Ted Cruz Suggests Locking Beto O’Rourke Up in a ‘double-occupancy cell with Hillary Clinton’ During the 2016 presidential campaign, the slogan “Lock her up” became one of the top phrases you would hear at Trump rallies. Even General Michael Flynn joined in the chants calling for HIllary Clinton to be sent to prison without any due process, during a campaign speech. Now that Donald Trump, who once called Ted Cruz, “Lyin Ted,” seems to be back on Cruz’s side heading into a closely contested battle for a US Senate seat in Texas, Cruz seems to have taken on some of Trump’s own rhetoric and political strategies. Speaking in Georgetown, Texas at a small rally for himself and Senator Cornyn, someone reportedly yelled, “Lock him up!” referring to Cruz’s opponent, Democrat Beto O’Rourke. Patrick Switek, a reporter for the Texas Tribune, says that Cruz then responded with a controversial statement of his own, saying: “Well, you know, there’s a double-occupancy cell with Hillary Clinton.” After a big applause by the crowd, Cruz then followed up by saying, “Y’all are gonna get me in trouble with that.” This comes from a man who came out and defended Brett Kavanaugh when he had multiple sexual assault allegations thrown at him, yet he’s egging on chants to lock up his own political opponent, who hasn’t even been accused of doing anything illegal. Surely, it was said in a joking matter, but not everyone will take it that way.<doc-sep>During a rally in Georgetown, Texas, on Tuesday, for Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a supporter shouted "Lock him up" in reference to Cruz's opponent, Beto O'Rourke. Cruz replied that O'Rourke could share a cell with former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. "Well, you know, there's a double-occupancy cell with Hillary Clinton," Cruz said. "Ya'll are gonna get me in trouble with that," he added. Cruz and O'Rourke are battling for office in Texas. Should O'Rourke win, he would become the first Democratic senator in the state in at least 20 years. The "lock her up" chant referenced at the rally Tuesday could be heard often during President Donald Trump's campaign in 2016, in reference to Clinton. Some Trump supporters used it as a rallying cry against the Democratic nominee. Trump himself, in a shift, has been vocal in his support for Cruz. The president previously dubbed the senator "Lyin' Ted," but has since changed his tune. Trump has now dubbed Cruz "beautiful Ted" and "Texas Ted," saying he "actually likes him a lot." "We've had our little difficulties," Trump said on Monday in Houston during a rally. "It got nasty, and then it ended. And I'll tell you what—nobody has helped me more with your tax cuts, with your regulations, all of the things we've been doing with your military and you vets, than Senator Ted Cruz." O'Rourke, meanwhile, has referenced Trump's past attacks on Cruz in his own campaign. "Senator Cruz won't be honest with you," O'Rourke said in a debate last week. "He's dishonest. It's why the president called him 'Lyin' Ted,' and it's why the nickname stuck. Because it's true."<doc-sep>Senator Ted Cruz on Tuesday called for political disagreements to be "civil" and for opponents to respect one another's "humanity" amid a wave of explosive devices being sent to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and CNN. Cruz's tweet came hours after he responded to a "lock him up" chant at one of his rallies by joking about locking up Beto O'Rourke, his opponent in the upcoming Texas Senate race, with Hillary Clinton. "Violence is never OK. Reports of bombs sent to the homes of Obama, Clinton and Soros are deeply, deeply disturbing," Cruz tweeted. "America is better than this. Political disagreements are fine, even healthy, but we should always be civil and respect each other's humanity." Violence is never OK. Reports of bombs sent to the homes of Obama, Clinton, and Soros are deeply, deeply disturbing. America is better than this. Political disagreements are fine, even healthy, but we should always be civil and respect each other’s humanity. — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 24, 2018 But Cruz struck a very different tone during a campaign stop on Tuesday. "Well, you know, there's a double-occupancy cell with Hillary Clinton," Cruz said after one of his supporters shouted "lock him up. "Ya'll are gonna get me in trouble with that," he added. The chant of "lock her up" was frequently shouted at rallies for Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, referring to Clinton and the investigation into her use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state. The chants continue to surface at his rallies. Trump has done nothing to quiet these chants, and has on occasion encouraged them. Earlier this month, he said that former FBI Director James Comey "actually did Hillary Clinton a big favor, because she should be in jail." CNN's office in New York was evacuated Wednesday morning after a suspicious package was found in the Time Warner Center building. The evacuation came shortly after the Secret Service reported that it had intercepted packages sent to the offices of Clinton and Obama. On Monday, a pipe bomb was found in the mailbox of major Democratic donor George Soros. Despite those threats and Cruz's earlier tweet, he appeared to take a shot at the media during another campaign event Wednesday in Dallas. "We had over 100,000 people sign up for that rally," he said, referring to the Trump rally for him in Houston. "There were a lot of tears. There was a lot of anguish. And that was just for the media," he reportedly told a group of 120 supporters.