CNN anchor Jim Acosta argued with Rep. Tim Burchett, Republican of Tennessee.over President Donald Trump's pardon of the defendants on January 6 in a heated clash on the liberal network that quickly spread on social media.
On his first day in office on Monday, Trump signed Amnesty for about 1,500 defendants who were charged with crimes stemming from the riot at the US Capitol, fulfilling a promise he made in December to act quickly and pardon them.
Acosta questioned Burchett about the pardon on his show Wednesday and called for his conviction.
Burchett told Acosta that many of these defendants did not receive due process and that those who trespassed on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, should not “rot in prison for the rest of their lives in a federal prison and never be charged.”
Trump issued pardons for almost all of January. 6 accused on Inauguration Day
CNN anchor Jim Acosta sparred with Rep. Tim Burchett, Republican of Tennessee, over President Trump's January 6 pardon. (CNN/screenshot)
While Acosta continued to press him to condemn the pardon, Burchett said he did not know the details of each person's case but said those who violate the law should be in prison.
“What happened to 'support blue'? What happened to support police officers?” Acosta asked warmly. “Your party has said over and over again: ‘We support blue.’ It seems you are failing blue, you are betraying blue!”
Burchett accused CNN of being selectively angry about Trump's pardon when he accused former President Joe Biden Reduced sentences For murderers and child rapists before he leaves office.
Acosta asked why justice was not being demanded for the violence that occurred during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots.
“Why don't you just give an opening and not let me in?” Republican response. “Look what happened in the last four years with the police? What happened with all the riots that happened across the country? Police officers were killed. Courts were burned. More than 22 police cars were burned. And yet no one went to prison for it.” “.
“Where are your crocodile tears for that?” Acosta asked.
Federal officers fire tear gas at a group of demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, on July 26, 2020. (AP)
Acosta accused Burchett of engaging in “whataboutism” before pleading with his guest again to condemn Trump.
Why don't we just say: I was wrong, Mr. President? Say it! Why can't you say that? Acosta pressed.
The two continued the discussion for about 10 minutes, with Burchett calling the treatment of the defendants on Jan. 6 “political from the beginning.”
He recounted how some of his constituents, who had left the Capitol before the riots began that day, were visited and “harassed” by Federal Bureau of Investigation.
While Acosta continued to press Burchett to criticize Trump's actions, the Republican criticized CNN for its ratings and bias.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., mocked CNN's ratings and bias toward President Trump in a fiery clash with Jim Acosta on the liberal network. (Getty Images)
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“You're all continuing this narrative to attack Trump,” Burchett said. “You can't stand the fact that he won and America has spoken and your view has been so diminished.”
Videos of the clip went viral on X on Wednesday. Burchett shared a clip on his own account in which he criticized CNN for trying to “lecture” his party on ethics following Biden's controversial pardon.
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The Department of Justice reported that nearly 140 police officers were assaulted during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. This included law enforcement members from the U.S. Capitol Police and about 60 from the Metropolitan Police Department.
Fox News' Diana Stansey contributed to this article.
