Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy on Sunday criticized former President Donald Trump's campaign promise to free those imprisoned for their roles in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot as not "appropriate" and the "wrong signal" to the American people.
"We're a nation of laws and those folks were convicted," Cassidy, a Republican, told host Kristen Welker during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press. "Many times they pled guilty. If you plead guilty, obviously you are not a patriot, you are somebody who committed a criminal act."
Cassidy was one of only seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial alleging incitement of insurrection. Trump was acquitted.
"I think it would be the wrong signal, if you're the chief executive and you're responsible for enforcing the laws," he said Sunday of Trump's vow to pardon the rioters.
Last week, Trump reiterated a long-standing promise to pardon Jan. 6 convicts, in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
"My first acts as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned," the former president wrote on March 11.
Both Trump and allies including Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) have referred to the Jan. 6 rioters as "hostages," claiming that they are being punished for their politics.
The riot, in which Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election win, left well over 100 people injured and five people dead.
While critical of many of the former president's recent comments, Cassidy also lamented the state of the 2024 presidential race.
"The best thing going for Donald Trump running for president is that he's running against Joe Biden" Cassidy told Welker. "And frankly, that's why people are considering third parties. So it's a sorry state of affairs."
