President Donald Trump on Monday, issued pardons to over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, which sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
Trump, hours after assuming office, also ordered the dismissal of all ongoing criminal cases against those accused of participating in the Capitol assault. Among the pardoned was Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the far-right Proud Boys group, who had been sentenced to 22 years in prison for orchestrating a violent, military-style attack on the Capitol.
Additionally, Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, another far-right group, had his 18-year sentence commuted to time already served. Both Tarrio and Rhodes were convicted of seditious conspiracy.
During a signing ceremony at the White House, Trump referred to the rioters as “hostages” and stated that he had granted “full pardons” to the 1,583 individuals charged in relation to the Capitol attack, which was aimed at disrupting the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory.
Trump had made repeated promises throughout his campaign to pardon those involved in the riot, calling them “patriots” and “political prisoners.” Despite the violence of the day, Trump has consistently downplayed the severity of the January 6 events, even describing it as a “day of love.”
The riot resulted in over 140 police officers being injured, with rioters using flagpoles, baseball bats, hockey sticks, Tasers, and bear spray to clash with law enforcement during the chaos.
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