In a recent interview, President-elect Trump expressed his intention to grant pardons on his first day in office to individuals connected to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, including those who have already pleaded guilty. Trump conveyed his plans during a conversation with Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press,” marking his first significant interview since securing a second term.
When discussing individuals who confessed to assaulting police officers, Trump argued that “they had no choice” and suggested that many others who pleaded guilty were victims of a “very corrupt system.” He stated, “I know the system.
Trump emphasizes his focus on success rather than revenge as he addresses the January 6 investigations
The system’s a very corrupt system,” explaining that defendants often face the threat of severe prison sentences, which can lead them to plead guilty under pressure. “For two years, they’ve been destroyed. But the system is a very nasty system,” he added.
More than 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the January 6 attack, during which pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to disrupt the certification of President Biden’s 2020 election victory. Over 1,200 have either been convicted or have pleaded guilty, with more than 200 currently incarcerated.
Trump, who has faced charges in two separate federal cases that have since been dismissed following his November election victory, has raised concerns among critics about the potential misuse of the Justice Department against his adversaries and political opponents.
He also commented that members of the House panel investigating the January 6 events “should go to jail,” though he clarified that he would not instruct his administration to arrest them.
Instead, he indicated that it would be up to his attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, to decide whether to take action against figures like special counsel Jack Smith, who led investigations into Trump in recent years.
“I’m really looking to make our country successful. I’m not looking to go back into the past,” Trump remarked. “Retribution will be through success,” he emphasized, focusing on future achievements rather than past grievances.
