Donald Trump has promised pardon for supporters who participated in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6 if he returns as president

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CONROE, Texas-Former President Donald Trump is hanging on to the prospect of pardons for supporters who participated in the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 if he returns to the White House.

“If I run and if I win, we will treat those people fairly from Jan. 6,” Trump said Saturday night at a rally in Conroe, Texas. “And if it needs pardon, we’ll give them pardon because they weren’t treated fairly.”

The offer represents an attempt by Trump to further reduce the most important attack on the seat of government since the War of 1812. Participants smashed windows, attacked police officers and dispatched lawmakers and staff. of congressmen who fled 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 charges of seditious conspiracy against the founder and leader of the right-wing militia group Oath Keepers, and 10 others another member or colleague.

More than 100 police officers were injured, some critical, after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in January. 6, 2021, following Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House where he falsely said Biden won the election by massive voter turnout. fraud.

While president Trump used his pardoning power to pardon or commute the sentences of many political allies, friends and associates, 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.

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

As his supporters marched through the Capitol on Jan. 6, Trump ignored desperate pleas from allies to force him to 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.”

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

Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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