Supporters of Donald Trump who were charged with storming the US Capitol are now anticipating pardons from the incoming American president, who has praised them as “patriots” and “political prisoners.”
Over 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the 6 January 2021 assault on Congress, which aimed to disrupt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
“I am inclined to pardon many of them,” Trump, whose first term as president ended clouded by the attack, said at a CNN town hall—one of several occasions where he made this pledge during his 2024 campaign to return to the White House.
“I can’t say for every single one because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control,” he added.
Trump has frequently downplayed the violence on 6 January, even recently describing it as a “day of love.”
More than 140 police officers were injured in hours-long clashes with rioters wielding flagpoles, baseball bats, hockey sticks, and other improvised weapons, along with Tasers and bear spray canisters.
The attack on the Capitol followed a heated speech by then-president Trump to tens of thousands of his supporters near the White House, in which he repeated his unfounded claims of having won the 2020 election.
Some defendants from the Capitol riot have already cited Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris as grounds to delay their trials or sentencing.
Christopher Carnell, a 21-year-old from North Carolina, requested a postponement of a status hearing in his disorderly conduct case, citing Trump’s “multiple clemency promises.”
Carnell, his lawyer argued, “is expecting to be relieved of the criminal prosecution he is currently facing when the new administration takes office.” Judge Beryl Howell, however, denied the request.
Another defendant, Jaimee Avery, asked for her sentencing on trespassing convictions to be rescheduled to a date after 20 January 2025—the day Trump would be inaugurated as the 47th US president.
Her lawyer argued, “President-elect Trump, who played an integral role in the events of 6 January 2021, has repeatedly publicly stated that he will pardon January 6 protestors should he assume office.” He added that it would be “a gross disparity” for Ms. Avery to serve even a day in prison while Trump, who had a key role in instigating the events, would face no consequences. Judge Christopher Cooper denied Avery’s request for a delay.
Special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump with conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election, but the case did not proceed to trial and is now being closed under the Justice Department’s policy of refraining from prosecuting a sitting president.
Trump has not ruled out pardoning members of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, who were convicted of seditious conspiracy and received the longest prison sentences. Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader, is serving a 22-year sentence for directing a military-style assault on the Capitol, while Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years.
According to the latest data from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, 1,532 people have been charged in relation to the Capitol siege, including 571 accused of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement.
Over 940 defendants have pleaded guilty to various offences, while another 195 were convicted at trial.
Before leaving office in January 2021, Trump pardoned several of his close political allies, including his 2016 presidential campaign chiefs Paul Manafort and Steve Bannon, absolving them of federal charges.