White House: ‘Grotesque’ to call Jan. 6 defendants ‘hostages’

Calling those charged in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol "hostages" is a grotesque comparison, the White House said on Monday after Republican former President Donald Trump called for those jailed over the riot to be released. "It is grotesque to make those type of comparison," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One just days after the third anniversary of Trump supporters' 2021 attack as legislators were certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. Trump, who faces federal and state charges over his alleged role in seeking to subvert the 2020 election results, in Iowa on Saturday sought to downplay the deadly attack ahead of his potential rematch against Biden in November's election, reiterating his call for those charged to be released and dubbing them "hostages."