Donald Trump suspends pardons for Capitol rioters if he returns as US president

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Former U.S. president Donald Trump has suggested he could forgive supporters who participated in the deadly attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 if he returns to the White House.

Key points: Mr Trump said at a rally that he would pardon the rioters in the US Capitol to ensure they were treated “fairly” More than 700 people were arrested and charged with federal crimes because of the riotMr Trump is teasing the third run for the US presidency in 2024

“If I run and if I win, we will treat those people fairly from Jan. 6,” Mr Trump said at a rally in Conroe, Texas on Saturday.

“And if it needs pardon, we’ll give them pardon because they weren’t treated fairly.”

The offer represents an attempt by Mr Trump to further reduce the most important attack on the U.S. government seat since the War of 1812.

Participants smashed windows, attacked police officers and sent elected representatives and congressional staff to flee for their lives while trying to stop the peaceful transfer of power and the certification of victory of rival Joe Biden.

More than 700 people were arrested and charged with federal crimes related to the riot, marking the largest investigation in Justice Department history.

The tally includes more than 150 people charged with assaulting police officers, more than 50 charged with conspiracy and seditious conspiracy charges against the founder and leader of the right-wing militia group Oath Keepers and 10 other members or colleagues.

More than 100 policemen were injured, some critical, after Mr Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, following a Stop the Steal rally by Mr Trump near the White House where he falsely said Mr Biden had won in elections through widespread voter fraud.

Hundreds of people stormed the US Capitol in January last year. (Reuters: Stephanie Keith)

As president, Mr Trump used his pardoning power to pardon or commute the sentences of many political allies, friends and comrades, including his former chief strategist, Steve Bannon; his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and; a longtime friend and political ally, Roger Stone.

Mr Trump criticized the Democrat-led House for its ongoing investigation into the riot.

As his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, Mr Trump ignored desperate pleas from allies to forcefully deny the attack and repeatedly praised those who participated in the protest.

“It was a lot of love there,” he said recently to those who attended the rally in an interview with Fox News.

“Believe me, there has been a lot of love and a lot of friendship and people who love our country.”

Mr Trump, who was impeached by the House for his role in inciting the insurrection but was acquitted by the Senate, is teasing another run for the White House in 2024.

ABC/wires

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