As he prepares to leave Congress at the end of the year, Congressman Fred Upton is opening up about his experiences in Washington and accepting kind words from colleagues. He appeared on Michigan’s Big Show with Michael Patrick Shiels Wednesday morning and remembered the Capitol riots on January 6 of last year. Upton was in his office and watched what was happening from the balcony.
“I was out there on January 6,” Upton said. “I watched them all go down to the White House and then I watched them all come back and heard the noises and chanting a tear gas. It was a crazy day. It’s at least high enough that no one was going to storm it, although the security folks were worried about that.”
Upton said they put bomb-proof glass on the balcony. He says one privilege of being in Congress has been the cooperation of Michigan’s delegation.
“State’s compete with each other and you build those relationships. That’s how things get done. I don’t know when people wake up in November, who’s going to be there at the top, but we have such challenges ahead of us.”
Upton was asked what he thought of the statement released by Donald Trump following his retirement announcement. Trump celebrated it. Upton’s reply: it was “lame.” Since announcing his retirement, Upton has heard from current and former members of Congress, southwest Michigan lawmakers, and former Governor Rick Snyder as well as current Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
