By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former President Donald Trump has pledged to pardon individuals imprisoned for their involvement in the 2021 attack on the US Capitol as one of his initial actions if reelected, dubbing them “hostages.”
Trump’s statement comes amidst ongoing legal proceedings against rioters who stormed the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, fueled by false claims of voter fraud and incitement by then-President Trump.
According to recent figures from the Justice Department, approximately 1,358 defendants have been charged over the past 38 months, with around 500 already sentenced to prison terms for their roles in the assault on US democracy.
Trump made these promises on his Truth Social website, also vowing to shut down the border with Mexico in his first act if granted a second term, though specifics were not provided.
In his statement, Trump wrote, “My first acts as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned!”
This isn’t the first instance of Trump advocating for the release of those involved in the Capitol attack. In January, he called upon President Biden to “release the J6 hostages, Joe” during a campaign rally in Iowa.
Despite facing four criminal indictments, including federal charges and a case in Georgia related to his efforts to overturn the election results, Trump remains a dominant figure within the Republican Party.
With his last competitor, Nikki Haley, exiting the race following Trump’s resounding victories in the primaries, he is virtually guaranteed the Republican presidential nomination.
Trump maintains that his legal troubles have bolstered his support among the Republican base, rather than diminishing it, as he continues to rally his supporters around his bid for reelection.
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