Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questions prosecutions for Jan. 6 attack, says he wants to hear 'every side'

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggests political motives behind prosecution of January 6 rioters, aligning with Trump's narrative.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a lengthy statement April 5 suggested that the prosecution of January 6 rioters might be politically motivated, partly aligning himself with the portrayal being pushed by former President Donald Trump and his allies.

The statement came a day after Mr. Kennedy came under fire for a fundraising e-mail that painted a sympathetic portrait of the rioters as “activists” who were “stripped of their constitutional liberties.”

While Mr. Kennedy's campaign said it had severed ties with a contractor who sent the fundraising e-mail, his latest statement struck a similar tone. Rather than disavowing the idea that the rioters were being prosecuted unjustly, Mr. Kennedy has embraced it, saying he is “concerned about the possibility that political objectives motivated the vigour of the prosecution of the J6 defendants.” He said, “I want to hear every side.”

Mr. Kennedy in his statement partially criticize Mr. Trump — saying the attack on the Capitol happened with his “encouragement” and "in the context of his delusion that the election was stolen from him.” Yet he said as president he would appoint a special counsel to look into whether Trump allies were unfairly singled out for prosecution, “and I will right any wrongs that we discover.”

Mr. Trump routinely calls those convicted for the Jan. 6 attack “hostages” and has promised to pardon them if he wins back the White House.

Mr. Kennedy, in his statement, also claims falsely that the rioters did not carry weapons. Some members of the mob carried guns and one was recently charged with firing a shot into the air during the riot. Other rioters used things like flagpoles, a crutch, a hockey stick, a lacrosse stick, pepper spray and a PVC pipe to attack officers.

He later retracted that claim with a statement issued on April 5, saying: “My understanding that none of the January 6 rioters who invaded the capitol were carrying firearms was incorrect. Several have been convicted of carrying firearms into the Capitol building. Others assaulted Capitol police with pepper spray, bludgeons, and other makeshift weapons. “This behaviour is inexcusable,” he added. "I have never minimised or dismissed the seriousness of the riot or any crime committed on that day.”