Former President Donald Trump, speaking at a campaign rally in Virginia, called for the release of his supporters who were prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Trump cited a recent US Supreme Court ruling that raised the legal bar for prosecutors pursuing obstruction charges related to the attack, which also affects charges against Trump himself.
During his speech, Trump emphasized the Supreme Court's decision to throw out a lower court's ruling allowing a charge of corruptly obstructing an official proceeding against Joseph Fischer, a former police officer involved in the Capitol riot. Trump interpreted this ruling as favorable to his own legal situation, where he faces similar obstruction-related charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Trump called for the immediate release of those he termed "January 6 hostages," referring to his supporters who have been detained and prosecuted since the riot. He characterized their treatment as unfair and cheered the Supreme Court's decision as a vindication for them.
The former president has consistently defended and praised his supporters involved in the Capitol attack, referring to them as "patriots" and expressing sympathy for their legal plight. He awaits a separate ruling from the Supreme Court regarding his claim of presidential immunity from prosecution in the election subversion case, which is expected to be issued on July 1, the final day of the court's current term.
Trump's remarks underscore his ongoing engagement with legal proceedings stemming from the Capitol riot and his efforts to frame these developments in supportive terms for his political base.
