President Donald Trump is preparing to issue a wide range of pardons to indicted defendants on January 6, 2021. Attack on the US Capitolincluding commuting prison terms for hundreds of supporters convicted of violent attacks on law enforcement, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The planned commutations for those who attacked the police go far beyond what many of his allies predicted he would be willing to extend to the Jan. 6 defendants, opening the way for hundreds of potential supporters, some facing years in prison for the vicious attacks. On the police — will be released in the next few days.
A senior White House official did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
In addition to commutations, Trump plans to extend a full pardon to his supporters who were not charged with violence on January 6. Sources told ABC News that some of Trump’s top advisers have been pushing for these broad pardons for days.
The sources also cautioned that until Trump formally signs the pardon, he may change or tone down the expected language.
Sources told ABC News that hundreds of people currently serving prison terms for violent crimes committed on Jan. 6 will be freed as a result, and common ground is likely to widen between the two defendants charged in connection with the attack. , Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and Proud Boys frontman Enrique Tarrio.
The two received prison terms of 18 years and 22 years, respectively, after being convicted of leading members of their gangs in a seditious conspiracy to thwart the legal transfer of power.
President-elect Donald Trump arrives for a rally ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration on January 19, 2025 in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP
Trump hopes to move further toward dismissing all charges against the defendants by Jan. 6, which would close about 470 pending cases, according to numbers recently released by the District of Columbia. US Attorney’s Office.
Current and former DOJ officials have expressed concern over the prospect of Trump pardoning — or otherwise freeing — violent criminals, citing the risk of acting as prosecutors who oversaw their cases, as well as the judges who sentenced them to prison terms. of imprisonment, or the witnesses who have testified against them.
Trump teased the pardons during his victory speech at Capital One Arena on Sunday, telling his supporters they would be “very happy” with his decision.
“Tomorrow, everybody in this entire arena will be very happy with my decision on the J6 hostages,” Trump said. “Very happy. I think you will be very, very happy. I would say about 99.9% in this beautiful arena.”
A violent group of pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol on January 6, fighting with officers, breaking into offices and destroying property.
More than 1,580 people were indicted in federal court following the attack on the US Capitol by rioters seeking to overturn the 2020 election, according to the Department of Justice. More than 1,000 have pleaded guilty.
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington.
Brent Stirton/Getty Images
Trump’s team prepared a list of potential pardons for the Jan. 6 defendants to issue on Day 1, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News on Sunday.
Of the nearly 1,600 individuals who have faced charges related to the attack on the Capitol, according to figures released by the US Attorney’s office, 608 people have been charged with assault, resisting or obstructing law enforcement while trying to secure the complex that day, the office said. An estimated 140 law enforcement officers were injured in the riots, the DOJ said.
Pro-Trump protesters, including Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs (checkered shirt bottom center of frame) gather in front of the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images
The US Attorney’s Office said it is evaluating whether to file charges in 200 cases referred to it by the FBI, about 60 of which involve potential crimes of assault or obstruction of law enforcement.
Trump said last March that there was a “tendency to forgive many” of the riots.
At least 221 people have been found guilty in U.S. District Courts, the DOJ said. Another 40 people have been prosecuted as a result of an agreed incident presented to and accepted by the Court.
Outgoing President Joe Biden on Monday He granted preventive pardons The Trump administration’s potential targets included lawmakers who spoke at a January 6 House Committee hearing.
Trump, during the 2024 campaign, repeatedly vowed to “pay back” his political enemies, particularly singling out lawmakers like Liz Cheney who investigated the attack on the Capitol. Trump said Cheney and other committee members should go to jail.
ABC News’ Lalee Ibssa and Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.
