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Trump Pardons 1,500 Jan. 6 Rioters, Commutes Sentences of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys Leaders

Jan 21, 2025, 03:07 PM

President Donald Trump has issued pardons for approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, fulfilling a campaign promise made during his bid for re-election. The pardons, announced on his first day back in office, also included the commutation of sentences for 14 defendants, among them leaders of far-right groups such as the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy, and Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys national chairman, who received a 22-year sentence for similar charges, were among those whose sentences were commuted. Trump described the pardoned individuals as 'hostages,' suggesting that their treatment by the Department of Justice over the past four years constituted a 'grave national injustice.' The action aims to initiate a 'process of national reconciliation,' according to Trump. The pardons have sparked a range of reactions, with Trump supporters expressing gratitude and some gathering outside a Washington jail to celebrate, while Democrats have criticized the move as undermining the justice system and disrespecting law enforcement officers who were injured during the riot.