JD Vance Defends Trump's Clemency for Over 1,500 Jan. 6 Rioters, Citing Due Process Violations Amid Controversy

Jan 26, 2025, 05:18 PM

Vice President JD Vance defended President Trump's decision to grant clemency to over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, despite previously stating opposition to pardons for those who committed acts of violence. In an interview on CBS's 'Face the Nation' with host Margaret Brennan, Vance argued that the Trump administration evaluated each of the 1,600 cases individually, uncovering what he described as a 'massive denial of due process of liberty' and violations of constitutional rights. He maintained that the pardons were justified, stating, 'We rectified a wrong, and I stand by it.' Vance also criticized the Department of Justice under former Attorney General Merrick Garland for what he called 'unjustly prosecuting' the rioters and applying a 'double standard' compared to the treatment of other protest groups like Black Lives Matter under the Biden administration. The clemency has stirred controversy, with some Republicans expressing concern over the inclusion of violent offenders.