‘I Don’t Think He Was Responsible’: House Republican Wants Trump to Defend January 6th Rioters During Biden Debate

Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) said former President Donald Trump should not take responsibility for the January 6th Capitol attack and defend some of the rioters during the upcoming presidential debate.

The presumptive Republican frontrunner is expected to face off against President Joe Biden in a CNN debate on Thursday for the first time since the 2020 presidential election. Moderators are expected to grill the former president over the events of January 6th, 2021, where protesters stormed the Capitol building.

During an interview with Manu Raju on Wednesday, Waltz argued that Trumps should defend some of the rioters on stage by talking about “the abuse” of the justice system.

Raju then pressed the Florida lawmaker on if Trump bore any responsibility for the riot. Waltz responded that he did not think Trump “was responsible” for the infamous day.

RAJU: But we also know from our team’s reporting is that they’re expecting some questions about January 6th and everything that happened on January 6th. Do you think that Trump should bear some responsibility for what happened that day?

WALTZ: Well, look, I think  it was a protest that turned into a riot. But I do expect President Trump to talk about the abuse, of the justice system and many of these people that have been sitting in jail still waiting to be charged. A lot of the, the really excessive sentences that have gone in…but I’ll talk about it here. I have 72 year old grandmothers who never went anywhere near the Capitol, but were almost bankrupted in legal fees because of constant harassment by the FBI. I mean, I think those are real issues that need to come out.

…

RAJU: Do you think he should accept some responsibility for Jan. 6th?

WALTZ: Oh, I don’t think he was responsible for Jan. 6th…he’s going to point out, which is factually correct, that he said go down to the Capitol and peacefully protest. That’s fine!

Watch the clip above via CNN .