GOP 2024 contenders vow pardons for Jan. 6 incident

All ‍Leading ⁢Republican Presidential Candidates Pledge Pardons for Jan. 6 ⁣Riot​ Suspects

In a surprising turn of events, all of the top Republican presidential candidates have vowed to⁢ grant pardons to the hundreds of suspects who were rounded up and jailed in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. While President⁢ Joe ⁣Biden has taken a hardline ⁣approach, advocating ⁢for severe punishment, the GOP contenders have taken a different stance, promising pardons for those facing nonviolent charges. ⁣Some candidates even plan ⁤to issue these pardons as early as “day one” of their presidency.

A recently released video by Look ⁤Ahead ‍America, an organization that has shown support for the “J6” suspects, ‌sheds ⁢light on the candidates’ positions. Former ⁤President Donald Trump, former U.S. Ambassador to the‍ United ‌Nations Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek ⁢Ramaswamy, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and former Arkansas Gov. ‍Asa Hutchinson ⁤all provided answers that offered promises of assistance.

“I want⁢ to point out something very​ important,” emphasized Look‍ Ahead ⁤America Executive Director Matt Braynard. “Not⁤ a single one of⁢ these candidates said, ⁢’Just lock them up ⁣and⁣ throw away the key, I don’t care.’ ⁢All of them gave an answer that at least attempted to be somewhat sympathetic to the people who care about this issue.”

Volunteer “reporters” posed questions to all the​ candidates, except Trump, regarding how they would ⁤handle the rioters, particularly⁢ those not charged with violence. ⁢For instance, the‍ mother of ⁣Ashli ⁢Babbitt,​ the lone​ protester shot and killed ⁢by a U.S. Capitol Police officer that day,⁤ joined a volunteer in asking Hutchinson about his approach.

While reaching Trump proved challenging due to large crowds, his response during a ⁤CNN​ town hall was ‌included ‌in ‍the video.

The Candidates’ Answers:

• Nikki Haley: “President Trump said it was a beautiful day. I ⁢think it was a terrible day,” she stated. Haley ⁢believes that those who ​engaged in violence and caused damage should face charges, but those who were present at ⁤the Capitol grounds⁤ to support Trump and did ⁣not commit crimes should not be held accountable. She also condemned ‌the practice of holding suspects without charging them and delaying ‌court proceedings.
• Ron DeSantis: ​ DeSantis emphasized that his administration would ensure one standard of justice for all. ⁢He​ plans‍ to utilize ⁢Article Two powers, including pardons and clemency, to rectify any mistreatment. DeSantis also expressed his intention ‌to clean house within the DOJ ‌and the⁢ FBI, claiming that these institutions have been “weaponized” to target Jan. 6 rioters while ignoring those involved in Black Lives Matter riots.
• Asa Hutchinson: Hutchinson stated that he would handle pardon applications ⁣on an individual ‍basis,‌ just as he did during his tenure as governor. His team would review each case, considering factors such as fairness, justice, equal treatment, and, when appropriate, mercy.
• Vivek Ramaswamy: Ramaswamy made a bold⁤ promise, declaring that he would grant‌ a pardon to every peaceful J6 protester on Jan. 20, 2025. He also ⁣expressed ‌the belief that‍ those who have been held without trial or even charges deserve compensation from a government that has wronged them.
• Donald Trump: ​ Trump echoed the‌ sentiment that the Justice ⁣Department has applied different standards of justice to‌ the Jan.⁤ 6 suspects compared to ⁤those involved in the‍ Black Lives Matter riots. He expressed his intention to pardon a significant number of the suspects if he⁣ were ‍to‌ regain the presidency.

What is President Biden’s stance on the consideration ​of pardons for nonviolent offenders involved​ in ​the January 6 riot?

Onse from a previous event was included in the video. “I think a lot of those people were there because they felt really, really strongly about the election,” Trump said in the clip. “I don’t see any reason why they‍ should be punished for that.”

DeSantis echoed this sentiment, stating, “If you’re talking about nonviolent offenses, I think that’s a different situation. I wouldn’t look for​ wholesale ‌pardons, but I think individual cases, particularly for people that are basically hounded for political reasons, that would be something that I think would ⁣be appropriate to ⁣use the pardon power for.”

Ramaswamy emphasized the importance of distinguishing ‌between violent and nonviolent offenders, ​saying, “We⁢ need to recognize that there are people who were there ‌because‍ they believed there was something profoundly ​wrong with the election.⁤ And for those‌ people, we‌ need to separate​ them out from the ones who actually participated in violence or destruction.” He proposed a case-by-case approach to determine who should receive pardons.

Haley also expressed her support for pardoning nonviolent offenders, ⁤explaining that the​ focus should be on addressing the root causes of the riot. “I think the bigger issue is making sure that‍ we go to the​ next election⁢ and we make ⁢sure that people have⁤ confidence in it,” she⁣ said. “And we do that by addressing election integrity, election transparency, and dealing with things like mail-in voting.”

Despite the differing nuances in their responses, all the candidates seemed to ​agree on the principle of distinguishing between violent and nonviolent offenders. They argued that in cases where individuals were peacefully protesting or expressing their‌ concerns about the election, pardons would be justified.

This position adopted by‍ the Republican candidates stands in contrast to ‌the stance taken by President Biden and his administration.⁣ The Department of Justice has been pursuing prosecutions of those involved in the Jan. 6 riot, often seeking harsh penalties⁤ to ​send a strong message‍ against future ​attacks on democracy. While Biden has not explicitly ruled out ⁣pardon consideration for nonviolent offenders, his focus has been on ​accountability and imposing consequences.

It remains to be seen how this issue will play out in the upcoming election cycle.‌ The Republican candidates’ ​promises of pardons for Jan. 6 riot suspects could potentially appeal to ⁢voters who sympathize ‌with the concerns and frustrations expressed by the protesters. However, they may also face criticism from​ those who view such pardons as condoning or trivializing the actions that took place on that ‌fateful day.

As the election season progresses, ​it will be interesting to observe how these ‍candidates’ positions on pardons for Jan. 6 riot suspects shape the discourse surrounding the Capitol riot and its aftermath. Their pledges demonstrate a willingness ‍to take a more lenient⁣ approach, prioritizing understanding and reconciliation over punishment. Only time will tell if this stance resonates with voters​ and influences their decisions at the ballot box.

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