Donald Trump granted blanket pardons to 1,500 individuals convicted or facing charges in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He also signed 14 commutation orders, deeming the criminals to have completed their sentences.
"Today is January 6th," Trump said, sitting in the Oval Office, holding a black folder with the proclamation written on it. "These are hostages. The cost of pardon is about $1,500. Full pardon."
Leniency will be available to high-profile figures convicted of inciting the conspiracy, including Oath Keepers founder Stuart Rhodes and former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who were each sentenced to 18 and 22 years in prison. Tarrio received a full pardon and Rhodes' sentence was commuted.
The White House announced that this action "ends the grave national injustice that has been suffered by the American people over the past four years and begins the process of national reconciliation."
Trump’s actions are a serious challenge to the rule of law and a stunning reversal of years of work by the Justice Department to erase convictions related to one of the largest federal criminal prosecutions in history.
Tarrio asked Trump for a pardon on January 6, with his lawyers arguing that letting Tarrio off the hook would "demonstrate a commitment to lawful, peaceful and constructive contributions." Amit Mehta, the judge overseeing Rohde's trial, has spoken out in court in recent weeks against clemency, insisting that "the idea that Stuart Rohde could be pardoned is horrifying — and should be horrifying to anyone who cares about democracy." fear."
The announcement calls on the Justice Department to dismiss all cases still pending in court on January 6. It also directed authorities to begin releases immediately.
Jake Lang, who inadvertently tried to raise a militia from prison while awaiting trial on serious charges on January 6, posted on Monday afternoon that he would soon be out on the streets. "Just announced that the Department of Justice will be dropping my January 6th case!!!!!" he wrote. "I'm finally home!!!"
Since the Jan. 6 attack, the Justice Department has charged individuals with assaulting, resisting or impeding a Capitol officer or employee, trespassing for a restricted reason, damaging or stealing government property or obstructing an official proceeding.
Earlier this month, Vice President J.D. Vance said violent offenders were unlikely to receive clemency. "I think it's very simple. If you were peacefully protesting on January 6th and Merrick Garland's Department of Justice treated you like a gang member, you should be pardoned," the vice president told Fox News. "If you committed violence that day, obviously you should not be pardoned."
Trump's commutations included Proud Boys member Dominic Pezzola, who was found guilty of assaulting a police officer, among other crimes. Tarrio Rep. Joe Biggs, known as the "tip of the spear" for the Proud Boys' attack on the Capitol, also received a reduced sentence, as did senior Rhode Island lieutenant Kelly Meggs, who was convicted in the same trial. Commutation of sentence.
In a speech shortly after being sworn in, Trump referred to those incarcerated for Jan. 6-related crimes as "January 6." 6 hostages. The president also reiterated his claim that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was responsible for the violence because she rejected Trump's offer to send in 10,000 National Guard troops to quell the unrest. , but this is wrong.
Trump and Republicans have portrayed individuals convicted of crimes related to the attempted insurrection as patriotic heroes, claiming those involved in the riot, which resulted in nearly $3 million in damage to the Capitol and hundreds of people, were simply pacifists. People were injured and many died. Protesters exercising their First Amendment rights.
It is unclear whether violent breaches of police cordons, smashing of doors and windows, and plotting to arrest and murder members of Congress fall within the concept of peaceful protest.