Written by Tim Reid
CHESAPEAKE, Virginia (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that his supporters who were prosecuted for their actions in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 should be released, citing a Supreme Court ruling in favor of a man who appealed an obstruction-of-justice charge related to… With rioting – which is the charge that Trump also faces.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Virginia, the former president pointed to Friday’s ruling, which lifted the legal hurdle for prosecutors pursuing election obstruction charges in the federal election subversion case against Trump and defendants involved in the attack.
“Release the hostages of January 6 now,” Trump said, amid cheers from the audience. “They should be released now because of what they went through.”
“They have been waiting for this decision for a long time,” Trump added.
Trump is the Republican candidate competing against Democratic President Joe Biden in the US elections scheduled for November 5.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to overturn a lower court decision that allowed a charge of corruptly obstructing an official proceeding — congressional certification of Biden’s 2020 victory over Trump that rioters sought to block — against defendant Joseph Fisher, a former police officer. The justices ordered the lower court to reconsider.
The verdict was a potential boost for Trump, who was charged with two counts of obstruction of justice as part of a four-count criminal indictment in a case filed last year by special counsel Jack Smith. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case.
Commenting on the ruling, Trump said: “This is great for the people who were subjected to such terrible treatment.”
Trump has frequently praised his supporters convicted for their role in the attack on the Capitol, calling them “patriots” and “warriors.” Among other crimes, some have been prosecuted for violence against police officers.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on Monday on Trump’s claim of presidential immunity from prosecution in the special counsel’s election-sabotage case, the last day of the court’s current term.
