What would happen if hundreds of violent criminals were suddenly set free? Donald Trump’s promise to pardon January 6 prisoners has sparked serious concerns, especially as many of those still serving time were convicted of assaulting police and using violence during the Capitol attack.
Could this decision put public safety at risk? Keep reading to uncover the full impact of this controversial plan... Continue reading here ▶
If Donald Trump follows through on his campaign promise to pardon those jailed for the January 6 Capitol attack, he could be releasing hundreds of people convicted of violent crimes, a report suggests.
Trump has indicated he may grant clemency to some supporters involved in the attack, but an analysis by HuffPost shows that most people serving long prison sentences committed violent acts. Many were convicted of assaulting police officers or using violence during the breach of the Capitol, where lawmakers were certifying Joe Biden’s election win.
Former Capitol police officer Harry Dunn, who was assaulted during the attack, warned, “The people who will be pardoned are the violent ones. Those who went to jail were the most violent that day.”
Data shows that 57% of those serving a year or more in prison were convicted of assaulting police, and 83% committed some form of violence.
By contrast, most nonviolent offenders received short sentences or no jail time, with an average sentence of 4.3 months. In violent cases, the average sentence was 38 months, with most offenders serving more than a year.
