Apple CEO Tim Cook said those who breached the U.S. Capitol should be held "accountable," telling CBS on Tuesday that "we're a rule of law country."
His comments come less than a week after a group of protesters entered the Capitol during Congress' consideration of the certification of the Electoral College vote. Apple removed the social media platform Parler from its app store, claiming its service was used to organize or facilitate disturbances.
"I think it's key that people be held accountable for it," Cook, 60, said in the CBS interview, parts of which aired Tuesday. "This is not something that should skate. This is something we've got to be very serious about, and understand, and then we need to move forward."
Cook did not address culpability for the riots that occurred across the country following the death of a Black man in police custody in Minneapolis that resulted in at least 25 killed and even significant damage to several Apple retail stores, including one in Portland.
Cook appeared to side with critics of President Donald Trump, who have accused him of insurrection and/or inciting, the disturbance.
"No one is above the law," Cook said. "That's the great thing about our country; we're a rule of law country," Cook added. "I think everyone who had a part in it needs to be held accountable. I don't think we should let it go. I think holding people accountable is important."
Apple has taken steps to preserve a spontaneous mural of George Floyd, the Black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis, on the plywood used to board up the retail store in Portland that was ransacked in May.
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