Republican Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett accused CNN’s Jim Acosta on Wednesday of being unable to cope with President Donald Trump’s November election victory following nearly nine minutes of queries regarding Trump’s decision to pardon Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters.
Trump signed an executive order on Monday granting “full, complete and unconditional pardons” to an estimated 1,500 Jan. 6 protesters. On CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta, the host pushed Burchett to condemn Trump’s move, but the representative declined to do so and instead criticized the CNN anchor for fixating on the president and Jan. 6.
READ: Gun Rights Group Praises President Trump’s Closure Of White House Gun Control Office
“This is a political world, Jim. And I don’t remember you all on CNN condemning [former President] Joe Biden for commuting the sentences of murderers and child molesters, which he did,” Burchett said.
“Congressman, I’m not asking about that. Congressman, we talked about Joe Biden’s pardons,” Acosta responded, but Burchett disputed his claim.
Biden in December commuted the sentences of 37 men, some of those whom were sentenced to death after being charged with gory mass murders and raping women before killing them.
“Congressman, are you going to respond and say whether or not it is right to let these people out of jail?” Acosta pressed further about the Jan. 6 protesters.
READ: CNN Panel’s Narrative On BLM Riots Goes Up In Smoke After Jennings, Attorneys Give History Lesson
“I don’t know if it is or not. I’m not a lawyer,” Burchett responded, prompting Acosta to insist that his status as a congressman gives him the authority to express an opinion and demand that he “take a stand.”
Burchett, however, countered by arguing that many of the protesters “were not given due process.” A D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals panel found in March 2024 that some of the Jan. 6 defendants faced a wrongful extension of their sentences.
Acosta accused Burchett of not supporting police and “betraying the blue.”
“Jim, why don’t you just give an editorial and not let me come on? Look, what happened to the last four years with police? What happened with all the riots that took place all across the country? Police officers were murdered,” Burchett shot back. “Courthouses were burned. Over 22 police cars were burned. Yet no one went to jail for that. Where is the — where is your crocodile tears for that?”
READ: Trump Threatens New Tariffs On Russia Over Ukraine War, Pressures Kremlin For Swift Resolution
The congressman later accused Acosta and CNN of failing to cover violent Black Lives Matter protests, a claim Acosta denied.
“This is not Fox [News], congressman. You can’t just spin a tale and pull the wool over people’s eyes,” Acosta said. “This is CNN. This is the news. We are asking you to come on and tell the truth.”
“And that’s why more people are watching the Cartoon Network, Spongebob reruns right now, Jim. Look, I left the White House during a riot. My life was threatened. My life has been threatened within the last few weeks, yet there‘s no coverage of that,” Burchett responded. “And you all continue this, this narrative attacking Trump. You just can’t stand the fact that he won and that America spoke. And that your view is very diminished.”
Acosta again disagreed, asserting he was being “sincere” when asking about Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.