President Trump on Monday issued a wave of pardons for over 1,000 individuals charged in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, with the majority still pending trial and others already convicted. The individuals included leaders and members of extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who were convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Over 140 police officers were injured during the day-long siege, which resulted in the deaths of four Trump supporters and five police officers. At least 730 people have been convicted of misdemeanors related to the incident, with many awaiting trial.
Proponents of Trump’s actions, including many from his base, argue that most of the pardoned individuals do not have previous criminal records, were not actively involved in harming anyone, or were simply participating in a patriotic display. Some believe they were even waved into the Capitol building by police, who they mistakenly believed were working to protect democratic institutions.
Detractors point out that scores of video recordings show Trump supporters assaulting police and vandalizing public property, rendering their claims to be peaceful harmless. The mother of US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died during the attack, has condemned the pardons.
In addition, over 280 individuals are facing charges related to the incident and many more face probation or lesser sentences. Notably, US Attorney Matthew Graves, who supervised the prosecution, has stated, “A pardon does not wipe away what occurred.”
The political implications of this move are split, with only a small subset of Americans support the pardons, while significant majorities strongly oppose them.
Sources: Associated Press, various news outlets.
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