Ex-Chair Of House Jan. 6 Panel Says He Spoke To White House About Possible Pardon

Source: Huff Post

Jan 14, 2025, 11:30 AM EST


Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who chaired the now-defunct House select committee tasked with investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, and has been targeted by President-elect Donald Trump over his work on the panel, on Monday said he has discussed a potential pardon with the White House.

In an interview with the outlet Punchbowl News, Thompson said he’d spoken to the White House counsel’s office about the possibility in December, but clarified that he hasn’t discussed the issue with outgoing President Joe Biden.

“A lot of people have said if this guy [Trump] said he’s going to do things, believe him,” Thompson said. “If the president offered a pardon based on the work of the committee, Bennie Thompson would accept it.” Thompson previously told CNN that he would be open to receiving a pardon but noted that the decision to issue one is ultimately up to Biden.

In an interview with USA Today earlier this month, Biden said that he is considering preemptive pardons for people that Trump has threatened to take action against. Trump has argued that jail time should be given to lawmakers who sat on the Jan. 6 committee, including Thompson and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who was the vice chair of the panel.

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bennie-thompson-possible-preemptive-pardon-white-house-jan-6_n_678671e9e4b0631a9a270ab8