Former US President Donald Trump says he would pardon supporters who took part in the deadly Capitol riots if he returns to the White House in 2024.

It is the latest move by Mr Trump to minimise the attack on the government, which left five people dead.

“If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from January 6th fairly,” Mr Trump said on Saturday night during a rally in Conroe, Texas.

“And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly.”

More than 100 police officers were injured after Trump supporters stormed into the Capitol on 6 January 2021, falsely claiming President Biden had won the election through massive voter fraud.

One police officer who responded to the scene died the day after the attack, while four others who guarded the Capitol later took their own lives.

Mr Trump was accused of sparking the disorder by claiming the election was rigged, and at a rally on the day of the mayhem told them to “fight like hell”.

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Although he eventually told the mob to “go home” he added: “We love you, you’re very special.”

Before leaving office, Mr Trump pardoned numerous political allies, friends, and associations, including his former chief strategist Steve Bannon.

He has been vocal in his criticism of the Democrat-led house for its ongoing investigation into the riot.

More than 700 people have been arrested and charged with federal crimes in connection with the riots – the largest investigation in the Justice Department’s history.

Of these, 150 people have been charged with assaulting police officers, and more than 50 charged with conspiracy.

The leader of the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers, 10 ten others, have been accused of seditious conspiracy, a more serious charge which alleges the group attempted to overthrow the government and carries with it a potential 20-year prison sentence.

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Mr Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for his role in inciting the insurrection but later acquitted by the Senate.

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