Trump Pardons 1,500 Jan. 6 Defendants on First Day Back in Office

On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump pardoned around 1,500 of his supporters charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack in a broad stroke. This decision, which Trump had alluded to during his campaign, seriously undermines the Justice Department's attempts to punish persons engaged in one of the worst events in American history.

Leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys—whose terms for seditious conspiracy have been commuted—are among the pardons. Further dismantling the most comprehensive inquiry in the history of the Justice Department, Trump also gave the attorney general orders to drop around 450 open cases.

Claiming they were unfairly targeted, Trump has repeatedly painted the rioters as "patriots" and "hostages." His pardon aligns with the dismissal of his Jan. 6 case brought about by Justice Department policy prohibiting the prosecution of sitting presidents.

More than 1,200 convictions came from the Capitol incident, which left over 100 police officials injured and entailed great brutality. Many were charged with misdemeanors for trespassing, while hundreds were imprisoned. Video and testimony from the incident exposed horrifying sights of violence, including stun gun shock and officer beatings and crushing.

Trump's actions have sparked national discussion, with detractors alerting of the consequences for justice and responsibility. Vice President JD Vance, who lately opposed forgiving violent rioters, has not yet addressed the broad clemency orders.

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