Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is warning Donald Trump that if he were to become president again and grant pardons for some of the Jan. 6 defendants, that would be grounds for another impeachment.
“If Donald Trump pardons the January 6 rioters, the rioters who almost destroyed our democracy, I think that’s one more reason for impeachment.”
Senator Dick Blumenthal on Trump’s recent comments about his intention to issue pardons for some J6 defendants. pic.twitter.com/GnvgKRCJfo
— Becker News (@NewsBecker) May 12, 2023
“If Donald Trump pardons the January 6 rioters, the rioters who almost destroyed our democracy, I think that’s one more reason for impeachment,” Blumenthal said. “I believe that to violate the American trust in this way by pardoning the rioters of January 6 would in itself be a betrayal of trust that would justify an impeachment process.”
“And I think the motives and the possible influences on him to pardon the January 6th rioters, which literally caused the death of capitol police officers, I think would be beyond the pale,” he added.
In a CNN Townhall forum Wednesday night, Donald Trump said he might pardon some J6 defendants.
Former President Trump on January 6 rioters and pardons:
“What they’ve done to these people, they’ve persecuted these people … They’re living in hell right now.” pic.twitter.com/IF64a5EmVt
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 11, 2023
“What they’ve done to these people, they’ve persecuted these people,” Trump said. “And yes, my answer is that I am, most likely… I would say it will be a large portion of them.”
“It will be very soon,” he added. “And they’re living in hell right now. They’re living in hell. And they’re policemen and their firefighters and their soldiers and their carpenters and electricians, and they’re great people. A lot of them are great people.”
“I’m inclined to forgive a lot of them. I can’t say that about all of them because probably a couple of them got out of hand,” he added.
More than 1,000 people have been charged over the January 6 riots and more than 600 have been convicted so far.
Blumenthal made several false claims in his rant against former President Donald Trump. The main twist is that J6 rioters had killed Capitol Police officers.
These are the causes of death of the Capitol Police officers who were at the event on January 6:
Here are the causes of death for other people in the J6 event, according to Dr. Francisco Díaz, the district’s chief medical examiner:
Ashli Babbitt, 35, died of a homicide from a gunshot wound to the left shoulder. He was shot by a Capitol Police officer while trying to climb through a door near the House chamber. Kevin Greeson, 55, died of natural causes from cardiovascular disease. Benjamin Phillips, 50, died of natural causes from cardiovascular disease. Roseanne Boyland, 34, died accidentally from acute amphetamine poisoning.
As for the claim that the J6 mutineers almost “destroyed” democracy, the American government was never in danger of falling under the control of the mutineers. In fact, Congress was initially evacuated because of a bomb threat at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, not because of a physical threat from rioters. Those responsible for the bomb threat have not been caught.
The J6 defendants (with one exception) did not carry firearms into the Capitol building, and in fact, Capitol Police officers have been shown on video opening doors for protesters, watching them passive as they moved through the building and even escorting Jacob. Chansley and his followers in the senate chamber.
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OPINION: This article contains comments that reflect the opinion of the author.
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