Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, has offered to pardon those responsible for the January 6 Capitol riots, if he comes back to power in the 2024 presidential elections.

Speaking at a rally in Conroe, Texas, Trump said “If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from January 6 fairly. We will treat them fairly. And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons. Because they are being treated so unfairly. This hasn’t happened to all the other atrocities that took place recently. Nothing like this has happened. What that unselect committee is doing and what the people are doing that are running those prisons is a disgrace.” 

Also Read | Melania Trump’s ‘Head of State’ auction items fail to reach bid threshold

Trump’s announcement comes even as the Senate has formed a special committee to investigate the events of the day, and many of those who Trump plans to pardon, have been subpoenaed. Their findings indicate that they’ve “obtained information that groups of individuals met on December 14th, 2020 in seven states carried by President Biden, then submitted bogus slates of Electoral-College votes for former President Trump”.

Also Read | Trump will stick around GOP till midterm elections, not 2024: Former aide

Notably, Trump has teased his presidency before as well. He was heard at a golf course, some time back, calling himself the 45th and 47th President of the US. However, he hasn’t formally announced his intention to run yet. Trump does enjoy a steady following and support within the Republican party, and polls conducted have shown his popularity to be ahead of other contenders for the presidential race. 

Also Read | Jan 6 Committee subpoenas Donald Trump’s White House spokesman, Judd Deere

The January 6 riots took place when Trump’s speech allegedly incited some Americans to breach the Capitol building since they believed that the 2020 election had been rigged to make Joe Biden, the Democratic party member win. The riots caused the death of five people but Trump has continued to maintain that the election was unfair.