In a recent interview, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis remarked that the event at the U.S. Capitol should be categorized as a protest that escalated into a riot, rather than an insurrection.
DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, argued that the notion of a planned government overthrow was misconstrued and amplified for political benefits.
The Governor maintained that many participants were merely at the event with no harmful intentions.
DeSantis acknowledged the regrettable nature of the riot while criticizing the charges brought against those involved.
Earlier, DeSantis mentioned that former President Donald Trump could have been more assertive in addressing the incident.
Additionally, if elected president, DeSantis plans to consider pardons for those involved, stating he would explore cases of potential politically motivated charges.
The incident in question occurred on January 6, 2021, when a crowd protesting the U.S. presidential election results breached the Capitol building, leading to numerous injuries and five deaths.
The building was later secured and election results finalized.