President-elect Donald Trump plans to take action on the “first day” of his presidency in the cases of some of the January 6 defendants and said he believes members of the House of Representatives on the select January 6 committee who investigated the 2021 Capitol riot, including Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, “should go to jail.”
In an interview that aired Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Trump told host Kristen Welker that he would not order the director of the FBI or the attorney general to do so, but said, “I think they will have to look into that.’
The newly elected president also faced pressure on whether he would pardon some or all of the Capitol riot defendants. He indicated that he would not grant a general pardon: “We are going to look at independent cases.” Last week, one of Trump’s allies in the Senate, Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, told CBS News that he believes Trump and the next attorney general should deal with riot defendants “on a case-by-case basis.”
Trump said of the Jan. 6 defendants and convicts: “I’m going to move very quickly,” adding that he planned to act as soon as he is inaugurated in January. “First day,” he said.
CBS News’ investigation into Justice Department files shows that as of Jan. 6, there have been about 1,560 defendants, and about 590 of them have been charged with assaulting police. More than 900 defendants have pleaded guilty.
Several defendants have openly predicted this grace of Trump are upon us – including for those accused of violent acts.
Over the weekend, Joseph Hutchinson, who is accused of beating police during the Capitol riot and was a fugitive from justice for three years as he evaded authorities, said in a court filing that he wants to be released immediately, with the argument: ‘No one is leaving. to flee from a trial that will not come, I will wait for my pardon, like any responsible person.”
Trump has not yet said whether he will allow any new prosecutions, investigations or ongoing prosecutions to proceed at the Capitol. Hundreds more arrests are expected.
The president-elect was also asked by Welker if he planned to appoint “a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States, Joe Biden and the entire crime family,” as he said last year. about Truth Social.
“No, I won’t unless I find something that I think is reasonable,” Trump said. “But that won’t be my decision.” He said he would leave it to him Pam Bondiwhom he wants to appoint as attorney general Kas Patelhis choice for FBI director.
He said he would leave it to Bondi to determine whether to investigate a special counsel Jac Smithwhich brought both federally criminal cases against Trump, one about election interference in 2020 and another about documents he allegedly took from the White House to his Florida residence after his first term.
“I want her to do what she wants to do,” he said of the investigation into Smith, whom he called “corrupt.” “I’m not going to instruct her to do it.”
Scott MacFarlane
