White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized former President Trump for labeling people convicted of crimes related to the 2021 Capitol attack as “hostages.”
Jean-Pierre was asked Monday during a press briefing aboard Air Force One what President Biden would say about President Trump's recent comments in which he referred to the January 6 defendants as “hostages.” She pointed to Biden's speech on Friday in which he attacked the former president for embracing the extremism that occurred during the riot at the Capitol.
She said it was “grotesque” to compare those convicted of crimes related to hostage acts that day to those held hostage by Hamas militants in Israel on October 7. Stated.
“How grotesque is it that American veterans compare veterans to those convicted of assaulting police officers and attempting to overthrow the American government, veterans who died protecting innocent Americans. “I've seen people point out that it's offensive,” she said.
“It's grotesque to make that comparison, and the president, you know, spoke very forcefully about how he viewed January 6th and indicated that we have a choice here.” she added.
During a campaign stop in Iowa on Saturday, marking the third anniversary of the Capitol attack, President Trump called on Biden to release those detained on charges related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
“They should release the J6 hostages. They have suffered enough,” he said on Saturday. “Free the J6 hostages, Joe. Free them, Joe. It's very easy to do, Joe.”
He previously referred to those jailed for their actions during the November Capitol riot as “hostages.”
“Well, thank you very much. You know what it was,” he said at the time. “I call them 'J-6 hostages,' not prisoners of war. I call them hostages, but what happened? And you know, it's unfortunate. is.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., echoed President Trump's words Sunday on NBC's “Meet the Press.”
Asked whether those who stormed the Capitol should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, Stefanik said: “I have concerns about the treatment of the hostages on January 6th.” “We have rules in Congress to oversee the treatment of prisoners of war. And I believe we're going to see a weaponization of the federal government, not just against President Trump, but against conservatives as well.”
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