RFK Jr.'s campaign retracts a January 6 fundraising email claiming that the defendant was deprived of his constitutional freedoms.

CNN
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Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign retracts language used in a January 6 campaign fundraising email calling the defendant an “activist” who has been “deprived of his constitutional freedoms.” It is being done.

The fundraising appeal, sent to supporters on Wednesday and Thursday, reinforces the campaign's core theme against government overreach by comparing it to the plight of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who was called a “political prisoner” in an email. The purpose is to incite fear. ” deals with cases against people arrested in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“We must free Assange now!” The text of both fundraising messages reads: “The British want to make sure the government doesn't kill Assange. This means everything from Ed Snowden to Julian Assange to the J6 activists sitting in jail cells in Washington DC, stripped of their constitutional freedoms. This is a reality facing all Americans.”

The language is very similar to the rhetoric used by former President Donald Trump and his allies to defend the January 6th riot.

Kennedy campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Speer told CNN that the language used in the fundraising email was “false” and that the campaign has terminated its contract with the vendor responsible. Spear said it is the campaign's view that those who “violated the law” in connection with the Jan. 6 riot should receive “appropriate” punishment.

“That statement was an error that did not reflect Mr. Kennedy's views. It was inserted by a new marketing contractor and bypassed the normal approval process,” Spear said in a statement.

“Those who violated the law on January 6 should be subject to appropriate criminal and/or civil penalties,” she added.

The campaign message comes as President Kennedy acknowledged on CNN that the former president's efforts to overturn the 2020 election were “clearly a threat to democracy,” but that President Joe Biden is more democratic than President Trump. It was sent just days after he claimed it was a major threat to his principles. Kennedy's claims centered around being blocked on social media during the Biden administration.

“Trying to overthrow (Trump) and overturn the election is clearly a threat to our democracy,” Kennedy said on CNN's “Erin Burnett Outfront” on Monday. “But the question was, who is the more serious threat to democracy? And what I'm saying is…I'm not going to answer that question. But I think the First Amendment… You can argue that President Biden is important because it is the most important.”

President Trump and his Republican allies have repeatedly defended those arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, sometimes calling them “hostages” and likening them to political prisoners. President Trump said he would pardon “the majority” of the January 6 rioters if re-elected.

This story has been updated with additional information.