<doc-sep>Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzGOP senators introduce resolution condemning antisemitic violence amid 'horrific' spike in attacks O'Rourke considering Texas governor bid: report Cruz planning resolution to support arms sales to Israel MORE (R) joked at a campaign rally that his opponent in the state's Senate race, Rep. Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeO'Rourke considering Texas governor bid: report O'Rourke clarifies remarks, leaves door open to gubernatorial bid O'Rourke says he's not planning on run for Texas governor MORE (D), could join 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillary Clinton takes on conspiracy theories on Borat special Top general: Russia, China will look to expand influence in Middle East as US pulls back We have a chance to halt climate change if we stop destroying carbon sinks and cut methane MORE in a "double-occupancy" prison cell. The senator responded with the jab at Clinton to a rally audience member's call to "lock him up! ", reportedly referring to O'Rourke, according to multiple reports. "Well, you know, there's a double-occupancy cell with Hillary Clinton," Cruz said at a rally in Georgetown, Texas, north of Austin, alongside fellow Sen. John Cornyn John CornynSenators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission Overnight Health Care: Moderna says COVID-19 vaccine is 100 percent effective in 12- to 17-year-olds | US achieves full vaccinations for half of adults | Trump on Wuhan lab: Now everyone agrees 'I was right' Senate confirms Biden pick to lead Medicare, Medicaid office MORE (R-Texas). He then added: "Y'all are gonna get me in trouble with that." As @TedCruz criticizes @BetoORourke in Georgetown, someone yells, "Lock him up!" Cruz: "Well, you know, there's a double-occupancy cell with Hillary Clinton." After big applause, Cruz adds, "Y'all are gonna get me in trouble with that." #txsen — Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) October 23, 2018 Attendees of rallies for President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE used the chant "lock her up!" throughout 2016 and well into Trump's presidency to refer to Clinton and the FBI investigation into her use of a private email server at the State Department. The investigation faulted the former secretary for carelessness but declined to pursue charges against her. ADVERTISEMENT More recently, the chant was used to refer to Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinConcerns over growing ties between UAE and China could impact sale of F-35s: report Rep. Malinowski traded as much as M in medical, tech stocks with stake in COVID-19 response Bottom line MORE (D-Calif.) during a Trump rally in Iowa earlier this month after the president mentioned the senator by name. O'Rourke and Cruz are locked in a tight race for Cruz's Senate seat, with most polls showing the Texas senator leading by single digits. A RealClearPolitics average of polls shows Cruz leading by an average of 7 percentage points. O'Rourke's success in the deep-red state has inspired a major cash flow from Democrats around the country, with his campaign reporting a record $38 million in fundraising in the 3rd quarter of 2018.<doc-sep>
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz told rallygoers Tuesday that his challenger, Democrat Beto O'Rourke, and Hillary Clinton could share a prison cell, Newsweek reported. What's the story? The comment came in response to a supporter who shouted "lock him up" in reference to O'Rourke and brought roars of laughter and clapping from the crowd in Georgetown, Texas. “Well, you know, there’s a double-occupancy cell with Hillary Clinton,” Cruz said at a rally. “Y'all are gonna get me in trouble with that. "They're not gonna cover anything about taxes or anything else," Cruz continued with a laugh. "That's gonna be the entire news broadcast." Some O'Rourke supporters lashed out at the senator on Twitter for his remarks. "Ted Cruz should have condemned the 'Lock Him Up' comment directed at Beto O'Rourke not encourage it with a joke. Jailing of political opponents isn't a joke. We need to stop ignoring these chants," @RedTRaccoon tweeted. "The level to which politicians will stoop when discussing their political opponents tells you all you need to know about them — Ted Cruz says Beto O'Rourke can have 'double occupancy cell with Hillary Clinton' after supporter yells 'lock him up,'" Democrat Jana Lynne Sanchez tweeted. Sanchez is running for the Texas 6th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. During the 2016 presidential campaign, the chant "lock her up" was often heard at rallies for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in reference to his Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton. On Monday, Trump held a MAGA rally in Houston where he stumped for Cruz and other Republicans who are running for seats in the state. According the Real Clear Politics polling average, Cruz currently holds a 7-point lead over O'Rourke. What else? Cruz, along with fellow Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn, is in the midst of a statewide bus tour heading into the final stretch to the Nov. 6 midterm elections, according to a campaign news release. On Wednesday, the pair will hold a rally at Gilley's in Dallas. Then, they'll make stops on Thursday in Arlington, Tyler, and Longview, before heading to Nacogdoches, Livingston, and Galveston on Friday. Meanwhile, O'Rourke is set for an event on Thursday in Midlothian. He will also participate in an MSNBC Town Hall where Chris Matthews will hold a one-on-one interview with the candidate on Oct. 30 at the University of Houston.