'Don't want it!' Ex-GOP lawmaker says he doesn't need pardon for protection against Trump

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), who served with fellow former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) on the Jan. 6 Committee, defiantly declared that he doesn't need a pardon to protect himself from Donald Trump's threats of retribution.

Kinzinger appeared Monday on CNN shortly after Congress certified Trump as the 47th president of the United States.

Anderson Cooper asked, "Should President Biden issue pardons for the January 6th Committee members, including yourself?"

"No, I don't want it," Kinzinger replied. "Because the second a pardon is issued — and, look, I understand the theory behind it, because Donald Trump has clearly said he will go after everybody, and it's not going to be for the January 6th investigation — what they'll do is weaponize other investigations. They'll look into everything and start an investigation...that will force people to pay money — this happened to Brad Raffensperger in Georgia as he was forced to defend himself — but the second you take a pardon it looks like you're guilty of something. I'm guilty of nothing besides bringing the truth to the American people, and in the process embarrassing Donald Trump. Because for 187 minutes he sat there and did absolutely nothing and showed how weak and scared he truly was.

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"So, no, I don't want it. And, you know, the bottom line is, I mean, if he wants to bring up January 6th again — we've had all this talk about how we're moving on from January 6th, and, trust me, Anderson, I would love to. My life has been defined by this for four years — but if he wants to bring it back, I will be happily talk about everything the committee did and learned and re-embarrass him."

The bipartisan Jan. 6 Committee recommended charging Trump with obstruction of an official proceeding; conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to make a false statement; and attempts to "incite", "assist" or "aid or comfort" an insurrection. As a result of the investigation, Trump was impeached for a second time, but ultimately acquitted of inciting the 2021 Capitol riots.

Since then, Trump has vowed to go after committee chairwoman Cheney and other members. He has also claimed he will grant clemency to some of the 1,250 people criminally charged for participating in the attack that injured 140 police officers and led to the deaths of five people.

Watch the clip below via CNN or at this link.