Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland walked up to his colleague Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi on the House floor before the joint session to certify Donald Trump’s election win began on Monday for a moment of quiet reflection.

Raskin and Thompson were at the forefront of the former January 6 select committee, which ultimately laid out a damning case that Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election led to the US Capitol attack four years ago, and now were about to certify Trump’s second presidential win.

“I was reflecting on the fact that we can feel proud of standing up for the constitutional order and the election process as it is supposed to work, but it’s also a very tough pill to swallow” Raskin told CNN of his private conversation with Thompson.

With Trump now saying that members of that former committee “should go to jail,” and specifically targeting GOP former Rep Liz Cheney, supporting the peaceful transfer of power also marks for members like Raskin, a growing concern of retribution.

“It’s a sorrowful sign of the times that people have to be afraid simply for doing their jobs” Raskin shared. “We acted on the January 6 committee under our Constitutional oaths of office as legislators. I hope and trust that we are protected by the Speech and Debate clause.”

Although Raskin said he was “proud” to certify the 2024 election results on Monday, he added “it was a short period of intensely mixed emotion.”

“We have to show our colleagues that you cannot turn on and turn off your fidelity to the Constitution according to whether or not it serves your party interest,” Raskin said of Republicans.