More than 1,500 Americans are celebrating a massive sigh of relief right now, as President Donald Trump has finally put an end to what many have called a prosecutorial nightmare. Trump has pardoned or commuted the sentences of individuals charged in connection with the protest at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
On Monday evening, just hours after being sworn in for his second term, Trump issued a “full, complete, and unconditional” blanket pardon for most of January. 6 defendants, whom he described as political “hostages.” According to estimates, over 1,500 people will benefit from this sweeping pardon.
“This proclamation… begins a process of national reconciliation.”
In addition to the blanket pardon, Trump commuted the sentences of 14 other January 6 convicts. This means their convictions remain, but they’ve been sentenced to time served. The individuals benefiting from commutations are Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Thomas Caldwell, Jessica Watkins, Roberto Minuta, Edward Vallejo, David Moerschel, Joseph Hackett, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Dominic Pezzola, and Jeremy Bertino.
Included in the pardons is former Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, who was sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy over the riot.
Tarrio wasn’t even in DC that day. Like the rest of us, he was watching it on TV from a hotel room in Baltimore.
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELTarrio’s lawyer said he expects to be released. Tarrio’s mother posted that he would come home to Miami on Tuesday.
The move was swiftly denounced by Democrats as an attempt to re-write history.
But Trump wasn’t done there. “This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation,” read the proclamation issued from the White House.
The proclamation also instructed the attorney general to ensure the “immediate release of any Jan. 6 inmates currently in custody” and to “pursue dismissal with prejudice to the government of all pending indictments against individuals for their conduct related to the events at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.”
Charlie Kirk posted a copy of the pardon.
However, while Trump’s proclamation is bringing swift relief for many, some questions linger. For instance, not everyone who received a commuted sentence will see a meaningful benefit—some have already completed their sentences, so the commutation doesn’t exactly change much. Trump has indicated he’s open to revisiting these cases and, where appropriate, upgrading commutations to full pardons.
Then there’s the matter of those with pending indictments. Trump has ordered the incoming attorney general to “pursue dismissal” of these cases, but what happens if judges don’t cooperate? The legal system can be unpredictable, especially when politics are involved. We know from experience that many leftist judges despise Trump and would subvert the justice system to create chaos.
Despite these unresolved issues, the proclamation marks a significant turning point. It’s a moment of vindication for those who have long decried what they see as the “weaponization of the Biden DOJ.” Whether this leads to actual reconciliation or just further division, one thing is clear: Trump’s second term is off to a very bold—and very Trumpian—start.
#TrumpPardons #January6Defendants #NationalReconciliation
