On his first day back in office, US President Donald Trump used his clemency powers to pardon, commute, or dismiss charges against over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, including those convicted of assaulting police officers and members of extremist groups. Critics view this as a significant reversal of the Justice Department’s efforts to address the violent events of that day, which resulted in injuries to more than 100 officers and intense scrutiny of the insurrection. Notably, former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes were among those released from lengthy sentences.
Trump’s actions have sparked mixed reactions: supporters celebrated the pardons, labelling the defendants as “patriots,” while Democrats condemned them as an affront to justice and a dismissal of the trauma experienced by law enforcement. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the pardons as an “outrageous insult” to those who defended the Capitol.
As a part of this sweeping move, Trump directed the Attorney General to seek dismissals for around 450 open cases linked to the insurrection. This decision follows the Department of Justice’s recent abandonment of two federal cases against Trump, seemingly positioning him favorably as he prepares for the 2024 election. The ramifications of these pardons continue to reverberate across the political landscape.