Washington – President Trump on Monday granted pardons to nearly 1,500 defendants who were convicted of crimes on January 6, 2021, fulfilling his longtime promise to exonerate those who participated in them. Attack on US Capitol Of wrongdoing.
The President's actions fall on him first day in the white house and a few hours later he was Sworn in For the second term. Mr Trump has repeatedly tried to downplay the events of January 6, when a mob of his supporters broke into the Capitol in an effort to prevent Congress from confirming former President Biden's victory in 2020. And the pardon furthered his efforts to reconstruct the situation. The attack was described as “the day of love” and the defendants on January 6 as “political prisoners” and “hostages”.
Mr Trump granted pardons to people convicted of violent and serious crimes, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. He also ordered the attorney general to dismiss all pending prosecutions related to the Capitol riot, essentially dismantling the Biden Justice Department's major effort to hold those who participated in the attack accountable.
“These are hostages, about 1,500 up for pardon, full pardon,” Mr. Trump said during remarks from the Oval Office. “This is the big one.”
The President said he hoped that those who were imprisoned would be immediately released. However, he said, his pardon included six shortcomings. Announcement The document released by the White House lists the names of 14 people who have had their sentences reduced by a term limit.
“These people are destroyed,” he said. “What they've done to these people is outrageous. This has rarely happened in the history of our country.”
Mr Trump described the judges overseeing cases stemming from the January 6 attack and the prosecutors who brought charges as “brutal”.
The proclamation signed by the President states that it “ends the grave national injustice inflicted on the American people over the past four years and begins the process of national reconciliation.”
more than this 1,600 people have been charged As a result of his alleged conduct on January 6, at least 1,100 people had their cases adjudicated and sentenced, according to the Justice Department. More than 700 defendants have completed their sentences or have not been sentenced to prison.
Prosecutors have said more than 170 people have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon, such as a fire extinguisher or bear spray, against police officers.
There are approximately 300 prosecutions pending against the Justice Department against defendants who have been charged Said earlier this month. About 60% of them have been charged with assault, resisting, or obstructing law enforcement or obstructing officers during civil disorder, which are felonies.
On January 6, many defendants were charged with non-violent misdemeanors, although some faced more serious crimes, such as conspiring to use force to protest the transfer of power. But Mr Trump's crackdown appears broader – those expected to receive clemency include Enrique Tarrio, the former head of the far-right group Proud Boys. serving a 22 year sentence after that he was convicted in may 2023 His lawyer Naid Hasan told CBS News that several charges have been filed, including seditious conspiracy. It is unclear whether he will receive pardon or have his sentence reduced.
Who commuted his sentence?
Trump commuted the sentences of more than a dozen people, according to his proclamation, including:
- Stewart Rhodes: Who was the founder of the far-right group Oath Keepers? sentenced to 18 years in jail for seditious conspiracy and other crimes;
- Kelly Meggs: leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers who was sentenced to 12 years in prison;
- Kenneth Harrelson: A member of the Oath Keepers who was convicted of obstruction of official proceedings and other charges and sentenced to four years in prison;
- Thomas Caldwell: Another Oath Keepers member who was sentenced to time served;
- jessica watkins: a member of the Oath Keepers who was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison;
- roberto minuta: a sworn member convicted of seditious conspiracy and was sentenced to 54 months in prison;
- Edward Vallejo: Another Oath Keepers member received a three-year sentence after being found guilty of seditious conspiracy;
- David Morschel: A member of the Oath Keepers was convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to three years' imprisonment;
- Joseph Hackett: A member of the Oath Keepers was sentenced to 42 months in prison after being found guilty of seditious conspiracy
- Ethan Nordean: One of the leaders of the Proud Boys got a punishment Jailed for 18 years after being convicted of seditious conspiracy;
- Joseph Biggs: a Proud Boys leader who was sentenced to 17 years in prison;
- Zachary Rehl: Another Proud Boys leader was sentenced to 15 years in prison;
- Dominic Pezzola: A member of the Proud Boys was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was seen on video breaking a Capitol window with a riot shield;
- Jeremy Bertino: A Proud Boys member who entered a guilty plea To seditious conspiracy.
Mr Trump suggested after his inauguration that he would grant relief to those convicted as a result of January 6, telling a crowd of supporters gathered in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol that they were “going to see a lot of action at J6.” “Hostage.”
The pardon marks a remarkable sequence of events that unfolded in the wake of the 2020 election, when Mr Trump was alleged to have planned to overturn its results to stay in power for a second term. federal prosecutor And home investigator,
That plot culminated in the January 6 attack, as investigators said the president had spent weeks sowing doubt about the integrity of the 2020 election and in a speech outside the White House on January 6 he told his supporters to “go to hell.” “fight like” and “stop stealing.”
The Justice Department has said more than 140 police officers were attacked during the riot at the Capitol. According to the department, the riot resulted in more than $2.8 million in damages, including damage to buildings and grounds.
But four years after Mr Trump allegedly attempted to sabotage the transfer of power, he has returned to the White House by defeating former Vice President Kamala Harris. In one of his last acts as vice president, he presided over the joint session this year that affirmed Mr Trump's victory.
With Mr Trump's repeated promises to grant relief to those charged in connection with the Capitol attack, many defendants sought to delay court proceedings in their cases in the wake of the election, though unsuccessfully for some. Others have been given permission by the judges overseeing their cases to attend Mr Trump's inauguration in Washington.
The authority to issue pardons for federal crimes rests exclusively with the President under the Constitution, but the President generally works with the Justice Department's pardon attorney to consider pardon requests. It is unclear how Mr. Trump and his new administration decide who will receive clemency.
Pam Bondi, the President's choice for Attorney General, was asked during her confirmation hearing last week whether she believed the defendants convicted of attacking law enforcement on January 6 should be granted clemency, and said she would review each case and advise “on a case-by-case basis.” If asked to do so by the President.
“I condemn any violence directed at any law enforcement officer in this country,” she said.
Mr Trump's decision is likely to stoke anger among police officers who were injured during the January 6 attack and testified before the House select committee investigating the riot in 2022, as well as among committee members , some of whom are no longer in Congress.
Meanwhile, judges in federal district court in Washington, where cases involving January 6 have been brought, continue to resist efforts to downplay the seriousness of the incident that occurred more than four years ago in the public eye.
Senior Judge Royce Lamberth, appointed by President Ronald Reagan, said during a December hearing, “No matter whether Capitol riot cases have already been concluded and are still pending, the true story of what happened on January 6, 2021, will never be known.” Will not change.” Punishment.
Lamberth stated that “Just as the President should decide on clemency cases without interference from coordinating branches, our judiciary should also independently administer the laws and sentence convicted criminals.”
Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked those investigating the January 6 attack and threatened to punish his political opponents, including former special counsel Jack Smith and lawmakers who served on the House select committee investigating the attack. Are included.
In anticipation of possible retaliation by Mr. Trump, Biden already forgiven Members of the January 6 Select Committee and its staff, as well as Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan Police officers, testified before the panel during his final hours in office.
Contributed to this report.