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House Democratic leaders have strongly condemned President Donald Trump and his Republican allies for supporting pardons for individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The move has sparked accusations of hypocrisy from Democrats, who argue that Republicans cannot claim to support law enforcement while endorsing clemency for those who assaulted Capitol police officers.
“House Republicans are celebrating pardons issued to a bloodthirsty mob that violently assaulted police officers on January 6, 2021. What happened to backing the Blue?” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) wrote on Threads.
He continued, “Far-right extremists have become the party of lawlessness and disorder. Don’t ever lecture America again. About anything.”
Trump’s response to the Capitol attack has shifted dramatically over time. The day after the riot, he condemned the violence, calling the events “lawlessness and mayhem” and pledging harsh consequences for those involved.
“To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country,” Trump said in a televised address. “And to those who broke the law, you will pay.”
However, in the years since, Trump has reframed the rioters as patriots, calling the attack “a day of love.” As part of this narrative, Trump pledged during his campaign to pardon those arrested for their roles in the insurrection.
On Monday evening, just hours after being sworn in for his second term, Trump followed through, issuing pardons for over 1,500 people, including members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, two right-wing nationalist groups with histories of promoting violence.
“They’ve already been in jail for a long time,” Trump said of those pardoned. “These people have been destroyed.” The blanket clemency also included commuted sentences for 14 individuals convicted of violent crimes during the Capitol attack.
The decision surprised many, particularly as Vice President J.D. Vance had recently suggested that clemency should be limited to those who protested peacefully, excluding individuals who committed violence.
Trump’s broad approach has left congressional Republicans in a difficult position. While they champion law and order, many are hesitant to criticize Trump so early in his new term.
Instead, some have deflected by pointing to President Joe Biden’s controversial pardons during his administration, which included family members, allies like Anthony Fauci, and lawmakers who had investigated Trump’s role in the January 6 attack.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) defended Trump by shifting attention to Biden’s actions. “We said all along that Biden opened the door on this,” Thune said Tuesday.
Democrats, however, dismissed these comparisons as baseless. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), a former member of the January 6 Select Committee, argued that Biden’s pardons did not include individuals convicted of violent crimes.
“Joe Biden didn’t provide pardons to hardened criminals who were convicted by a jury or a judge for beating law-enforcement officers,” Aguilar said, calling the Republican defense a “false equivalency.”
Aguilar also clarified that the Select Committee did not seek or request Biden’s pardons. “It’s not something I asked for, or sought, or wanted,” he said.
“We upheld our oath to the Constitution, carried out our work, and uncovered what happened on that day. I’m proud of the investigation we conducted.”
The controversy over the pardons highlights the deep divisions within Congress and the broader political landscape.
While Republicans struggle to reconcile Trump’s actions with their platform, Democrats remain focused on holding accountable those responsible for the Capitol attack.
