In an interview Thursday on CNN, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) reacted to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk by urging both parties to tone down political rhetoric. He also tied the current climate of political violence to former President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon January 6 rioters.
“The governor is right — we must begin by condemning violence across the board,” Moulton said, referencing calls from other lawmakers. “House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, is urging people to lower the temperature, and he’s rightly calling out media outlets and groups — especially on the far-right — that are fueling this kind of rhetoric.”
Moulton criticized members of his own chamber who immediately blamed Democrats before knowing the shooter’s identity, noting that “Democrats across the board are calling for unity and de-escalation.”
He then pointed to Trump, saying the former president has done the opposite: “If Donald Trump is serious about stopping political violence, he should start by rescinding the pardons he issued for January 6 rioters — people who came to the Capitol intending to harm law enforcement, Speaker Pelosi, and Vice President Pence.”
Moulton stressed the importance of acknowledging how political violence has escalated over recent years, adding, “We need an honest conversation about where this is coming from and how to stop it.”
