Trump considered blanket pardon for Capitol insurrectionists - report

Donald Trump considered issuing a blanket pardon to participants in the January 6 insurrection before he left office, two former advisers have said.

The news, from Politico, landed after Trump told an audience on Texas on Saturday he would issue pardons to rioters if elected president again in 2024.

"If I run and if I win," Trump said in Conroe, Texas, "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."

That prompted a storm of protest also fueled by Trump urging followers to protest against prosecutors in New York and Georgia investigating his business affairs and attempted election subversion.

Liz Cheney, a Republican on the House committee investigating January 6, said: "Trump uses language he knows caused the January 6 violence; suggests he'd pardon the January 6 defendants, some of whom have been charged with seditious conspiracy; threatens prosecutors; and admits he was attempting to overturn the election.

"He'd do it all again if given the chance," she warned.

Supporters urged on by Trump stormed the Capitol in an attempt to stop certification of Joe Biden's win. More than 100 police officers were injured and seven people died.