Trump vows to free Capitol rioters if re-elected

Photo: Mike Stewart Associated Press Former US President Donald Trump is almost guaranteed to receive the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, since his last rival, Nikki Haley, threw in the towel on March 6.

France Media Agency in Washington

March 12, 2024

• United States

Former US President Donald Trump promised Monday to release those imprisoned for their participation in the assault on the Capitol in 2021 as soon as he returns to power, in the event of victory in the presidential election in November.

“My first actions as next president will be to close the border […] and free the wrongly imprisoned January 6 hostages! », wrote the former American president Monday evening on his Truth Social network, without providing further details.

Mr. Trump has raised the question of his possible return to the White House in the past, pledging during a television program in December not to act like a dictator except on his “first day.” .

In January, during a campaign event in Iowa, the billionaire called on Democratic President Joe Biden to “free the hostages,” a term he regularly uses to refer to people incarcerated for their participation in the assault on the temple of American democracy.

Riots, emboldened by Donald Trump and false claims of election fraud, invaded the Capitol on January 6, 2021 in an attempt to prevent the transfer of power to Joe Biden.

Some 1,358 people have been charged since that date, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice published last week. Around 500 individuals were sentenced to prison terms.

Mr. Trump is the subject of four criminal proceedings, including two for allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in his favor, after his defeat by Joe Biden.

The former president is almost assured of receiving the Republican nomination for the presidential election, since his latest rival, Nikki Haley, threw in the towel on Wednesday.