'Maybe they shouldn't be': Jordan cornered on CNN over pardons for violent J6 rioters

MAGA Republican Rep. Jim Jordan (OH) was forced to scramble Sunday when CNN's Dana Bash pressed him about whether violent January 6th rioters should be pardoned by incoming President Donald Trump.

Bash began, "One of the many things that the president-elect promised that he would do what was, and is, to pardon many of the January 6th rioters. We heard Vice President-elect J.D. Vance say last week that if anyone committed violence on that day, they should not be pardoned. He added, there's a little bit of a gray area there."

Bash stated that the Department of Justice reports 608 people have been charged with assaulting, resisting or obstructing officers, and 174 of those defendants have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon against police officers.

"So, do you agree with Vice President-elect Vance that those people should not be pardoned?" Bash asked.

"I think all along, whether it's President Trump, Vice President Vance, people who didn't engage in violence should be should be pardoned. I think that's where the American people are. I think that's where the president —

Bash interrupted, "What about those who did engage in violence?"

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"I think that's when you go case by case," Jordan answered. "And if they if they've done some violent activity against some police officer, maybe not. Maybe they shouldn't be."

Vance received major push-back from MAGA activists who vowed to "raise hell" if Trump didn't keep his campaign promise to pardon all J6 rioters.

Jordan went on to say that the pardon power lays solely with the president, and it wasn't up to him to comment.

"I think he's going to focus on those, anyone who didn't commit any violence, I think certainly warrant a pardon. But I think on that 174 number you pointed out, I think he goes case by case and looks at those."

Bash pushed him, "But you will be okay if even one of those 174 is pardoned?"

"The way our Constitution works, it's the power of the president."

"I know, but what's your opinion?" Bash insisted.

"That's up to the president. If the president thinks that that's warranted. He's the one who will look at the facts along with his counsel...they will look at all the facts, but then he will make the decision. And that's how it works in America."

Watch the clip below via CNN.