Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a candidate running for president as an independent and known for his skepticism towards vaccines, has promised to appoint a special counsel to investigate the handling of the prosecutions related to the January 6th Capitol riot if he is elected. He has downplayed the severity of the attack on the Capitol, expressing concerns about potential political motivations behind the prosecution of the rioters and their treatment.
Following a retracted message of sympathy towards the rioters, Mr. Kennedy stated, “I am concerned about the possibility that political objectives motivated the vigor of the prosecution of the J6 defendants, their long sentences and their harsh treatment.” The campaign’s press secretary blamed a new marketing contractor for the error in the statement soliciting donations from supporters that claimed the jailed rioters had been “stripped of their constitutional liberties.”
Mr. Kennedy continued to assert that there is little evidence of a true insurrection on January 6th, repeating false claims that the rioters were unarmed and had no intentions of seizing control of the government.
Contrary to Mr. Kennedy’s claims, video evidence and images have shown rioters wielding weapons such as crowbars during the Capitol attack. Some rioters have been charged or convicted of possessing guns and assaulting police officers with various weapons. Far-right groups were also found to have prepared an arsenal of firearms in anticipation of the attack, with some members convicted of seditious conspiracy for their involvement in a plot to overturn the 2020 election results.
Mr. Kennedy’s recent statements align him with former President Donald J. Trump and others on the right who portray the January 6th rioters as victims of aggressive prosecution. Known for promoting vaccine misinformation and conspiracy theories, Mr. Kennedy has consistently downplayed the seriousness of the Capitol attack and has expressed sympathy for those who believe the election was stolen.
In his campaign, Mr. Kennedy has compared the threat posed by President Biden to American democracy to that of Mr. Trump, claiming that Biden poses a greater danger. He has also suggested that past presidential elections were stolen from Democrats and emphasized the importance of not demonizing or vilifying individuals who hold such beliefs.
