she allegedly did not return. That case is separate from Ojeda’s comments, but it adds to the report’s broader focus on incoming Democratic lawmakers.
Jeff Carlton also commented on Democrats’ public messaging, writing, “I’ve not heard the word ‘architect’ this much since George Costanza.”
Democrats tweeting in unison…
I've not heard the word "architect" this much since George Costanza. pic.twitter.com/6p9kx8Rp5k
— Jeff Carlton (@JeffWCarlton) November 6, 2026
As reported by BizPac Review, the episode has renewed criticism of violent political rhetoric, especially when the people using it are preparing to take seats in Congress.
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