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CNN anchor Jim Acosta & Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.President Donald Trump pardoned the Jan. 6 defendants, sparking a violent clash among liberal networks that quickly went viral on social media.
Trump signed on Monday, his first day in office Pardoned approximately 1,500 defendants They were charged with crimes stemming from the riots at the U.S. Capitol, fulfilling a promise he made in December to move quickly and pardon them.
Acosta grilled Burchett on Wednesday’s show about pardoning him and asked him to condemn the actions.
Burchett told Acosta that many of these defendants did not receive due process and that those who invaded the Capitol on January 6, 2021 should not “spend the rest of their lives in federal prison, never being charged.”
Trump pardoned 6 defendants on Inauguration Day almost all month long
CNN anchor Jim Acosta sparred with Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett over President Trump’s pardon of Jan. 6 defendants. (CNN/Screenshot)
As Acosta continued to press him to denounce the pardons, Burchett said he didn’t know the details of each individual’s case but said those who broke the law should go to jail.
“What happened to ‘Back the Blue’? What happened to ‘Back the Police?'” Acosta asked excitedly. “Time and time again your party says, ‘We’re with the blue.’ It sounds like you’re failing the blue!”
Burchett accuses CNN of selective outrage over former President Joe Biden’s pardon Mitigating sentence Targeting murderers and child rapists before he leaves office.
He asked Acosta why no one was demanding justice for the violence that occurred during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots.
“Why don’t you just editorialize and not put me on the floor?” Republicans fired back. “Look what has happened to the police in the last four years? What has happened to the riots that have occurred across the country? Police officers have been murdered. Courthouses have been burned down. More than 22 police cars have been burned down. But no one has been jailed for it.”
“Where are your crocodile tears?” he asked Acosta.
Federal officers fire tear gas at a group of demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, on July 26, 2020. (Associated Press)
Acosta accused Burchett of engaging in “Whataboutism,” then again implored his guest to denounce Trump.
“Why not just say, ‘Mr. President, you are wrong?’ Say it! Why can’t you say it?” Acosta pressed.
The two men continued to argue for nearly 10 minutes, with Burchett calling the treatment of the defendants on Jan. 6 “political from the beginning.”
He recounted how some of his own constituents, who had left the Capitol before the day’s rioting began, were visited and “harassed.” FBI.
As Acosta continued to pressure Burchett to criticize Trump’s behavior, the Republican lashed out at CNN for ratings and bias.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., clashed with Jim Acosta on the liberal network, mocking CNN’s ratings and bias against President Trump. (Getty Images)
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“You’re all continuing this narrative of attacking Trump,” Burchett said. “You just can’t stand the fact that he won, America spoke up, and your views were greatly diminished.”
A video clip of the episode went viral on X on Wednesday. Burchett shared a video on his account slamming CNN for trying to moralize his party following Biden’s controversial pardon.
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The U.S. Department of Justice reported that approximately 140 police officers were attacked during the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. They include law enforcement officers from the U.S. Capitol Police and about 60 officers from the Metropolitan Police Department.
Fox News’ Diana Stancy contributed to this article.
