Name: President Trump issues pardons for Jan. 6 defendants
Uploaded: 2025-01-21T15:37:43.430Z
Duration: 2 min 22 s
Description: Following his inauguration, President Trump issued blanket pardons or commutations for those who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The executive action included those convicted of violent acts, who maimed and gassed police officers, and stole or destroyed property.

Following his inauguration, President Trump issued blanket pardons or commutations for those who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The executive action included those convicted of violent acts, who maimed and gassed police officers, and stole or destroyed property.

Washington

Donald Trump is preparing to take office after defeating Kamala Harris in the U.S. Presidential election.

U.S. Presidential Elect

President Donald Trump has issued blanket pardons or commutations for individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The pardons extend to those convicted of violent acts including maiming police officers, and theft or destruction of property. Trump's executive action directed the release of hundreds of individuals still in federal custody, overruling concerns expressed by his former vice president.

In a public rally, Trump advocated for the pardons, describing the rioters as "hostages" and supported his decision while standing with victims of unrelated hostage situations. Among those receiving clemency are leaders of far-right groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, who were convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Former D.C. police officer Michael Fanone, who was attacked during the Capitol riots, expressed concerns that those pardoned may commit future acts of violence. Pam Hemphill, one of the defendants who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, stated she would not accept a pardon from Trump as it would send the wrong message. The large-scale criminal prosecutions from the riot are now concluded, and all pending cases have been ordered to be closed.



President Trump issues pardons for Jan. 6 defendants

Release those prisoners! Supporters of January 6th inmates celebrated outside a D.C. jail. So this is January 6th. After President Trump signed broad pardons and commutations for the defendants who attacked the Capitol and sought to overturn the 2020 election. USA! And ordered federal penitentiaries to release hundreds of defendants still in prison by Tuesday, contrary to what Trump's own vice president thought was possible. If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn't be pardoned. Trump championed his decision at a rally before signing the order, referring to January 6th rioters as hostages, even while standing beside the families of Israeli hostages. We'll be signing pardons for a lot of people, a lot of people. USA! When pressed in the Oval Office about why he'd pardon the 600-plus defendants charged with assaulting police, Trump made baseless claims the FBI was involved in instigating the attack. There were outside agitators involved, and obviously the FBI was involved. Far-right group leaders Enrique Tarrio of the Proud Boys and Stuart Rhodes of the Oath Keepers who were convicted of seditious conspiracy and plotting the attack are among those receiving clemency. Donald Trump has determined that those individuals should not face any accountability solely because they committed those acts on his behalf. Michael Fanone, a former D.C. police officer, was attacked at the Capitol. I can assure you that these individuals will go on to commit acts of violence, maybe even commit acts of violence against me or members of my family. The American people own this decision. Pam Hemphill, an Idaho grandmother, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for her participation on January 6th. I already had decided I will not take a pardon from Trump. That would give the wrong message. I'm not gonna rewrite their story for them. That day we were guilty. I pleaded guilty because I was guilty, and so are they. The largest criminal prosecution in U.S. history is abruptly over with the stroke of a magic marker. Not only will the jails be emptied of January 6th defendants, but all pending prosecutions have been ordered to be closed.

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