This past January marked three years since the Jan. 6th Capitol Riot, and as Donald Trump continues his campaign for president, he reminds his supporters that he hasn’t forgotten about them, and that one of his “first acts” of business as the president, if he is elected in November, will be to free the 1,300+ individuals charged with crimes related to the attack. Keep reading for more information.
Jan. 6th 2021 Capitol Riot
On January 6th, 2021, Trump supporters who refused to accept that Trump had lost the 2020 presidential election attacked the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. More than 140 police officers were assaulted that day, and three police officers died as a result. They caused $2M in damages, claiming they were acting on behalf of Donald Trump, believing he was the rightful president.
Donald Trump is facing charges of election interference for his involvement in the Capitol attack. Though he wasn't present, his social media presence may be enough to convict him. He posted a series of tweets on Twitter, which he is now banned from, using words like, "Get smart Republicans. FIGHT!" and The States want to redo their votes. They found out they voted on a FRAUD. Legislatures never approved. Let them do it. BE STRONG!" in the hours leading up to the attack.
Even after the attack, Trump expressed no anger towards the rioters who attacked our nation's capitol. "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long," he wrote in a tweet in the evening after the attack. "Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!"
Trump Says His 'First Act' Will Be Freeing The Jan. 6th Rioters
Trump has made it clear that his sympathy for the rioters has not dimmed over the years. In a recent post to the social media platform Truth Social, his main social media platform since he was banned from Twitter, he wrote, "My first acts as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned!"
To be clear, those that attacked the Capitol building on Jan. 6th, 2021 are not being held hostage, rather have been convicted of charges ranging from low-level misdemeanors to felonies, with several of the "planners" of the event being convicted of seditious conspiracy, which can result in a 20-year prison sentence.
However, it seems as though Trump not only thinks that he is above the law, but that his supports should be as well. Whether or not Trump will actually pardon those rightfully in prison for attacking the nation's capitol if he becomes president remains to be seen.
