Trump says he will free Jan. 6 rioters on first day if re-elected
FOX NewsMar 12
Trump Vows to Free Jailed Capitol Hill Rioters if Re-elected
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The Facts
Former Pres. Donald Trump on Monday pledged that, if elected to a second term in the White House, one of his first acts in office would be to pardon around 500 imprisoned Capitol Hill rioters.
In a Truth Social post, the Republican presidential candidate said he would offer clemency to individuals — who he characterized as "hostages" — convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
It must be acknowledged that the system's treatment of Jan. 6 protesters, unfairly called "rioters" by those looking to preserve the Washington DC establishment, has been outright unconstitutional. A weaponized justice system is targeting those involved in the events of that day, which is why Trump is now emphasizing that they deserve the full protection afforded to them under US law.
Democratic narrative
As president, Donald Trump was reckless in his use of the instrument of presidential pardon, which he primarily employed to keep his own ideological flock intact. Now, he is using it again as a carrot in the poll run-up. His frequent harping on the idea of pardoning the Capitol Hill rioters contradicts the basic intent of the tool as envisaged by the nation's founders.
Nerd narrative
There's a 25% chance that Donald Trump will be jailed or incarcerated before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
