[Republican senators struggled to defend Donald Trump’s decision to commute and pardon hundreds of January 6 protesters, including those who were charged and convicted of crimes against police officers, just hours after the president entered office Monday.
Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, said he couldn’t agree with Trump’s decision, adding that it “raises a legitimate safety issue on Capitol Hill.” Sen. James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, stated that he believes those who attack police officers should “pay a price” for their actions.
Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, both Republicans who voted to convict Trump after his second impeachment trial in 2021, objected to his decision to give blanket pardons. Cassidy, who is up for reelection, said, “I’m a big ‘back-the-blue’ guy. I think people who assault police officers — if they do the crime, they should do the time.”
Sen. John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, sidestepped questions about the pardons, saying, “We’re looking at the future, not the past.” Most Republicans refused to weigh in on whether Trump had made the right decision, instead arguing it was the president’s prerogative to issue pardons.
When asked whether it was never acceptable to assault a police officer, Trump replied, “Sure.” Pressed on a specific case of an individual who drove a stun gun into the neck of a police officer but who received a pardon, Trump said he didn’t know but would “take a look at everything.”
The president’s move put Republican senators in an awkward position, having to either defy Trump or defend releasing prisoners who attacked some of the very officers who protect the Capitol every day.
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