Recent development reported by Raw Story on Thursday, November 30, 2023, former President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind a call for charges against U.S. Capitol police officers involved in responding to the January 6 riot.
The endorsement came through a post on Trump’s Truth Social network, originally shared by right-wing social media influencers, the Hodge Twins. The post, which gained traction, claimed that newly released videos by House Speaker Mike Johnson exonerated rioters and justified charges against police officers.
According to the post, “The Capitol cops beat the hell out of innocent J6 protesters, and the videos are finally coming out. The cops should be charged and the protesters should be freed. This is why the uniparty didn’t want the videos released.”
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Despite ongoing legal proceedings related to the Capitol assault, Trump has chosen to amplify calls for charges against law enforcement officers involved in the response. The Department of Justice reports that over 1,069 defendants have been charged, with at least 594 pleading guilty and 98 convicted at trial.
Trump’s move comes amid his own legal challenges, facing indictment on four counts in Washington, D.C., linked to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
By endorsing calls for charges against Capitol police officers, Trump aligns himself with those downplaying the severity of the Capitol attack and portrays law enforcement actions as unjust. Critics argue that this move further undermines the rule of law and the judicial process by selectively endorsing viewpoints that suit his political agenda.
The legal community emphasizes the importance of allowing the justice system to independently assess the actions of both rioters and law enforcement officers involved in the Capitol breach. Trump’s active involvement in shaping a specific narrative around the events of January 6 adds fuel to the ongoing debate over accountability and the true nature of the assault.
