Trump Pledges Establishment of Task Force to Review Cases of Alleged Unjust Prosecution Under Biden Administration
Former President Donald Trump announced on Friday his intention to establish a task force dedicated to examining cases of individuals he asserts were wrongly prosecuted due to their political affiliations under the Biden administration, contingent on his victory in the 2024 election.
Speaking at the Pray Vote Stand Summit, hosted by the Family Research Council in Washington, DC, Trump affirmed, "Tonight, I’m announcing that the moment I win the election, I will appoint a special task force to rapidly review the cases of every political prisoner whose been unjustly persecuted by the Biden administration."
Trump emphasized his desire to swiftly assess each situation and, if deemed appropriate, grant pardons or commutations immediately upon taking office.
These declarations come at a time when Trump, the leading contender for the 2024 Republican nomination, is confronting a cumulative total of 91 charges spanning four criminal cases. He maintains that these legal actions are politically motivated. Trump has entered pleas of not guilty in relation to two federal cases and two state cases, involving allegations ranging from election subversion in Georgia to a hush-money payment to an adult-film star in 2016 in Manhattan.
While Trump has previously hinted at the possibility of pardoning individuals convicted of federal offenses during the January 6, 2021, riots, should he secure reelection in 2024, he stated on Thursday that the likelihood of him pardoning himself is "very unlikely."
Addressing the potential pardons or commutations in his Friday remarks, Trump expressed, "I want to sign them on day one. I want to see what’s going on. It’s a horrible thing that’s happening. Twenty-two years, 18 years, 10 years. It’s a terrible thing."
Recent instances include the sentencing of Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers, to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a broad conspiracy aimed at retaining Trump in office after his 2020 election loss. Additionally, Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, received a 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy and leading a failed plot to impede the transition of power from Trump to Joe Biden. Dominic Pezzola, a lower-ranking member of the Proud Boys, was handed a 10-year prison term.
Trump also highlighted the recent conviction of anti-abortion activists charged with unlawfully obstructing individuals seeking reproductive health services at a DC clinic. He contended that "under Biden, others are being sentenced to 10, 15 and even 20 years in prison for retribution for their political beliefs."