President Donald Trump granted pardons on Monday night to a substantial number of defendants involved in the events of January 6. This move effectively eliminates any form of accountability for those individuals who engaged in violent acts to obstruct the certification of the 2020 presidential election results on that particular day in 2021.
In a press briefing held at the Oval Office, Trump announced that he has granted a pardon to approximately 1,500 individuals who were involved in the attack. He also commuted the sentences of several others, stating that their punishments require additional investigation.
“We are hopeful that they will make an appearance tonight. They are anticipating it,” Trump expressed about the defendants.
Families started gathering outside the D.C. Central Detention Facility, where numerous Jan. 6 defendants are being held, as journalists reported. This was in anticipation of the pardons.
The White House has recently disclosed the identities of 14 individuals whose sentences were commuted by President Trump. Among them are several influential leaders of right-wing militias who were convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Stewart Rhodes from Texas and Kelly Meggs from Florida, the founder and current leader of the Oath Keepers, are among those involved. Additionally, members of the Proud Boys, including Joseph Biggs from Florida, Ethan Nordean from Washington, Zachary Rehl from Pennsylvania, and Dominic Pezzola from New York, have also been implicated.
According to the order, all individuals who were convicted of crimes related to the Capitol attack on January 6th have been granted a full, complete, and unconditional pardon.
During his campaign, Trump showered the defendants with praise, referring to them as “hostages,” “patriots,” and “warriors.” Pardoning them became a prominent theme in Trump’s rallies.
According to Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer, the pardons represent a somber moment in American history.
In a statement released by the anti-Trump group Courage for America, Dunn expressed his disappointment and concern over the decision, describing it as a betrayal to the officers who were severely injured or lost their lives during the insurrection. He further emphasized that these pardons pose a risk to the American public, as violent criminals are now free to return to their communities. According to Dunn, these pardons serve as a stark reminder of the abuse of power and what the people may expect to witness in the coming four years.
The U.S. Department of Justice initiated its most extensive investigation to date in response to the attack on the Capitol, which resulted in over 140 police officers being injured and caused more than $2.8 million in damage.
According to the latest figures from the department, as of early January, a total of 1,580 individuals have been charged for crimes related to the riot. Among them, 608 individuals were charged specifically with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers. It is worth noting that nearly one-third of these individuals utilized a dangerous or deadly weapon during the incident.
According to the department, individuals brought a variety of weapons and objects to the Capitol grounds, including firearms, tasers, chemical sprays, and sharp-edged weapons like knives, axes, and even a sword.
Around 1,000 individuals have admitted their guilt, with 682 pleading guilty to misdemeanors and 327 to felonies. Among these, over 200 defendants were pronounced guilty after contested trials, including 10 who were found guilty of seditious conspiracy.
On Monday, Trump made a promise to the overflowing crowd at the Capitol Visitors Center during his inauguration. He assured them that he would take action to help the hostages of the January 6th incident.
In a scathing critique, he criticized Biden for hastily pardoning the “unselect committee of political thugs.” This was in reference to the former president’s recent move to grant pardons to the members and staff who were part of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Biden also took the initiative to pardon police officers who bravely testified before the committee. These officers strongly criticized Trump’s pledge to pardon the rioters.
Former U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, one of the officers granted the pardon, expressed in a statement on Monday that he was simply carrying out his duties and upholding his oath during the attack on the U.S. Capitol, which resulted in injuries to himself and his fellow officers.
“Thank you President Biden for upholding our nation’s democracy, for your years of service to this country, and — in your final moments as Commander-in-Chief — issuing preemptive pardons for me and other loyal Americans. I did not seek a pardon, and I did nothing wrong. My family and I are grateful for your empathy and leadership.”