Trump's New Attorney Nominee Slammed Now-Pardoned Capitol Rioters for 'Senseless Lunacy' in Resurfaced Clip

Following President Donald Trump's selection of Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro for interim US attorney for Washington, video resurfaced of Pirro vehemently condemning insurrectionists involved in the January 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.

Pirro's nomination was announced Thursday after Trump withdrew the nomination of Ed Martin when it became clear he did not have the Senate support necessary to advance. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) named Martin's support of January 6 defendants as a deciding factor in refusing to support the nomination.

Based on the Pirro's 2021 comments, Tillis should be more open to her candidacy for the role. "Anyone watching this must condemn it," Pirro said in a scathing rebuke of the rioters. "What was the point? What did you get out of it? Was there even a plan...besides looking like a bunch of freaks?"

"You have smeared 75 million of us because of what you did," she continued. "You have tarnished all the good that's been done over the last four years because of this senseless lunacy."

"You did this of your own will, and you will be held accountable," Pirro predicted.

On the first day of his second term, Trump granted clemency to the roughly 1,500 Capitol rioters who were charged for their role in the insurrection. Pirro did not comment publicly on the pardons.

The video alludes to a rare instance of Pirro not aligning with Trump, who she has been a staunch supporter of on air and off. Pirro was also a vocal supporter of Trump's false claim of election fraud in 2020, appearing multiple times in a defamation suit Dominion Voting Systems filed against Fox News. The network settled for $787.5 million and admitted the statements were false.

Fox was not happy with Pirro at the time. As part of the suit, Dominion presented documents revealing a conversation between Pirro's executive producer, Jerry Andrews, and a colleague. A proposed monologue for her show "Justice with Judge Jeanine" was, Andrews wrote, "rife with conspiracy theories and BS and is yet another example of why this woman should never be on live television."

The sentiment is not shared by Trump. In a Truth Social post announcing her appointment, Trump praised his longtime friend. "Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself."