Official presidential pardon announcements

JD Vance Clarifies January 6 Pardons: Peaceful Protesters Treated Harshly by Garland's DOJ Should Be Pardoned, Not Violent Ones

Jan 12, 2025, 12:55 PM

Vice President-elect JD Vance has clarified his stance on the potential pardoning of individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot. Vance stated that those who protested peacefully and were treated harshly by the Department of Justice under Attorney General Merrick Garland should be pardoned. However, he emphasized that individuals who engaged in violent acts during the riot should 'obviously' not receive pardons. This position tempers President-elect Donald Trump's broader promise to pardon all protesters involved in the event. Vance's comments were made during an interview on Fox News, highlighting a nuanced approach to the issue of pardons for January 6 defendants.