Donald Trump, the president-elect, and his team have plans to issue pardons on his first day in office for individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. Two sources shared this information with CNN.
Trump has repeatedly promised to pardon those involved in the attack. In an interview with Time Magazine in December, he mentioned he might address January 6 cases “within the first nine minutes” of his presidency... Continue reading here ▶
The exact number of pardons remains unclear, but one source described it as fulfilling Trump’s promise.
So far, around 1,270 people have been convicted for January 6-related crimes, mostly through guilty pleas. Only a few hundred are currently in prison.
Vice President-elect JD Vance recently stated that people accused of violence during the attack should not be pardoned, though he acknowledged that some cases are more complex.
Some Republican allies of Trump expect him to evaluate pardons individually. However, two GOP lawmakers have not ruled out the possibility of pardons for about 174 people charged with using deadly weapons against police officers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told Meet the Press that peaceful protesters should be pardoned but not violent offenders. He declined to comment specifically on those accused of attacking police officers, saying each case should be reviewed individually.
Johnson also criticized what he called a lack of trust in the justice system under the Biden administration, emphasizing that Trump aims to restore confidence.
The Justice Department’s prosecution of January 6 rioters began under Trump’s administration, with Trump initially condemning the violence. He promised that those who broke the law would face justice.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan echoed this sentiment, stating that violent offenders should not be treated the same as nonviolent participants. He emphasized that pardons are the president’s decision, made on a case-by-case basis.
Since the Capitol attack, about 1,600 people have been charged, with around 700 facing serious felonies like assaulting police officers. Approximately 80% of cases have ended in guilty pleas or convictions, and a few hundred individuals are currently in prison.
Trump has been under pressure from groups supporting January 6 participants to pardon everyone charged, including those convicted of violent crimes. However, a narrower approach focused on nonviolent offenders could upset these groups, which form part of Trump’s base.
The January 6 attack injured over 140 police officers, resulted in nine deaths (including five officers), and caused nearly $2.8 million in damages to the Capitol.
Some convicted rioters plan to attend Trump’s inauguration, but federal judges have blocked a few from doing so, citing safety concerns.
While a pardon forgives the crime and restores rights like voting and gun ownership, it doesn’t erase a criminal record or overturn the conviction.
Source: CNN
