| 07 September 2023
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has made a significant commitment to potential voters ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The 38-year-old Indian American entrepreneur has vowed that, if elected as the next President of the United States, he will pardon all peaceful January 6 protesters who are currently facing legal repercussions related to the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Ramaswamy's statement comes after he denounced the U.S. Justice Department for its handling of what he called the "political persecution" of non-violent protesters during the Republican primary presidential debate held last month. In a bold stance, he argued that America now operates under a "two-tiered justice system," with a disparity between the treatment of individuals involved in the January 6 riot and those involved in other, often left-leaning, protests.
Ramaswamy articulated his position during the debate, stating, "America now has a two-tiered justice system: Antifa and BLM rioters roam free while peaceful January 6 protesters are imprisoned without bail. Biden’s ‘Department of Injustice’ has executed over 1,000 arrests for nonviolent offenses related to January 6, casting a dark shadow over Lady Justice and the foundational principles of our legal system."
He continued, "To unify this country, I commit as president to pardon all Americans who were targets of politicized federal prosecutions and those denied due process. This includes all peaceful, nonviolent January 6 protesters who were denied their constitutional due process rights."
The events of January 6, 2021, witnessed more than 2,000 individuals entering the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers certified the results of the 2020 election, in which President Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump. The riot occurred following a speech by then-President Trump, who alleged election fraud and called on Vice-President Mike Pence to overturn the election results.
The aftermath of the riot led to the most extensive police investigation in U.S. history, resulting in hundreds of people being accused of criminal offenses.
Ramaswamy's commitment to ending what he referred to as the "weaponization of police power in America" highlights his strong stance on criminal justice reform. He emphasized that every Republican candidate must be clear on critical issues.
While expressing his expectation to become the party's nominee for the November 2024 U.S. elections, Ramaswamy stated that he would support Trump if the former president secures the nomination. Furthermore, he expressed his intention to pardon Trump, who currently faces various legal challenges, should he be elected as President of the United States.
“If Donald Trump's the nominee -- yes, I will support him, and if I'm the president, yes, I will pardon him because that will help reunite the country. But it's not the most important thing I'm going to do as the next president. It is the table stakes for moving this country forward,” Ramaswamy told ABC news.
Ramaswamy's popularity has surged recently, particularly after his impressive performance in the inaugural Republican primary presidential debate last month. He now finds himself competing alongside fellow Indian American rival Nikki Haley, the former Governor of South Carolina.
In an unexpected twist, several media outlets reported that Ramaswamy escaped unhurt when a sign reading “Truth” fell on him during a campaign event in New Hampshire over the weekend, adding an element of intrigue to his campaign.
Despite Ramaswamy's rise in popularity, an opinion poll shared by the Trump Campaign showed that he still trails significantly behind former President Trump, who holds a commanding lead with 68 percent support. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, at 13 percent, follows closely behind Ramaswamy in third place.
As the 2024 presidential race continues to heat up, Ramaswamy's pledge to pardon peaceful January 6 protesters and his broader commitment to criminal justice reform will undoubtedly be focal points in the discussions surrounding his candidacy.
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