U.S. President Donald Trump has issued pardons to more than 1,500 of his supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The pardons, granted on Monday shortly after Trump’s inauguration, also included the dismissal of all pending criminal cases against individuals charged for their roles in the attack.
Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, also had his 18-year sentence commuted to time served. Both had been convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Speaking during a White House ceremony, Trump described the rioters as “hostages” and declared, “We hope they come out tonight, frankly.”
Throughout his campaign, Trump had promised to pardon the rioters, calling them “patriots” and “political prisoners.”
The January 6 riot resulted in charges against 1,583 people who attempted to disrupt Congress’s certification of Joe Biden’s presidential win. The attack injured over 140 police officers, with rioters using flagpoles, bats, and other weapons during the hours-long clashes.
Despite widespread condemnation, Trump defended the events of that day, once referring to it as a “day of love.”
Former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the pardons, calling them an “outrageous insult” to the justice system and law enforcement officers who risked their lives to defend democracy.
Pelosi remarked, “It is shameful that the president prioritizes betrayal of the officers who protected the Capitol over the peaceful transfer of power.”
Trump’s move also included the commutation of sentences for members of far-right groups, including nine Oath Keepers and five Proud Boys.
Biden Issues Preemptive Pardons
Before leaving office, former President Joe Biden granted preemptive pardons to several individuals, including Covid advisor Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and close family members, to shield them from potential prosecutions under Trump’s administration.
Biden’s pardons extended to his brother James Biden and other family members, citing relentless political attacks against his family.
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