Donald Trump supporters who were accused of attacking the US Capitol are now hoping for a pardon from the incoming US president, who has hailed them as “patriots” and “political prisoners”.
More than 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the attack on Congress on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to disrupt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
“I’m willing to pardon many of them,” Trump, whose first term as president ended under a cloud of attacks, said in a CNN town hall. This is one of several times he has made the pledge during his bid to recapture power in 2024. white House.
“I can’t say about every single one because some of them might have gotten out of control,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the violence of January 6, even recently calling it a “day of love.”
More than 140 police officers were injured in hours-long clashes with rioters who used flags, baseball bats, hockey sticks and other makeshift weapons along with Tasers and canisters of bear spray.
The attack on the Capitol followed a fiery speech by then-President Trump to thousands of his supporters near the White House, in which he repeated his false claims that he had won the 2020 race.
Several Capitol riot defendants have already taken advantage of Trump’s election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris to request that their trials or convictions be put on hold.
Christopher Carnell, 21, of North Carolina, requested that the status hearing in his disorderly conduct case be delayed in light of Trump’s “numerous clemency promises.”
Carnell, his attorney, said he “expects to be relieved of the criminal prosecution he currently faces once the new administration takes office.”
Judge Beryl Howell denied the request.
‘Never face consequences’
Another defendant, Jamie Avery, requested that his sentencing for trespassing convictions on Friday be rescheduled to a later date than Jan. 20, 2025 — the day Trump will be sworn in as the 47th U.S. president.
“President-elect Trump, who played an integral role in the events of January 6, 2021, has repeatedly publicly stated that if he wins the presidency, he would pardon the January 6 protesters,” his lawyer said in a petition filed in the court. Will do.”
“For Ms. Avery to spend even one day in jail would create a huge disparity, while the man who played a key role in organizing and instigating the events of January 6 would now never have to face consequences for it.”
Judge Christopher Cooper denied Avery’s request to delay sentencing.
Trump was accused by special counsel Jack Smith of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
But the case never went to trial, and is now being dropped under the Justice Department’s policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.
Trump has not ruled out pardoning members of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers terrorist groups, who were convicted of seditious conspiracy and received the harshest prison sentences.
Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio is serving a 22-year prison sentence for directing the military-style attack on the Capitol, while Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
According to the latest data from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, 1,532 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol siege, including 571 accused of assaulting, resisting or obstructing law enforcement officers.
More than 940 defendants have pleaded guilty to various crimes while another 195 were convicted at trial.
Before leaving office in January 2021, Trump pardoned several of his close political associates on federal charges, including his 2016 presidential campaign chief Paul Manafort and Steve Bannon.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
