Trump Pardons 1,500 Capitol Rioters in Live Event, Sparking National Outrage
(REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
President Donald Trump sparked outrage on Monday night as he signed pardons during a live television event for approximately 1,500 individuals who participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. The event, held at the White House, marked the fulfillment of a controversial campaign promise to pardon those convicted in connection with the attack.
“These are the hostages—approximately 1,500 people—for a pardon, full pardon,” Trump declared to reporters during the ceremony. “We hope they come out tonight frankly. They’re expecting it.”
The move drew immediate and widespread condemnation from critics, who saw it as a distortion of justice. “Hundreds of people convicted of assaulting police officers amid the storming [of] the U.S. Capitol are getting full pardons because Trump wanted them to succeed and appreciated the effort. The shame of a nation,” wrote Matthew Gertz, a senior fellow at Media Matters, on X.
Gertz also highlighted comments from Vice President J.D. Vance, who had previously stated on Fox News that violent January 6 offenders “shouldn’t be pardoned.” Gertz questioned Vance’s involvement, writing that he is “apparently wholly out of the loop but should have to explain why the President did something he made very clear would ‘obviously’ be a mistake.”
Among those pardoned was Enrique Tarrio, the Proud Boys leader convicted of seditious conspiracy, a charge described by critics as one of the most severe betrayals of the nation. “Tarrio’s indictment for seditious conspiracy, about as serious a charge of betrayal of the country as there is,” remarked former federal prosecutor Harry Litman. “Might just as well pardon Timothy McVeigh, except he was a lone actor.”
Barb McQuade, another former federal prosecutor, labeled the mass pardons “a disgusting slap in the faces of the police officers who defended the Capitol.” In a separate post, she added, “Trump’s pardon of Jan. 6 attackers corrupts the rule of law and rewrites history. These were not ‘hostages.’ These were people who used brute force to commit vigilante violence.”
The decision also shocked legal and political commentators. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, wrote, “Hundreds of people pardoned for assaulting law enforcement officers. Hundreds.” Legal expert Chris Geidner sarcastically added on Bluesky, “Congratulations, John Roberts, you must be proud tonight.”
The mass pardons have intensified criticism of Trump’s approach to the rule of law and his handling of the Capitol riots, further polarizing an already divided nation.
Tarrio's indictment for seditious conspiracy, about as serious a charge of betrayal of country as there is. Can start with para 13-14 to get a sense of whom Trump has chosen to coddle. Might just as well pardon Timothy McVeigh, except he was a lone actor. www.documentcloud.org/documents/22…
— Harry Litman (@harrylitman.bsky.social) January 21, 2025 at 6:08 AM
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Congratulations, John Roberts, you must be proud tonight.
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner.bsky.social) January 21, 2025 at 6:10 AM
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