Trump Grants Clemency to Almost 1,500 Individuals Connected to January 6 Riot at Capitol
On Monday, President Trump issued clemency to around 1,500 individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021 events.
This decision was made on his first day back in the White House, shortly after being sworn in for a second term. The clemency encompasses commutations for sentences given to 14 far-right extremists linked to the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, who faced charges of seditious conspiracy.
Through these pardons, Trump has granted full clemency to several individuals already convicted of serious crimes, such as assaulting police officers and vandalizing property during the attempt to disrupt the peaceful transition of power.
Among those pardoned are individuals like Julian Khater, who assaulted U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and later pleaded guilty to attacking officers with a dangerous weapon; Devlyn Thompson, who hit a police officer with a metal baton; and Robert Palmer, a Florida man who battered law enforcement with a fire extinguisher, a wooden plank, and a pole.
More than 140 police officers were injured during the seven-hour siege, which also led directly and indirectly to the deaths of four Trump supporters from the mob and five police officers.
After his inauguration, Mr. Trump mentioned he would consider granting relief to those convicted in connection with the January 6 events, telling a gathering of supporters at Emancipation Hall in the Capitol that they could anticipate “a lot of action on the J6 hostages.”
In preparation for any potential backlash from Mr. Trump, Biden preemptively pardoned members of the January 6 select committee and its staff, as well as Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the committee, during his final hours in office.
