Donald Trump has vowed to pardon supporters involved in the January 6 Capitol attack, making it clear this controversial move is top of his agenda when returns to the White House. Speaking on Meet the Press this Sunday, the president-elect described the convicted rioters as victims of a “corrupt system.
“First Day” Pardons—With a Few Exceptions
In his interview with Kristen Welker, Trump said he plans to act “very quickly” to grant clemency to those charged over the 2021 Capitol riot. “They’ve been in there for years, and they’re in a filthy, disgusting place that shouldn’t even be allowed to be open,” he claimed.
However, he hinted at limits to his leniency, noting, “If somebody was radical, crazy, I wouldn’t do it.”
Over 1,250 Convictions and Counting
Since the violent events of January 6, more than 1,500 people have been charged with offences ranging from unlawful parading to seditious conspiracy. Over 1,250 individuals have been convicted or pleaded guilty, but Trump suggested many of them were pressured into doing so.
“They say to a guy, ‘You’re going to go to jail for two years or for 30 years,’” Trump explained. “And these guys are looking, their whole lives have been destroyed… The system’s a very nasty system.”
A Familiar Tune
While this isn’t the first time Trump has floated the idea of pardoning January 6 rioters, his comments on Meet the Press mark his most explicit commitment yet. For Trump, the move seems as much about loyalty as it is about politics.
Whether this plan plays out as promised remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Trump’s to-do list, should he return to office, will not be short on controversy.
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