As one of his first acts as President, Donald Trump issued approximately 1,500 pardons and commuted the sentences of 14 of his supporters who were convicted for their roles in the January 6th attack on the Capitol that left more than 140 police officers injured.
During the attack, defendants attacked police with a wide array of weapons, including firearms, stun guns, flagpoles, fire extinguishers, batons, a metal whip, bear spray, a tomahawk ax, a hatchet, and more.
In the immediate aftermath of the January 6 attack, Trump attempted to distance himself from the events, stating that those who broke the law should face consequences. However, in the years that followed, a new narrative took shape, with Trump openly expressing support for the January 6 rioters, even referring to them as "hostages."
Among those whose sentences were commuted were members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, convicted of seditious conspiracy. Additionally, Trump issued "a full, complete, and unconditional pardon" to all others convicted of crimes related to the events at or near the Capitol on January 6, including those who had assaulted law enforcement officers while disrupting the peaceful transfer of power.
Trump has called January 6 “a day of love and peace” and claimed his supporters posed “zero threat.”
Republican Sen. Mike Rounds said he remembers January 6 well and “there was violence. This was this was not peaceful. People were in harm’s way, and it was a very, very bad day for America.”
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"F--k it: Release 'em all": Trump's last-minute decision to issue sweeping pardons for Jan 6 rioters
