Multiple staffers of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert were arrested at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday night, according to Deadline. The staffers include multiple producers as well as Robert Smigel (The Week Of), who is the creator, puppeteer, and voice of Triumph The Insult Comic Dog, a popular puppet character who has appeared on many comedy shows.
The group of staffers were arrested at the Longworth House Office Building by U.S. Capitol Police and were charged with unlawful entry, according to Capitol Police. They were also escorted out of the January 6 committee hearing earlier in the day for lack of proper press credentials.
U.S. Capitol Police released a statement on the arrests. “On June 16, 2022, at approximately 8:30 p.m., U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) received a call for a disturbance in the Longworth House Office Building. Responding officers observed seven individuals, unescorted and without Congressional ID, in a sixth-floor hallway. The building was closed to visitors, and these individuals were determined to be a part of a group that had been directed by the USCP to leave the building earlier in the day. They were charged with Unlawful Entry. This is an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges after consultation with the U.S. Attorney,” the statement read, per Deadline.
CBS also released a statement on the arrests of their staffers. “On Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 16, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog was on-site at the Capitol with a production team to record interviews for a comedy segment on behalf of The Late Show,” CBS said, per Deadline. “Their interviews at the Capitol were authorized and pre-arranged through Congressional aides of the members interviewed. After leaving the members’ offices on their last interview of the day, the production team stayed to film stand-ups and other final comedy elements in the halls when they were detained by Capitol Police.”
Colbert has yet to comment on the situation and it’s unclear whether Smigel and The Late Show’s producers have been released. Earlier on Thursdy, “Triumph” had posted a picture on Twitter making fun of Greg Jacob, the top White House lawyer for former Vice President Mike Pence. UPDATED: Check out Colbert’s comments in his most recent Late Show monologue below: