CNN anchor Jim Acosta and Representative Tim Burchett engaged in a heated exchange regarding former President Donald Trump's pardons of individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riot. The clash, which quickly gained traction on social media, centered around Trump's decision to pardon approximately 1,500 defendants on his first day back in office. This fulfilled a promise he made in December to swiftly pardon those charged with crimes related to the Capitol breach.

Acosta pressed Burchett to condemn the pardons, while the Tennessee Representative argued that many defendants were denied due process and shouldn't face life imprisonment for trespassing. He questioned the fairness of potential life sentences for those involved, emphasizing the need for proportionate consequences. Burchett also pointed to what he perceived as a lack of due process in some cases.

Acosta repeatedly questioned Burchett's stance, invoking the Republican Party's "back the blue" slogan and accusing him of "betraying the blue" by not condemning the pardons. He specifically highlighted the assaults on law enforcement officers during the riot.

In response, Burchett accused CNN of exhibiting selective outrage, comparing Trump's pardons to former President Joe Biden's commutation of sentences for individuals convicted of murder and other violent crimes. He also questioned the lack of similar outrage over violence during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

The debate continued with Acosta accusing Burchett of "whataboutism" while urging him to condemn Trump's actions. Burchett, in turn, described the treatment of January 6th defendants as politically motivated, citing instances of alleged FBI harassment of his constituents who had left the Capitol grounds before the riot began. He also criticized CNN's alleged bias against Trump and the network's declining ratings.

The contentious exchange concluded with Burchett sharing a clip of the segment on social media, criticizing CNN for what he perceived as hypocrisy. The Justice Department has reported that approximately 140 police officers were assaulted during the January 6th Capitol riot.