Donald Trump says again he would 'absolutely' pardon Jan. 6 rioters

WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump said once again Wednesday that he would pardon Jan. 6 rioters if he wins the election, repeatedly lying about what happened during the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, which injured more than 140 police officers.

"Oh, absolutely, I would. If they're innocent, I would pardon them," Trump said during a panel at the National Association of Black Journalists. "They were convicted by a very tough system."

More than 1,400 people have been charged in connection with the attack on Jan. 6, 2021, and prosecutors have secured more than 1,000 convictions on charges ranging from unlawful parading to seditious conspiracy. Hundreds of cases remain pending, and more arrests are expected before the five-year statute of limitations runs out in early 2026, but all the Jan. 6 cases could theoretically be brought to an end if Trump wins and his appointees take over the Justice Department.

Trump has referred to Jan. 6 rioters as warriors, "unbelievable patriots," political prisoners and "hostages." Senior U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who was appointed by former President Ronald Reagan and has overseen numerous Capitol attack trials, has expressed shock at the "preposterous" rhetoric about convicted criminals that Republicans regularly use about Jan. 6 rioters. “In my thirty-seven years on the bench, I cannot recall a time when such meritless justifications of criminal activity have gone mainstream," Lamberth wrote this year.

Asked Wednesday about his plans for Jan. 6 rioters by Rachel Scott of ABC News, Trump engaged in whataboutism, falsely claiming that there had been a "horrible attack on the Capitol" last week when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Congress. That's not