Trump has 'unleashed his own army': former GOP lawmaker

Donald Trump has successfully "unleashed his own army" that's ready to take up arms whenever he gives the word, according to a former GOP lawmaker.

Former Rep. David Jolly (R-FL) told MSNBC Thursday that pardoning members of the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and other extremists who participated in the J6 riots was akin to readying the troops.

"Culturally, and within the country, we have some very dark movements," Jolly said. "The Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers are far-right organizations that ultimately would like to take down our own government. They are dangerous and they will remain dangerous."

Trump addressed the Proud Boys directly during a presidential debate in 2020 when asked by moderator Chris Wallace, "Are you willing tonight to condemn white supremacists and militia groups, and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities..?"

Trump answered, "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem, this is a left-wing."

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The Proud Boys themselves believed Trump was issuing a call to action, with one member posting at the time, "Proud Boys Shout at the Presidential Debate! President Trump told the proud boys to stand by because someone needs to deal with ANTIFA...well sir! we're ready!!"

Ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes were just two of the violent criminals released from custody when Trump pardoned 1,500 J6 insurrectionists this week.

Jolly continued, "I think that is what is so unsettling about the pardons is Donald Trump did this almost out of vengeance. This is not just about the 70-year-old grandmother who got caught up in going into the Capitol, and maybe she acknowledges her wrongdoing, and mercy is due. This is not the case. Many of these people got out and said, 'Where are we going now? Where's the next fight? I'm going to buy a gun.' And for Donald Trump, I mean, he just unleashed his own army here."

Jolly concluded, "If you're an undocumented immigrant who assaults a cop, you go away, you go to prison, or you get deported immediately. But what Donald Trump says is, 'If you assault a cop in my name and in a spirit of white nationalism, I'll pardon you. you get out of jail.'"

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) echoed Jolly's concerns, posting to social media that Trump has created "a reserve battalion of violent political shock troops" that will be disastrous "for public safety and democracy."

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