Former President of the United States Donald Trump pledged on Monday to release individuals jailed for their involvement in the 2021 attack on the US Capitol as one of his initial actions if reelected, describing them as “hostages.”
The rioters, influenced by the then-president and fueled by his baseless claims of voter fraud, stormed the heart of US democracy on January 6, 2021, aiming to halt the transition of power to Joe Biden.
According to recent Justice Department data released last week, approximately 1,358 defendants have been charged in the 38 months since the event, with around 500 receiving prison sentences.
Trump made these statements on his Truth Social platform, also vowing to close the border with Mexico among his first measures if reelected, though he did not provide specifics.
In his late Monday post, he 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 time Trump has referred to his imprisoned supporters as “hostages” or suggested their release. In January, he urged President Biden to “release the J6 hostages, Joe” during a campaign rally in Iowa.
Currently facing four criminal indictments, including federal charges and ones in Georgia, linked to his efforts to overturn the election results after losing to Biden, Trump appears to be the assured Republican presidential nominee following the withdrawal of his last remaining rival, Nikki Haley, after his resounding victories in the primaries.
