Donald Trump’s decision to commute and pardon hundreds of January 6 protesters, including those who were charged and convicted of crimes against police officers, just hours after the President entered office, has put a number of Republican Senators in an awkward position.
Trump signed a proclamation on his first day in office, pardoning nearly all 1,270 people convicted in the January 6 attack, directing the Justice Department to drop about 300 pending cases, and ordering the release of a small group of 14 other defendants who were charged in the most serious sedition cases.
Many Senators had hoped that Trump’s executive action would be directed at only nonviolent offenders who entered the Capitol that day. However, that wasn’t the case.
Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, said that he “just can’t agree” with Trump’s decision.
Republican Representative, Don Bacon also said that he disagrees with President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon people accused of committing violent acts at the Capitol on January 6, including those who assaulted police officers.
“Some of those who went inside the Capitol with the open door. There was no violence, no vandalism, I could see showing mercy to someone in that kind of situation.
“However, if you hit a cop … and it was … 140 cops were injured or you vandalized the Capitol, I think there should be accountability.”
Don Bacon
Bacon opined that the pardons “should be more targeted.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska disclosed that she’s concerned about the message the pardons send to the US Capitol Police officers who protect the lawmakers every day.
“I don’t think that the approach of a blanket pardon that includes those who caused harm, physical harm, to our police officers, to others that resulted in violence, I’m disappointed to see that and I do fear the message that is sent to these great men and women that stood by us.”
Lisa Murkowski
As for the US top police organizations, the criticism was for both Trump and his predecessor.
They said that they are “deeply discouraged” by the pardons granted recently by President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden.
A joint statement from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), read, “When perpetrators of crimes, especially serious crimes, are not held fully accountable, it sends a dangerous message that the consequences for attacking law enforcement are not severe, potentially emboldening others to commit similar acts of violence.”
President Joe Biden, in the final hours of his presidency, issued a commutation to Leonard Peltier, an indigenous activist who was convicted in the killing of two FBI agents in 1975. The commutation says the 80-year-old will serve the remainder of his sentence at home.
Trump Defends Decision
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump defended his decision to pardon people who committed violence against police officers during the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
Asked whether he believed it was never acceptable to assault a police officer, Trump replied, “sure.”
Pressed on a specific case of one of the rioters who drove a stun gun into the neck of a police officer but received a pardon, Trump said he didn’t know but would “take a look at everything.”
Asked once more whether the pardons were sending a message that assaulting officers is OK, Trump said, “No, the opposite.”
“I’m the friend of police more than any President that’s ever been in this office.”
Donald Trump
He said that those who were pardoned for their roles on January 6, “have already served years in prison, and they’ve served them viciously.” He added, “It’s a disgusting prison. It’s been horrible. It’s inhumane. It’s been a terrible, terrible thing.”
