Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH) did her best AOC impersonation, claiming in exit interviews that she was leaving Congress in part because Donald Trump tried to get her killed during the Capitol protests on January 6th.
Kuster made the comments both with Roll Call and the Boston Globe.
In her remarks to the former, the six-term congresswoman noted that she was retiring as a means to set an example for her septuagenarian or octogenarian colleagues who stick around too long.
“I had so many different factors going into it, but one of them is I’m trying to set a better example,” she explained.
That said, there was another reason she decided not to run for another term.
“And then there is a part of it related to Donald Trump coming back,” she explained. “I was one of the last members of Congress in the gallery on Jan. 6, and as it turns out, we have the security footage that shows it was only 30 seconds from when I was able to evacuate that the insurrectionists were in that hallway hunting for us with zip ties and bear mace and who knows what else.”
“I just felt like, he tried to kill me once. I’m not available for it again.”
🚨NEW🚨Retiring Democrat Congresswoman Annie Kuster told @rollcall that “Trump tried to k*ll me once. I’m not available for it again.” pic.twitter.com/vAmgqMhseP
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 26, 2024
In the interview with the Globe, Kuster reiterated her reasoning but attempted to downplay the murder claim by suggesting it was tongue in cheek.
“I’ve said somewhat facetiously, he tried to kill me once, I’m not available for that again,” she said. “What we went through on Jan. 6 and his attempt to overthrow the government took a toll. That was that was really hard, and not just personally, but on my ability to work across the aisle.”
Kuster announced that she would not seek reelection to the U.S. House back in March. There was no indication at that time that Trump was a lock to get back in the White House, giving him an opportunity to plot his revenge on a woman whose name he’s probably never heard.
Kuster’s last stand will be January 3rd, 2025. Trump’s election will be certified, ironically enough, on January 6th.