Trump and Republicans want us to forget Jan. 6. We can't.
Donald Trump was a president on his way out of office four years ago Tuesday, on Jan. 7, 2021, as Washington, D.C., was grappling with the abhorrent violence at the U.S. Capitol the day before – from a riot he helped incite because his fragile ego could not accept that he had been defeated.
Trump knew then how bad all that looked and how badly it looked for him. Consider what he said four years ago in a videotaped statement from the White House about "the heinous attack" on the Capitol.
"Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem," Trump said. "The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay."
Now, let's fact-check those claims because Trump is two weeks away from again being sworn in as president.
First, he clearly was not outraged by the "violence, lawlessness and mayhem." He campaigned through 2024 on a pledge to pardon the criminals convicted of rioting that day, including thugs who attacked police officers with all kinds of weapons, smashed windows to break into the Capitol and looted government property inside.
Next, "you do not represent our country" rings ridiculous now from a politician about to once again represent our........
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