Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS), former chair of the January 6 Committee, stated on CNN’s Newsroom Thursday that he would accept a preemptive pardon if offered by President Joe Biden. This comes after President-elect Donald Trump suggested that members of the committee should face jail time for their investigation into the Capitol riot.
During the interview, host Jim Acosta asked Thompson if he was concerned about Trump or the FBI pursuing legal action against him. Thompson responded confidently, saying, “We are members of Congress. We operate based on our direction from Congress. There are specific laws that give security to members of Congress. I hope the president would take that into consideration. But to be honest with you, Jim, we’ve not done anything wrong.”
Acosta then questioned whether Thompson would want Biden to issue a preemptive pardon, given reports that the White House is considering such actions to protect those who might be targeted in a future Trump administration. Thompson replied, “The president, it’s his prerogative. If he offers it, to me or other members of the committee, I would accept it, but it’s his choice.”
Thompson defended the integrity of the committee’s work, praising the staff and witnesses, many of whom were Republicans. “The witnesses who were primarily Republicans did a great job under oath. They were not found to have perjured themselves or anything like that. There is nothing on the record that is not on point.”
He emphasized that the committee’s findings have withstood scrutiny. “We’ve had two years of review by Republican chairpersons, and they found nothing wrong. We stand by the work of the committee. Our committee did a wonderful job. We shared it with the public, and all the public has to do is read the report.”
The January 6 Committee, which investigated the events surrounding the Capitol riot, has faced ongoing criticism from Trump and his allies, who have accused the committee of partisanship and misconduct. Thompson’s remarks highlight the escalating tension as Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, promising to hold his political opponents accountable.
