Former President Donald Trump, on the third anniversary of the U.S. Capitol siege, minimized his involvement in the attack during a campaign event in Clinton, Iowa. Trump suggested that those prosecuted for storming the Capitol should be freed, referring to them as “hostages” mistreated by the Biden administration.
Speaking to over a thousand supporters, Trump reiterated baseless claims of election fraud in the 2020 election, portraying himself as a victim of political persecution. He stated, “I got indicted because I challenged the crooked election,” even though he currently faces various state and federal charges related to his attempts to subvert the election.
Despite not being charged with instigating the 2021 insurrection, where a mob of his supporters breached the Capitol during the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory, Trump continued to deflect blame. Biden has consistently labeled Trump a threat to democracy, making it a central theme of his campaign.
Trump’s supporters in Iowa, including those of other Republican candidates, have downplayed the significance of the Jan. 6 attack, embracing conspiracy theories. Trump himself suggested that undercover FBI agents played a role in instigating the assault, a claim not supported by official investigations.
Over 1,200 individuals have been charged in connection with the riot, with more than 900 either pleading guilty or being convicted after trial. Despite this, some supporters argue that it wasn’t a true insurrection and claim that bad actors were responsible for escalating the situation.
At the campaign event in Clinton, Erin George, a local county commissioner, criticized the prison sentences handed down to the rioters, stating they were “100 percent unwarranted.” Trump’s visit to Iowa aimed to garner support ahead of the state’s Republican caucus on Jan. 15, where he currently leads competitors by over 30 percentage points according to most polls.
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