President Donald Trump has pardoned or reduced the sentences of over 1,500 people connected to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. He did this on his first day back in office as president.
The people who had their punishments reduced include leaders of two extremist groups: the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Some of these individuals helped plan the Capitol riot.
Trump also told the Justice Department to drop all cases against people accused of joining the riot. He said these defendants have been treated very badly.
The pardons came right after Trump's inauguration ceremony inside the Capitol building, the same place that his supporters stormed four years ago.
Trump showed a list of around 1,500 names of people he was pardoning. He said it was a "big one" and that the defendants had been "destroyed."
According to the Justice Department, about 1,583 people have been charged with crimes related to the January 6th riot. Over 600 were charged with attacking or stopping law enforcement. Around 175 were charged with using weapons or badly injuring an officer.
Fourteen people had their prison terms reduced by Trump, but their convictions will stay on their records. This group includes Stewart Rhodes, who founded the Oath Keepers militia. Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2023.
Trump gave a complete pardon to everyone else involved in the riot. One of them is Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys. Tarrio was serving a 22-year prison sentence for his role in planning the attack.
Democrats quickly criticized Trump's decision. They said he was trying to rewrite history and insult the justice system.
Nancy Pelosi, who was Speaker of the House during the riot, said Trump abandoned and betrayed the police officers who fought to protect lawmakers that day.
Before taking office, some of Trump's advisors suggested he would review each case individually before making pardon decisions. But in the end, he issued a blanket pardon for all defendants.
The pardons came on the same day that Joe Biden, in his final moments as president, pardoned his family members and the investigators who had looked into the Capitol riot.
The attack on the Capitol lasted for hours and injured about 140 police officers. Lawmakers had to flee the building for their safety. In the aftermath, the Justice Department conducted a nationwide search for suspects.
More than half of the people convicted so far have been charged with minor crimes, such as disorderly conduct or trespassing. Most have already finished serving their sentences.
Trump has called the defendants "political prisoners" who posed no real threat. But Democrats view the riot as an attempt to overthrow the government.
Family members of some defendants waited outside the D.C. jail on Monday, hoping their loved ones would soon be freed. People expected the prisoners to start being released within hours of Trump's announcement.
An attorney for many of the defendants said he expects those held in the D.C. jail to be let go before midnight.
The people who had their punishments reduced include leaders of two extremist groups: the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Some of these individuals helped plan the Capitol riot.
Trump also told the Justice Department to drop all cases against people accused of joining the riot. He said these defendants have been treated very badly.
The pardons came right after Trump's inauguration ceremony inside the Capitol building, the same place that his supporters stormed four years ago.
Trump showed a list of around 1,500 names of people he was pardoning. He said it was a "big one" and that the defendants had been "destroyed."
According to the Justice Department, about 1,583 people have been charged with crimes related to the January 6th riot. Over 600 were charged with attacking or stopping law enforcement. Around 175 were charged with using weapons or badly injuring an officer.
Fourteen people had their prison terms reduced by Trump, but their convictions will stay on their records. This group includes Stewart Rhodes, who founded the Oath Keepers militia. Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2023.
Trump gave a complete pardon to everyone else involved in the riot. One of them is Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys. Tarrio was serving a 22-year prison sentence for his role in planning the attack.
Democrats quickly criticized Trump's decision. They said he was trying to rewrite history and insult the justice system.
Nancy Pelosi, who was Speaker of the House during the riot, said Trump abandoned and betrayed the police officers who fought to protect lawmakers that day.
Before taking office, some of Trump's advisors suggested he would review each case individually before making pardon decisions. But in the end, he issued a blanket pardon for all defendants.
The pardons came on the same day that Joe Biden, in his final moments as president, pardoned his family members and the investigators who had looked into the Capitol riot.
The attack on the Capitol lasted for hours and injured about 140 police officers. Lawmakers had to flee the building for their safety. In the aftermath, the Justice Department conducted a nationwide search for suspects.
More than half of the people convicted so far have been charged with minor crimes, such as disorderly conduct or trespassing. Most have already finished serving their sentences.
Trump has called the defendants "political prisoners" who posed no real threat. But Democrats view the riot as an attempt to overthrow the government.
Family members of some defendants waited outside the D.C. jail on Monday, hoping their loved ones would soon be freed. People expected the prisoners to start being released within hours of Trump's announcement.
An attorney for many of the defendants said he expects those held in the D.C. jail to be let go before midnight.
