During a recent press briefing, President Donald Trump raised eyebrows with an unusual four-word reply when a journalist questioned him about pardoning someone convicted for assaulting a police officer.
Just 24 hours into his presidency, Trump made headlines by pardoning about 1,500 individuals convicted in connection with the Capitol Riots. These riots resulted in injuries to over 140 police officers and tragic loss of lives for at least seven individuals.
NBC News reports that Daniel Joseph ‘DJ’ Rodriguez received a 12-year prison sentence for his part in the violence, specifically for using a stun gun on officer Michael Fanone.
Rodriguez willingly admitted guilt to several charges, including felony conspiracy, obstructing official proceedings, tampering with documents, and causing bodily injury to officers with a dangerous weapon.
In a press meeting held at his new residence, Trump was directly questioned by a reporter who asked, “You would agree it’s never acceptable to assault a police officer?” Trump, aged 78, quietly affirmed, “Sure.”
Pressing further, the journalist stated, “So then, if I may, among those you pardoned, DJ Rodriguez? He is the one who assaulted a DC police officer with a stun gun during the mob chaos that day. He admitted to his crimes and pleaded guilty. Why is he deserving of a pardon?”
Trump’s reply was simply, “Well, I don’t know.”
He elaborated slightly, “Is it a pardon? Because we are considering commutations and pardons. Alright, we will review everything, but it’s worth mentioning, there are murderers today who aren’t charged; it’s widespread.”
Trump emphasized the time already served by these individuals, describing their prison conditions as vicious, disgusting, inhumane, and terrible.
“In Portland, they attacked and shot officers, yet nothing happened to those involved. In Seattle, protesters seized a large area and people died, in Portland, many lives were lost,” he insisted. “And look at Minneapolis—the devastation was complete, but sending in the National Guard saved the city.”
“Joe Biden issued pardons to numerous criminals yesterday. These individuals committed crimes, yet he pardoned them. The question to ask is why did he pardon all these people? Why did he extend forgiveness to those connected with the so-called J6 unselect committee who destroyed documents proving their guilt over mine? And why pardon his relatives, like his brother, who made significant sums of money?”
“Why not question Biden’s decisions to pardon?” Trump concluded.