President Donald Trump did not rule out the government paying people who were charged with assaulting police officers during the Jan.6 attack on the U.S.
Capitol, and he also contended without evidence that recent California elections were “rigged,” in an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Trump defended what his administration has dubbed an “anti-weaponization” fund, saying the protesters who breached the Capitol as Congress prepared to certify Joe Biden’s election victory on Jan.6, 2021, were unfairly targeted by prosecutors and deserved compensation.When “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker asked if those who attacked police officers that day should get a payout with taxpayer funds, Trump said: “I wouldn’t be inclined to say so, but I have to see it.”Trump then called the 2020 presidential election “dirty” and segued to last Tuesday’s elections in California, where votes were still being tallied into the weekend.
He cast doubt on the state’s election results as a federal prosecutor announced Friday on social media that “multiple election fraud investigations” were underway in California.“Do you think it’s appropriate that they have an election and five days later, they’re nowhere close to picking a winner?” Trump said.Under California’s vote-by-mail system, it often takes several days for a winner to be announced in competitive races.Ballots postmarked on or before election day and received within seven days after the election are eligible to be counted, according to state laws.When Trump said that “they’re cheating on the election,” Welker asked if he had evidence supporting that claim.“All I have to do is look,” the president said.NBC News projected that Democrat Xavier Becerra will advance to the general election race for governor, but his opponent was still unclear as of Saturday.
Becer...