As promised, Donald Trump has issued a sweeping pardon for more than 1,500 people who were involved in various ways in the so-called storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The pardon, signed shortly after Trump’s presidential inauguration, covers nearly everyone who has been charged or convicted in connection with those events and includes people previously convicted of various degrees of crimes – from minor misdemeanors to serious violent offenses.
Among those pardoned are Stewart Rhodes, founder of the group Oath Keepers, who was previously sentenced to 18 years in prison, Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, who served a 22-year prison sentence, and Jacob Chansley, known as the “QAnon Shaman”. The pardon applies to both those already serving sentences and those whose trials are still ongoing.
Relatives and supporters of the pardoned have gathered outside prisons to celebrate the decision, arguing that these are political prisoners who were illegally detained by the Biden administration and have now been released.
They argue that the judicial processes have been characterized by extreme legal uncertainty, with many of those who participated in the protests being sentenced to several years in prison on very arbitrary grounds, despite the fact that they do not appear to have acted in a threatening or violent manner. Instead, many in the MAGA community believe that most of the sentences were purely political and that the main purpose was to deter similar protests against those in power in the future.
“A defining moment”
– We are deeply thankful for President Trump for his actions today, said James Lee Bright, a lawyer representing Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes,
– This marks a pivotal moment in our client’s life, and it symbolizes a turning point for our nation. We are optimistic for the future, as we now turn the page on this chapter, embracing new possibilities and opportunities, commented Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio’s lawyer Nayib Hassan.
However, left-liberal politicians and media outlets are raging against the decision, claiming that many of those pardoned are dangerous “extremists” – a criticism that Trump himself does not seem to attach much importance to.
He has described those convicted as “hostages” who have had their lives destroyed.
– They’ve served years in jail, and, if you look at the American public, the American public is tired of it.