Rivals of Trump for 2024 Presidency Argue in Favor of Granting Him Leniency for Jan. 6 Attack

In the race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, there is now a new litmus test centered around the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and former President Donald Trump’s unprecedented attempts to overturn the election he lost.

As federal prosecutors consider bringing charges against Trump for his involvement in the insurrection any day now, several top contenders vying to become the party’s nominee have made arguments in favor of giving Trump a pass for inciting his supporters to attack and vandalize the symbol of democratic government.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump’s main rival, recently stated that the former president should have responded more forcefully when his supporters breached the Capitol. However, DeSantis believes this does not warrant criminal charges.

DeSantis expressed his hope that Trump would not face charges, as he believes it would be detrimental to the country. Despite pleas from advisors and even his own daughter to urge his supporters to leave the Capitol, Trump chose to ignore them.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who blames Trump for endangering his own life and the lives of his family during the attack, shares a similar view.

Pence stated on CNN’s “State of the Union” that while Trump’s words were reckless, he is not yet convinced that they were criminal.

Throughout his presidency, Trump repeatedly criticized Pence for refusing to intervene and prevent the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. During the riot, Trump’s supporters even constructed a makeshift gallows outside the Capitol and chanted threats against Pence.

Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who served under Trump, declared her support for him if he becomes the GOP nominee in 2024. Haley believes that Trump’s legal troubles distract from his chances in a general election, but she opposes the Department of Justice pursuing charges against him.

Senator Tim Scott, who was also present in the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack, stated that he would only hold accountable those who directly threatened his life, and he does not believe the former president did so.

However, Trump did play a role in the attack. According to one government watchdog group, nearly 200 individuals who breached the Capitol claimed to have responded to Trump’s call to help him stay in power.

If Trump faces charges from the Department of Justice, it would be his third indictment this year. He is currently facing charges related to a hush-money case in New York and mishandling of classified documents after leaving office. Prosecutors in Georgia are also considering charges related to Trump’s attempts to overturn election results. Additionally, he is facing a trial for defamation against E. Jean Carroll next year.

Despite these legal challenges, Trump’s support among the GOP primary voters remains strong and may have even increased. He continues to lead in polls for the 2024 race, and his rivals hesitate to criticize him for his role in an attempted overthrow of democracy.

The only candidates in the race who have sharply criticized Trump for the Jan. 6 attack and deemed his behavior disqualifying are former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. However, both men are polling at the bottom of the field.

Hutchinson emphasized that while Trump would like to portray himself as the victim, the true victims of Jan. 6 were democracy, the rule of law, and the Capitol Police officers who bravely defended the Capitol.

Christie has repeatedly condemned Trump, as well as candidates like DeSantis and Scott, for their failure to hold the former president accountable.

In reference to Scott’s defense of Trump, Christie said, “When you say the president’s not responsible for Jan. 6, I can’t not say something about that, it’s ridiculous, and Tim’s better than that.”