Trumpist “shaman” Jake Angeli yells inside the Senate chamber during the attack on the US Capitol, January 6, 2021 (Win McNamee/Getty)

Just before leaving the White House, Donald Trump considered a blanket pardon for all those involved in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Between the assault and the inauguration of President Joe Biden two weeks later, Trump made three calls to a White House advisor. “Do you think I should pardon them? Do you think it’s a good idea? Do you think I have the power to do it?”, Trump asked, according to the advisor.

Another advisor echoed the account. He recalled that Trump queried, “Is it everybody that had a Trump sign or everybody who walked into the Capitol [who could be pardoned]?”

Trump added, “Some people think I should pardon them,” meaning that the attackers would never have to testify in any hearing over his responsibility.

Last week, Trump told an audience in Texas that he would pardon everyone who invaded the Capitol, if he becomes President again.

If I run and if I win [in 2024], we will treat those people from January 6 fairly. We will treat them fairly. And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons. Because they are being treated so unfairly.

An advisor said Trump’s proposal quickly stalled: “You didn’t know who the FBI was going to arrest down the road.”

The office of White House Counsel Pat Cipollone firmly rebuffed the suggestion, with the possibility of Cipollone’s resignation.

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