On his first day back in office, U.S. President Donald Trump granted full pardons to more than 1,500 individuals who had been charged or convicted for their roles in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump also ordered the dismissal of all pending cases against those involved in the riots.
Among the pardoned individuals was Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the far-right group Proud Boys, who had been serving a 22-year sentence for orchestrating the assault. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, saw his 18-year sentence commuted to time served. Both men had been convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Trump Labels Rioters as ‘Hostages’
During a White House signing ceremony, Trump described the convicted rioters as “hostages” and stated that he had granted them “full, complete, and unconditional” pardons.
“We hope they come out tonight, frankly,” Trump remarked.
A total of 1,583 individuals had been charged in connection with the Capitol attack, which aimed to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Throughout his campaign, Trump had promised to pardon those involved, referring to them as “patriots” and “political prisoners.”
Capitol Riot and Its Aftermath
The January 6 riot was fueled by Trump’s false claims of election fraud, which he repeated during a speech to supporters before urging them to march on the Capitol. The violent attack resulted in over 140 police officers injured, as rioters wielded flagpoles, baseball bats, hockey sticks, Tasers, and bear spray against law enforcement.
Democratic Leaders Condemn Pardons
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi strongly criticized Trump’s actions, calling the pardons “an outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who protected the Capitol.”
“It is shameful that the president has decided to make one of his top priorities the abandonment and betrayal of police officers who risked their lives to prevent an attack on democracy,” Pelosi added.
Legal Challenges Dropped Against Trump
Trump himself had been charged by Special Counsel Jack Smith for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results, but the case never went to trial. Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, the Justice Department dismissed the charges, adhering to its policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.
Sweeping Clemency for Far-Right Groups
Trump’s mass pardons included:
- Nine members of the Oath Keepers, including Stewart Rhodes, whose sentences were commuted to time served.
- Five members of the Proud Boys, who were also granted clemency.
Biden Issues Preemptive Pardons Before Leaving Office
Before stepping down, President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to several individuals to shield them from potential prosecutions under the Trump administration. The recipients included:
- Dr. Anthony Fauci, former COVID-19 advisor.
- Retired General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Liz Cheney, former Republican lawmaker who played a key role in investigating the Capitol riot.
Biden also granted full pardons to his family members, including his brother James Biden, James’s wife Sara, his sister Valerie Biden Owens, her husband John Owens, and his brother Francis Biden.
“My family has endured relentless political attacks aimed at harming me,” Biden stated. “Sadly, I have no reason to believe these attacks will stop.”
