In a new video, former President Donald Trump expressed sympathy for the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, saying that people being investigated are being treated “unconstitutionally” and “very, very unfairly.”
Trump sent the video to a fundraising event hosted on Thursday by a group called Patriot Freedom Project which is supporting families of people being prosecuted by the government.
“People have been treated unconstitutionally, in my opinion, and very, very unfairly, and we’re going to get to the bottom of it,” he said in the video.
Trump — who himself faces several investigations, including a Georgia criminal inquiry over interferences in the 2020 elections — called investigations against the rioters a “weaponization” of the Department of Justice.
“It’s the weaponization of the Department of Justice, and we can’t let this happen in our country,” he said.
The live-streamed event included testimonials by family members of people convicted for their actions during the Capitol Riot, including the wife of Kyle Young, who pleaded guilty to being part of the group that assaulted police officer Michael Fanone on the day of the attack.
The event happened days after Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was found guilty of seditious conspiracy for his participation in the Jan. 6 attack. Kelly Meggs, the leader of the extremist group’s Florida branch, was also convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Trump said in September he would issue full pardons and a government apology to rioters.
