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Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) criticized former President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon individuals convicted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, calling it a “mistake.”
In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes aired Sunday, McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in history, told Lesley Stahl that granting pardons to those convicted in connection to the attack was the wrong move.
“I think pardoning people who’ve been convicted is a mistake,” McConnell said.
Trump, on his first day back in office, issued pardons to nearly all of the approximately 1,600 individuals charged in relation to the riot. Additionally, he commuted sentences for around a dozen others who did not receive full pardons.
His executive order also directed the Justice Department to dismiss any pending indictments against January 6 defendants whose cases had not yet been resolved. This directive applied to about 470 individuals.
Of the roughly 1,600 charged, approximately 600 people faced accusations of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing law enforcement during the chaos. Ten individuals were convicted of seditious conspiracy, the most severe charge brought in connection with the attack.
During the interview, McConnell was asked about his current relationship with Trump.
“Well, we haven’t spoken for quite a while. I was very upset about what happened Jan. 6,” he stated.
McConnell was one of the most vocal critics of Trump following the Capitol riot, though he ultimately did not vote to convict him in the impeachment trial that followed. He has, however, consistently placed responsibility for the day’s events on Trump.
“Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day,” McConnell stated in a Senate floor speech after Trump’s acquittal in 2021. He reiterated his stance in the 60 Minutes interview, saying, “That’s the way I still feel about it.”
Stahl pressed McConnell on Trump and his allies’ attempts to reshape the public narrative around January 6.
“They’re calling it a day of love. They call the rioters martyrs,” she noted.
McConnell was direct in his response. “Yeah, no, it was an insurrection,” he said.
The attack on the Capitol remains a deeply divisive issue within the Republican Party and the broader political landscape. Many Trump supporters continue to downplay or justify the events, while critics argue that the riot was a direct attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
Trump’s decision to issue mass pardons and dismiss pending cases has further fueled controversy. His supporters view the move as an effort to correct what they see as political persecution of those who protested the election results.
However, opponents, including McConnell, believe it undermines the rule of law and accountability for those who engaged in violence.
McConnell’s remarks come amid broader discussions on the legacy of January 6 and Trump’s role in shaping the Republican Party’s future. While many GOP lawmakers remain aligned with Trump, others, including McConnell, continue to distance themselves from the former president’s actions surrounding the Capitol attack.
The Senate Republican leader’s comments reflect the ongoing rift between establishment conservatives and Trump’s base. Some Republicans have sought to downplay January 6 or recast the narrative, while others, like McConnell, insist on recognizing the event as an insurrection.
Despite his condemnation of Trump’s actions, McConnell has not supported efforts to bar Trump from seeking office again. His decision not to vote for conviction in Trump’s second impeachment trial was seen by some as a strategic move to maintain party unity, while others viewed it as a failure to hold Trump accountable.
As the 2024 election cycle unfolds, Trump’s influence within the Republican Party remains strong. His ability to shape narratives and command loyalty from a significant portion of the GOP base continues to challenge traditional party leadership.
McConnell’s criticism of Trump’s pardons signals his continued unease with the former president’s handling of the events surrounding January 6.
However, it remains to be seen whether his stance will influence other Republican leaders or whether Trump’s grip on the party will remain firm.
The debate over January 6, the accountability of its participants, and Trump’s role in the attack is likely to persist in American politics.
With the former president actively campaigning for another term, the issue remains a focal point of national discourse, shaping both Republican Party dynamics and the broader political landscape.
