CNN anchor Jim Acosta sparred with U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) over President Donald Trump's Jan. 6 pardon of defendants, sparking a heated clash on the liberal network. It quickly spread on social media.
President Trump signed it on his first day in office Monday. Approximately 1,500 defendants granted amnesty They have been charged with crimes stemming from the Capitol riot, and he made good on a December promise to act quickly and pardon them.
Mr. Acosta criticized Mr. Burchett on Wednesday's show and demanded that he denounce the pardon.
Burchett told Acosta that many of these defendants did not receive due process and that those who breached the Capitol on January 6, 2021 “should rot in federal prison for the rest of their lives and should never be prosecuted.” ” he said.
Trump pardons six defendants on Inauguration Day for most of January
CNN anchor Jim Acosta sparred with Representative Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) over President Trump's January 6 pardon of the defendants. (CNN/Screenshot)
As Acosta continued to press him to condemn the pardon, Burchett said he didn't know the details of each person's case, but that those who broke the law should go to prison.
“What happened to 'Back the Blue'? What happened to the police officer who was rooting for him?” Acosta asked passionately. “Your party has said over and over again, ‘We stand with Blue.’ It seems like you are betraying Blue!
Burchett accused CNN of selective anger over Trump's pardons, when former President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of murderers and child rapists before leaving office.
He asked Acosta why there was no demand for justice for the violence that occurred during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots.
“Why don't you just write an editorial and not have me appear?” Republicans fired back. “Look at what has happened to police in the last four years? What about the riots that have occurred across the country? Police officers have been killed. Courthouses have been set on fire. More than 22 police cars have been set on fire. Yet no one has ever been imprisoned for that crime.'' ”
“So where are the crocodile tears?” he asked Acosta.
Federal agents fire tear gas at a group of demonstrators during a “Black Lives Matter” protest at the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, July 26, 2020. (AP)
Justice Department's 'excessive' handling of January 6 rioters 'weakened' prosecutions, Turley says after pardon
Mr. Acosta accused Mr. Burchett of engaging in “Whataboutism” and implored his guests to denounce Mr. Trump again.
“Why don't you just say, 'Mr. President, you were wrong?'” Say it! why can't you say? ” Acosta pressed.
The two sides debated for nearly 10 minutes, with Burchett calling the defendant's treatment on January 6 “political from the beginning.”
He told how some of his constituents who left the Capitol grounds that day before the riot began were visited and “harassed” by the FBI.
Republicans accused CNN of ratings and bias as Acosta continued to press Burchett to criticize President Trump's actions.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) mocked CNN's ratings and bias against President Trump in a heated clash with the liberal network's Jim Acosta. (Getty Images)
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“You continue this narrative of attacking Trump. You can't stand the fact that he won, that America spoke, and that your views are so diminished.” Burchett said.
A video clip of this segment went viral on Wednesday's X. Burchett shared a video on her account, accusing CNN of trying to “preach” morality to the party in the wake of Biden's controversial pardon.
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The Department of Justice reported that approximately 140 police officers were assaulted during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. They included about 60 law enforcement officers from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Fox News' Diana Stancey contributed to this article.
