Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), a former NFL linebacker, sacked an attempt by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to dismiss his remarks about the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. (Watch the video below.)

In their debate for the Senate on Tuesday, Cruz said those who committed violence during the insurrection should be prosecuted and jailed, and that rioters who assaulted police should face particularly long sentences. He touted his endorsements by law enforcement organizations and said Allred voted in favor of “defunding the police.”

What Cruz failed to mention was that he backed denying Joe Biden’s rightful victory on that fateful day and continued to advance Donald Trump’s lies that the election was rigged while allegedly launching his own scheme to keep Trump in power.

“You can’t be for the mob on Jan. 6 and for the officers,” Allred replied. “You can’t.”

Cruz laughed.

Allred glared at the incumbent and said: “And it’s not funny. Because you’re a threat to democracy.”

Allred recalled being told to reach for a gas mask as they barred the doors against the siege, and texting his pregnant wife in case of the worst scenario.

“I took off my suit jacket and I was prepared to defend the House floor from the mob,” the congressman continued. “At the same time, after he’d gone around the country lying about the election, after he’d been the architect of the attempt to overthrow that election, when that mob came, Sen. Cruz was hiding in a supply closet.”

As Cruz laughed again, Allred said: “And that’s OK, I don’t want him to get hurt by the mob, I really don’t. This election is his accountability. You cannot just be patriotic when your side wins.”

The two-term senator used his rebuttal to attack Allred’s voting record, particularly his Democrat-siding opposition to a House measure to make voters show proof of citizenship. Democrats have likened GOP efforts to make it more difficult to vote to fixing what isn’t broken because voter fraud is so rare. Cruz’s remarks also lean into unfounded Republican fearmongering over migrants voting illegally in the election and affecting the outcome.

Cruz on Monday sounded the alarm over his opponent’s fundraising advantage and a leaked GOP poll showing him just 1 point ahead of Allred. But the incumbent holds a 3-point lead and more in several other recent polls.