WASHINGTON (AP) – Former President Donald Trump on Thursday defended some of his supporters who revolted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, saying they posed a “zero threat” to lawmakers who had gathered there to certify the vote of the Electoral College that confirmed Joe Victoria de Biden in the presidential race.
Trump complained to Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham that law enforcement was “chasing” Capitol riot police, while “nothing is happening” to left-wing protesters.
Trump did acknowledge that those who stormed the Capitol “came in and shouldn’t have.”
But he added: “Some of them came in and they are, they are hugging and kissing the police and the guards. You know, they had a good relationship. A lot of people were agitated and then they came in and out.”
More than 300 people have been charged in connection with the riot. Authorities have said they believe at least 100 more could face charges.
The January 6 riot followed a Trump rally in front of the White House, in which he urged a crowd of his supporters to “fight like hell” for him at the Capitol. A week later, the House charged Trump a second time, but the Senate eventually acquitted him of the charge of inciting the attack.