Condemned Violence, Then Defended the Rioters
What Byron said then
“I am deeply saddened that the violence that ensued distracted me from doing so... lawless vigilantes wreaked havoc.”
January 6, 2021
What he says now
“Defended Trump's blanket pardons of J6 defendants; called them 'patriotic citizens' and 'political hostages' of a 'weaponized Biden DOJ'.”
2024–2026
Context
Hours after the Capitol riot, Donalds condemned 'lawless vigilantes' and said the violence 'tainted the intentions' of protesters. Within weeks, he voted against investigating the attack and against impeaching Trump. By 2024–2025, he was silent on or actively defending Trump's mass pardons for violent rioters.
The bottom line
From accountability to retroactive justification—complete reversal on rule of law and the seriousness of the Capitol attack