'We’re showing you right now': CNN host busts GOP rep for evading questions on Trump pardons

22 January

One Republican member of Congress was caught off-guard during an interview about their support of President Donald Trump's pardons of January 6 defendants.

After Trump took office, the prsident reportedly went back and forth with aides over how to handle his promise to pardon insurrectionists, but Axios reported that Trump ultimately told staff: "F— it, release 'em all." During a Wednesday segment, CNN host Jim Acosta confronted Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) about Trump's decision to grant clemency to the approximately 1,500 people charged and convicted for laying siege to the U.S. Capitol four years ago.

"I spoke with officer Harry Dunn at the top of the program. I spoke with the ex-wife of [Oath Keepers founder] Stewart Rhodes, Tasha Adams. They are both worried about their safety," Acosta said. "Do you defend what Donald Trump did, releasing these people from prison, pardoning them, commuting their sentences? Yes or no?"

"If they crossed those barriers, they were breaking the law. But you've got to realize too, they are charged under federal law. Many of them never even saw their day in court and were sitting in a jail cell," Burchett countered.

"Congressman, I asked you a yes-or-no question," Acosta interjected. "Do you agree with President Trump's decision to pardon these violent people and releasing them from jail?"

"If they were truly violent, no, but do I know that they were? I don't know that," Burchett responded.

"What do you mean you don't know that? We're showing the footage on the air right now," Acosta said, as video played from the insurrection showing Trump supporters brawling with law enforcement on the Capitol grounds. "Congressman, you were there that day. There are offenders on January 6 who violently beat police officers. There are offenders who are convicted of seditious conspiracy. That is the truth."

"This is a political world, Jim," Burchett said. "And I don't remember you all on CNN condemning Joe Biden for commuting the sentences of murderers and child molesters, which he did, and—"

"Congressman, I'm not asking about that," Acosta said, as the two talked over each other. "That is absolutely false. Congressman, are you going to respond and say whether or not it is right to let these people out of jail?"

"I don't know if it is or not. I'm not a lawyer," Burchett said in response.

"You're a member of Congress. You're an elected official. take a stand," Acosta insisted. "Whatever happened to back the blue? What happened to backing the police officers? Your party has said time and again, 'we back the blue.' It sounds like you let down the blue. You're betraying the blue."

Watch the full exchange below, or by clicking this link.

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