Ron DeSantis is spending his first day as an official presidential candidate promising to consider pardons for some January 6 insurrectionists and convicted criminals who attacked law enforcement. DeSantis has been instrumental in keeping debunked and unfounded conspiracies about the 2020 election alive as he continues to coddle insurrectionists, downplay the violent assault on the Capitol and our nation’s law enforcement, and refuse to admit that Donald Trump lost.

DeSantis said he will consider pardoning January 6 rioters — including violent insurrectionists and people charged with assaulting police officers.

The Hill: “DeSantis says he’ll consider pardoning Jan. 6 defendants, including Trump”

The Independent: “Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday said he would ‘aggressively’ use presidential pardons to free people who’ve been charged or convicted of crimes – including former President Donald Trump.”

The Hill: “‘I’m going to do on day one, I will have folks that will get together and look at all these cases, who people are victims of weaponization or political targeting, and we will be aggressive in issuing pardons,’ DeSantis said on ‘The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show’ podcast when asked about whether he will consider pardoning Jan. 6 defendants, including Trump, who is currently facing a federal investigation over his role on Jan. 6.”

DeSantis has even disputed the characterization of January 6 as an insurrection, and just last week, he again REFUSED to acknowledge that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election.

Rolling Stone: “Ron DeSantis Still Can’t Bring Himself to Admit Trump Lost in 2020”

WFLA: “Gov. Ron DeSantis still wouldn’t say if he believes President Joe Biden was ‘duly and legally elected’ in 2020. … Although DeSantis has been asked the question before, 8 On Your Side found no record of him actually answering it, in print or on-air.”

Politico: “Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday condemned the commemoration of the violent Jan. 6 Capitol riots as a way for Democrats and the news media to ‘smear’ supporters of former President Donald Trump.”

Tampa Bay Times: “On Jan. 6 anniversary, DeSantis disputes that Capitol attack was an ‘insurrection’”

DeSantis has used his seat in office to promote, embrace, and empower election deniers and insurrectionists.

USA Today: “She stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. Then Gov. Ron DeSantis made her a state regulator”

CNN: “DeSantis recently embarked on a national tour to boost the campaigns of some of the most fervent election deniers nominated by his party this cycle.”

HuffPost: “DeSantis Gives Interview To Jan. 6 Attendee Wearing ‘Three Percenters’ Militia Insignia”

NPR: “Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, recently tapped one of his allies in the Florida House to become the new secretary of state. The new elections chief, Cord Byrd, has a history of sparring with Democrats and, when asked, he has refused to say Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.”