'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Staffers May Face Criminal Charges For Unlawful Entry Of The U.S. Capitol

"The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" staffers were detained by U.S. Capitol Police and charged with unlawful entry on Thursday night.

Host Stephen Colbert was not among those arrested, but Robert Smigel, the former "Saturday Night Live" writer known for portraying Triumph The Insult Comic Dog was. In total, seven people who were filming a segment for the CBS show were arrested.

Here's everything we know about the incident so far.

On Thursday night, seven staffers working for the CBS show “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” were arrested in the Longworth House Office Building by U.S. Capitol Police, as per Deadline.

This was not the first time that the group had been asked to leave the premises. Earlier in the day, the group had been at the January 6 committee hearing; however, they were escorted out for a lack of proper credentials. On Thursday night, they were found in the Capitol building after it had already been closed to the public.

Reports indicate that the staff members took videos and pictures around the offices of two Republican Congress members, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Lauren Boebert.

Although Robert Smigel, the voice and creator of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog was arrested per the Associated Press, the identities of the other arrested staffers have yet to be revealed. At least one report indicated that they were reportedly show producers.

According to a statement put out by Capitol Police, the group was arrested and charged with unlawful entry. The police released a statement saying that they received “a call for a disturbance” at approximately 8:30 PM local time in the Longworth House Office Building.

In a short statement from Capitol Police, they said that the group had been located in the building without proper credentials well after visitors were supposed to have left for the day.

The full statement read:

“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 U.S. Capitol Police indicated that additional criminal charges may be filed against “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” staffers and that the investigation is still ongoing.

However, CBS put out a statement of their own, saying that Triumph the Insult Comic Dog had been “on-site at the Capitol with a production team” on both June 15 and 16, recording interviews.

CBS claimed that the interviews “were authorized and pre-arranged through Congressional aides of the members interviewed.” They added, “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.”

The full statement from CBS can be read below:

“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.”

“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.”