Donald Trump stated that he plans to issue pardons to his supporters involved in the January 6th Capitol attack on his first day in office.
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These remarks, his most expansive since winning the 2024 election, came during an exclusive interview with Kristen Welker of “Meet the Press.” Trump emphasized that he would not use the Justice Department to target his political adversaries but warned that some members of the House committee investigating January 6th “should go to jail.”
On his first day in office, Trump pledged to quickly act to provide legal relief for the rioters, many of whom he argued have been subjected to a “very nasty system.” He described their prison conditions as filthy and disgusting, stating that many had been detained for years. While Trump noted there “may be some exceptions” to his pardons, he suggested that many had been unfairly pressured into guilty pleas.
Trump’s comments came as over 1,572 defendants faced charges, with more than 1,251 convicted or pleading guilty. Many have been sentenced to varying terms in federal prison. Trump also expressed frustration with the January 6th House committee, describing their investigation as “destroying evidence” and accusing members like Republican Liz Cheney and Democrat Bennie Thompson of misconduct. Trump pointed out that he would not instruct his new attorney general, Pam Bondi, to investigate special counsel Jack Smith, stating he would let Bondi decide on her own whether to pursue any investigations.
In the wide-ranging interview, Trump discussed his plans to reshape the Justice Department and the FBI, emphasizing his concerns over the system’s corruption and his determination to succeed in making the country prosperous. He highlighted his view that success would provide retribution for his grievances, not direct legal action against his opponents.
