WASHINGTON — Fourth anniversary January 6 The attack on the Capitol is taking on a new look as lawmakers predict President-elect Donald Trump could soon pardon many of the more than 1,500 people. get paid with actions related to crimes the riot
Trump said he would pardon the insurgents on “Day 1” of his presidency, which begins on January 20. “Probably, I will do it very quickly,” he said. recently on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He added, “those people have suffered long and hard. And there may be some exceptions. I have to look. But, you know, if someone was radical, crazy.”
His promise during the White House campaign is overshadowed by Monday’s events as lawmakers gather to secure the presidential election For the first time since 2021 Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and the certification of the election was temporarily stopped he lost Democrat Joe Biden.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she has spoken with Trump at length and is pressing him to pardon everyone involved in the siege. Few Republicans go that far, but many believe it is appropriate for Trump to consider pardons on a case-by-case basis.
“Here we are almost four years later. Many of these people have been in prison since 2021. Even those who fought the Capitol Police, caused damage to the Capitol, I think they’ve served their time and I think they should all be pardoned and released from prison,” Green said. “Some of them have been sentenced to prison terms: 10 years, 18 years and more. Injustice I think it’s one. It’s a two-level justice system, and it’s time to end it.”
More than 1,250 people have pleaded guilty or been convicted after the trials related to January 6, and more than 650 have been sentenced to prison for a few days. 22 years.
Many who entered the Capitol echoed Trump’s false claims about election fraud. some of the riots involved name-calling of prominent politicians, notably then-Vice President Nancy Pelosi of California and Vice President Mike Pence, who refused to try to challenge Biden’s victory. On January 6th, the members of parliament who emptied both chambers returned that night to finish their work.
The police who defended the Capitol are particularly outraged by the possible pardons. Many officers were beaten, some with their weapons, as they tried to hold back the crowd. There were about 140 officers injured on Jan. 6, making it “probably the most massive single-day attack” in United States history, Matthew Graves, the U.S. attorney at the scene in the nation’s capital, he said.
“You can’t be a pro-police, pro-rule of law state if you betray that trust, forgive the people who injured the police and ransacked the Capitol,” said Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who retired due to injuries after fighting the rioters.
Some Republicans in Congress, even those aligned with Trump, suggested that not all Jan. 6 offenders should be treated equally.
Rep. Jim Jordan, a key Trump ally who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said he supported some pardons but also made a distinction.
“For people who have not committed any violence, I think everyone accepts it. I think that makes sense,” said Jordan, R-Ohio.
Even veteran Republican Rep. Gus Bilirakis wasn’t willing to go as far as Greene. “You have to look at it individually. Some people probably deserve to be forgiven,” he said.
But he appeared more reticent when asked if those who attacked US Capitol police should be among those pardoned.
“My goodness Again, I would have to study the scenario,” he said. “But if they attacked the US Capitol Police, that’s a big problem.”
Rep. Dusty Johnson, RS.D., said not all charges are the same and that the people who were attacking are a different category than those who entered the Capitol and damaged property. Trump said he will look at each situation and decide what is appropriate.
“People who have attacked police officers, listen, I don’t think we should ever allow that,” Johnson said.
House Democrats, who led Trump impeachment during January 6 and carried out an extensive investigation into the attack, he warned that the pardon could have major consequences, both for the rule of law and for the security of the country. Extremist members Oath keepers and Proud Boysfor example, they were judged seditious conspiracy and other crimes related to rebellion.
“Those 140 law enforcement officers who were injured defending this institution, I think anyone who loves peace and security would be offended that you would forgive those who attacked those people for doing their job,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. .
Thompson chaired the House committee that investigated the events surrounding January 6th. to finish Trump “fanned the fire” for the rebellion with the report.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who was Trump’s top impeachment manager in his second term. impeachment at the trial in which they were acquitted, he said that if pardons are to happen, people should demand pardon and remorse from each of those pardoned and affirmative statements that they no longer pose a threat to public safety.
“Because these people, in a political context or in any other context, basically everything that happens, they’re going to put it at the door of Donald Trump being president soon,” Raskin said.
Like the police officers who protected them, the lawmakers who were in the Capitol during the attack have a visceral reaction to the apology speech, narrowly escaping a crowd that seemed determined to do them harm.
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., who was trapped in the House gallery as rioters tried to get downstairs, said it would be “extremely difficult” for him and many others if Trump goes ahead with the pardons.
“I’m pretty controlled and pretty disciplined, but that would be too hard,” Himes said. “Too many of us have had very personal experiences with people who are serving time or who were convicted.”
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Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
