Mississippi Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson said he would accept a preemptive pardon from President Joe Biden to shield members of the January 6 House Select Committee from potential political retribution.
Thompson, who chaired the Democrat-led committee investigating former President Donald Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, denied any wrongdoing by himself or other committee members. In response to Trump’s recent claim that committee members should go to jail, CNN’s Jim Acosta asked Thompson if he would accept a pardon.
“We are members of Congress operating within the law,” Thompson said. “If the president offers a pardon, I would accept it, but it’s his decision.”
Acosta noted that the Biden administration was reportedly considering pardons for those Trump might target. Thompson praised the committee’s work, including Republican witnesses, emphasizing that no wrongdoing was found during two years of Republican-led reviews.
In a recent interview, Trump reiterated plans to pardon individuals convicted for the Capitol riots and suggested members of the January 6 committee “should go to jail,” though he said the decision would be up to law enforcement. Trump also hinted at taking executive action to end birthright citizenship and plans for stricter immigration enforcement, including mass deportations.
Meanwhile, reports suggest Biden is considering preemptive pardons for committee members, including Thompson, and others such as former immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci.
