President Donald Trump arrives at his swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20, 2025.Photo:CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty
CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty
PresidentDonald Trumpfollowed through on his promise to quickly pardon Jan. 6, 2021, rioters after taking office, announcing hours into his presidency on Monday, Jan. 20, that he was pardoning about 1,500 people who were charged in the attack.
Trump also commuted the sentences for leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, reportsThe Associated Press.
“These are the hostages,” Trump said in the Oval Office, perCNN. “Approximately 1,500 for a pardon – full pardon.”
The Jan. 6 investigation became the largest criminal probe in history over the past four years. Nearly 1,600 people have been arrested in connection with the 2021 Capitol riot, andCNNestimates that almost 1,300 have been convicted.
Roughly 174 defendants were charged with using a dangerous weapon against police officers, according to CNN.
“If you don’t fight like Hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” Trump told the crowd during his speech, before urging them to march to the Capitol.
“We’re going to try and give our Republicans — the weak ones, because the strong ones don’t need any of our help — we’re going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country,” he added.
President Donald Trump speaks at the “Stop The Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.Samuel Corum / Getty Images
Samuel Corum / Getty Images
Over the next few hours, rioters descended upon the U.S. Capitol and violently overtook police, leading to the injuries of about 150 officers.
Capitol Police OfficerBrian Sicknickdied the following day of complications from a blood clot, with a medical examiner acknowledging that the insurrection “played a role” in the medical emergency.
Four officers who were involved in defending the Capitoldied of suicidein the wake of the incident.
Members of Congress are evacuated as pro-Trump rioters breach the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.Andrew Harnik/AP/Shutterstock
Prior to winning the 2024 presidential election, Trump himselffaced criminal chargesfor his alleged role in inciting the Jan. 6 riot.
In an August 2023 indictment, a federal grand jury charged him with conspiring to defraud the United States, conspiring against rights, conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, and obstructing or attempting to obstruct an official proceeding.
Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges and ultimately avoided a trial after a series of delays pushed the date past the November election.
Once Trump became president-elect, the Department of Justice dropped all charges – though in special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on the investigation, heasserted that the DOJ would have been able to secure a convictionif Trump had faced a jury.
source: people.com