Former Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel does not believe those imprisoned for participating in the January 6 Capitol riot should be freed, breaking with former president Donald Trump, who has made the alleged injustice done to the Capitol rioters a centerpiece of his recent campaign rallies.
McDaniel discussed the January 6th prisoners during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press that aired on Sunday after the network brought McDaniel on as a paid contributor.
“I do not think people who committed violent acts on Jan. 6 should be free,” McDaniel told host Kristen Welker. She called the violence on January 6 “unacceptable” and said it “doesn’t represent our country.”
Over 1,300 defendants have been charged in the more than three years since the Capitol riot took place, according to the Justice Department. Approximately 486 defendants have been charged for attacking police officers at the Capitol. Nearly 800 individuals have pled guilty to federal charges, including 238 guilty pleas for felony crimes.
“If you attacked our Capitol and … you’ve been convicted, then that should stay,” McDaniel added. She said she does not hold Trump responsible for what happened on January 6 and explained why she did not criticize Trump sooner for his vow to release the Capitol riot prisoners should he be reelected.
“When you’re the RNC chair, you kind of take one for the whole team, right? Now I get to be a little bit more myself,” McDaniel admitted. She also admitted President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election fairly.
Trump said earlier this month on his Truth Social platform that one of his first acts as president would be to free the “hostages” currently facing prison sentences for their actions on January 6. His rally for Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno (R) ahead of the Ohio GOP primary began with a rendition of the national anthem by a choir of January 6 detainees. At the beginning of his speech, Trump called the prisoners “hostages” and promised to free the “unbelievable patriots” featured in the recording.
North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley and Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump took control of the RNC earlier this month after McDaniel and former co-chair Drew McKissick resigned. The RNC leadership shakeup solidifies Trump’s control over the party after he demolished rival presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Super Tuesday to become the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee.
McDaniel defended the RNC’s handling of the contested GOP presidential primary and argued the party was “neutral” throughout the process. She cited the RNC debates that Trump declined to participate in.
“We had a neutral primary. We had debates,” McDaniel said. The debates caused tensions with the Trump campaign because of his opposition to holding them.
“It was a lot of tension with the campaign. He really did not feel like we should have debates. He said this publicly. I got a lot of phone calls,” McDaniel stated.
The decision by NBC News to hire McDaniel following her tenure leading the GOP drew criticism from NBC commentator Chuck Todd, Welker’s predecessor at Meet the Press, and other left-wing commentators. Democratic National Committee Chair Jamie Harrison, a failed senate candidate, criticized NBC for hiring a “proven liar” in McDaniel for its election coverage.
The uproar over McDaniel joining NBC was absent when NBC negotiated a contract with former White House press secretary Jen Psaki before she concluded her government duties.