In a dramatic turn of events, former President Donald Trump and his loyal followers continue to rewrite the history of the January 6th Capitol attack, with Trump now referring to the convicted rioters as 'hostages' in a recent speech. Trump called on President Joe Biden to release these so-called 'J6 hostages,' claiming that they have suffered enough. This dangerous message was echoed by Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a member of the House GOP leadership, who expressed concerns about the treatment of the January 6th prisoners and suggested that the federal government was targeting conservatives and Catholics.
However, these attempts to downplay the severity of the attacks and portray the perpetrators as victims are not supported by the facts. Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who fought to defend democracy on January 6th, rejects the notion that the rioters were hostages. He instead attributes their actions to the lies propagated by President Trump, who he describes as the 'most powerful person on the planet.'
