Former President Donald Trump recently stated that if elected, he would 'absolutely' pardon rioters who assaulted police officers during the January 6, 2021, US Capitol insurrection. During a question-and-answer session at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, Trump expressed his willingness to pardon those he deemed innocent.
When confronted by a moderator about the numerous convictions of individuals involved in the insurrection, Trump dismissed the convictions as being the result of a 'very, very tough system.' The Justice Department has reported that nearly 875 people have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the events of January 6, with approximately 275 pleading guilty to felonies and over 200 individuals being convicted at trial.
Trump then attempted to draw a comparison between the Capitol insurrection and the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, falsely claiming that protesters from the latter did not face consequences. He went on to exaggerate incidents in various cities, questioning why individuals involved in events such as the burning of Minneapolis and the occupation of parts of Seattle faced no repercussions.
It is important to note that previous reports have indicated that Black Lives Matter protesters were indeed targeted by the federal government with harsher punishments, as highlighted in a report by a coalition of Black advocacy groups.
