Washington President Donald Trump’s broad clemency for more than 1,500 defendants who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, including many who beat police officers, smashed windows, and trashed offices as lawmakers hid in designated safe areas, was largely avoided by Senate Republicans on Tuesday, with a few exceptions.
Trump shortened the sentences of 14 convicts, including Oath Keepers and Proud Boys leaders, just hours into his second administration on Monday.
All other people convicted of crimes connected to the events that took place at or around the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, were given a full, unconditional pardon by the president. He also threw out any indictments that were still pending.
The pardons were not unexpected. The former and current president praised the hostages and patriots who injured over 140 law enforcement officers and damaged the Capitol to the tune of over $2.8 million, according to the Department of Justice, while Senate Republicans cheered him on as he swept to electoral victory.
Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers and the commander of the Jan. 6 ring, told reporters on Tuesday that it was a good day for America. After being freed from federal prison in Cumberland, Maryland, Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in jail for a number of offenses, including seditious conspiracy.
Trump supporters, however, had previously expressed concerns about the release of some defendants, such as Vice President J.D. Vance, who stated on Fox News on January 12 that “it goes without saying that you shouldn’t be pardoned if you committed violence on that day.”
About 1,580 persons have been charged by the government for riot-related offenses as of early January, 608 of them were accused of assaulting, obstructing, or resisting law enforcement. According to the Justice Department, about one-third of those accused of attacking officers employed a lethal or dangerous weapon.
Weapons brought onto Capitol property included firearms, tasers, and chemical sprays, as well as edged weapons like knives, axes, hatchets, and swords. Additionally, there were makeshift weapons like broken office furniture, fencing, bike racks, stolen riot shields, baseball bats, hockey sticks, flagpoles, PVC piping, and reinforced knuckle gloves, according to investigations.
States Newsroom followed up with those of the politicians who agreed to talk after asking more than 20 Republican senators if they were at ease with Trump’s clemency decrees.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina stated that he felt uneasy with any situation entailed a police officer being assaulted.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressed her disappointment to a group of reporters.
As she pointed to the Capitol Police officers stationed outside the Senate Republicans weekly luncheon, the Alaska Republican remarked, “I do fear the message that is sent to these great men and women that stood by us.”
There is a difference between granting clemency to those who may have been caught up in the crowd that day and did not commit any violent acts and those who attacked police officers with their fists, flagpoles, pepper spray, and destroyed property, as well as those who broke windows to enter the Capitol, according to Senator Susan Collins of Maine.
She stated, “I don’t think those people deserve clemency.” Collins issued a written statement as well.
As he left the Capitol on January 6, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who was seen waving his fist in support of Trump supporters, stated, “If you’re asking me if it’s what I would have done, what I’ve said is that for folks who committed violence, I wouldn’t commute their sentence or pardon.”
The pardons, according to Hawley, who was captured on security footage fleeing for his life during the assault, are a sign that Trump fulfills his campaign pledges.
Sen. Deb Fischer, a Republican from Nebraska, said, “I’m looking forward to getting some great opportunities and getting good things done,” in response to a question from States Newsroom about her comfort level with the wide pardons.
As she made her way to Majority Whip John Barrasso’s office, Fischer responded to a follow-up question on whether she supported political violence by saying, “Ma’am, no one would ever condone political violence.”
Senator Markwayne Mullin greeted and shook hands with Capitol Police officers stationed at the doors as he passed by one of the Senate chamber’s entrances.
The Republican lawmaker from Oklahoma declined to discuss the Jan. 6 pardons in particular, claiming that he didn’t receive nearly as many inquiries on the pardons granted by former President Joe Biden during his last hours in office.
Here’s my take on pardons: Mullin stated, “I don’t feel any more at ease with Biden releasing and pardoning his entire family.” Come chat to me when you’re all ready to discuss both.
According to a report by States Newsroom on Monday, Biden preemptively pardoned police officers who testified before the congressional committee that was tasked with investigating the Capitol attack, as well as senators who were part of the investigation.
About a month and a half after he pardoned his son Hunter, he also prematurely pardoned five members of his family and former administration officials who had received death threats.Numerous articles about Biden’s pardons were published by major news outlets.
A follow-up inquiry pointing out heinous crimes committed by those who were granted Trump’s mercy was met with Mullin’s departure.
Collins also stated that the media should focus on Biden’s pardons, particularly the commutation of Native American activist Leonard Peltier.
“Hey, everyone has asked me about J6,” remarked Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the Senate’s oldest member and president pro tempore. Regarding the Biden pardons, none of you are inquiring.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas indicated that Congress has no say in pardons and left the room when asked more questions about the subject.
Journalists repeatedly asked pointed questions about the pardons Tuesday afternoon, but several GOP senators did not answer.
James Lankford of Oklahoma, Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott of South Carolina, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Barrasso of Wyoming, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, John Curtis of Utah, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, and Joni Ernst of Iowa were among them.
In particular, Blackburn and Curtis stated that they avoid talking to reporters in the congressional hallways.
Several Republican senators claimed not to have seen Trump’s order from Monday night.
Florida Senator Rick Scott stated, “I haven’t looked at it yet.”
I haven’t glanced over the executive order yet, Scott said in response to States Newsroom’s summary of the 334-word declaration, which emphasized how widely reported it was by major news agencies.
“I don’t have anything for you,” stated Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana.
You don’t have any information regarding individuals who beat police officers after coming here armed? As Kennedy left, States Newsroom pressed.
Dan Sullivan, Murkowski’s fellow senator from Alaska, paused to talk to reporters about Trump’s historic executive order that increases energy production in his state, but he would not comment on the president’s mercy for the prisoners from January 6.
“First, I must read the order,” he said.
Requests for comment were not answered by the office of Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Outside of a committee chamber, the South Dakota Republican addressed reporters in brief, We are focusing on the future rather than the past.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, was among the members of the Senate and House Republican leadership that States Newsroom contacted for comment, but they did not respond.
