Current:Home > ScamsRFK Jr. campaign disavows its email calling Jan. 6 defendants "activists"-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
RFK Jr. campaign disavows its email calling Jan. 6 defendants "activists"
lotradecoin holdings View Date:2024-12-25 15:50:01
Washington — The campaign of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disowned language used in a fundraising email on Thursday that referred to those facing charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot as "activists" who have been "stripped of their Constitutional liberties."
The email urged supporters to sign a petition calling for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is facing extradition to the U.S. and whom the email refers to as a "political prisoner." It compared those jailed for their actions during the Capitol riot to Assange and Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who is living in exile in Russia after revealing information about highly classified U.S. surveillance programs.
"The Brits want to make sure our government doesn't kill Assange. This is the reality that every American Citizen faces — from Ed Snowden, to Julian Assange to the J6 activists sitting in a Washington DC jail cell stripped of their Constitutional liberties," the email said, referring to a British court's recent decision to delay Assange's extradition until the U.S. government gives assurances, including that he will not be given the death penalty.
In a statement to CBS News, Kennedy's campaign said "the statement was an error that does not reflect Mr. Kennedy's views."
NBC News was the first to report the fundraising email.
"It was inserted by a new marketing contractor and slipped through the normal approval process," the campaign said, adding that it has terminated its contract with this vendor.
Referring to the defendants as "activists" mirrors former President Donald Trump's messaging. Trump, who is the presumptive Republican nominee, has repeatedly defended Jan. 6 rioters and called them "hostages." He's also vowed to free them if reelected.
Kennedy told the Washington Post in November that he would consider pardoning those convicted in connection to the riot.
"If prosecutorial malfeasance is demonstrated, then yes," he said. "Otherwise, no."
A Democratic National Committee spokesperson said past comments from Kennedy about potential pardons show the email aligns with his views.
"There's one big problem here for RFK Jr. as he tries to disown his campaign's embrace of January 6th insurrectionists — it captures his views perfectly," DNC spokesperson Matt Corridoni said in a statement.
- In:
- Donald Trump
- January 6
- RFK Jr.
- 2024 Elections
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at cbsnews.com and is based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
TwitterveryGood! (6)
Related
- Emily in Paris' Ashley Park Reveals How Lily Collins Predicted Her Relationship With Costar Paul Forman
- 'Anointed liquidator': How Florida man's Home Depot theft ring led to $1.4M loss, prosecutors say
- China loses team eventing place at Paris Olympics because horse found with a ‘controlled medication’
- George Santos charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and more
- Giants trading Jordan Phillips to Cowboys in rare deal between NFC East rivals
- California creates Ebony Alert for missing Black women, children. Here's how it works.
- Vaccine hesitancy affects dog-owners, too, with many questioning the rabies shot
- Jill Biden is recognizing 15 young women from around the US for work to improve their communities
- Alabama Supreme Court authorizes third nitrogen gas execution
- Former offensive lineman Mark Schlereth scorches Jerry Jeudy, Denver for 1-4 start
Ranking
- Oklahoma city approves $7M settlement for man wrongfully imprisoned for decades
- Jada Pinkett Smith says she and Will Smith were separated for 6 years before Oscars slap
- Conservationists say Cyprus police are lax in stopping gangs that poach songbirds
- Memorial honors 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire deaths that galvanized US labor movement
- Biden to designate 1908 Springfield race riot site as national monument
- NHL says players cannot use rainbow-colored sticks on Pride nights
- Incomes are falling in 17 states. Here's where Americans are falling furthest behind.
- Woman faces charges after 58-year-old man dies in her care at Michigan nursing home
Recommendation
-
New York county signs controversial mask ban meant to hide people's identities in public
-
Reba McEntire Shares Rare Insight Into Relationship With Boyfriend Rex Linn
-
Pray or move? Survey shows Americans who think their homes are haunted and took action
-
Cold comfort? Americans are gloomy on the economy but a new forecast from IMF signals hope
-
Bristol Palin Shares 15-Year-Old Son Tripp Has Moved Back to Alaska
-
Southern California jury delivers $135M verdict in molestation case involving middle school teacher
-
I don't recall: Allen Weisselberg, ex-Trump Org CFO, draws a blank on dozens of questions in New York fraud trial
-
Cruises detouring away from war-torn Israel