President Donald Trump issued pardons for nearly all individuals charged in connection with the January 6th Capitol breach, fulfilling his campaign promise to grant clemency to those involved. The pardon covers 38 residents from Missouri and 10 from Kansas, with offenses ranging from misdemeanor charges to felonies like assaulting officers and civil disorder. Trump also commuted the sentences of 14 members of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
Trump’s order directs the federal Bureau of Prisons to act immediately, with an expectation that some individuals will be released that same night. While pardons restore civil rights, including the right to vote and own firearms, they do not imply innocence or erase convictions. The clemency includes individuals who assaulted law enforcement officers during the Capitol siege, with Trump defending the pardons by claiming the defendants were treated unfairly.
The Justice Department continues to prosecute cases, with nearly 1,600 people charged nationally for crimes related to the January 6th attack. However, some, like William Pope, a Kansas defendant, expressed relief at the pardons and claimed they were victims of government overreach.
The move was met with criticism from law enforcement and political figures. Officer Michael Fanone, who was injured during the Capitol riot, called the defendants “terrorists” and condemned Trump’s actions as a way to absolve himself of responsibility. Polls indicate that a majority of Americans, including Republicans, oppose pardons for those convicted of serious crimes related to the Capitol attack, particularly those who assaulted officers or used dangerous weapons.
Legal experts noted that while Trump’s mass pardons were extraordinary, he has the constitutional authority to pardon anyone convicted under federal law.