Brunswick Beacon, 02.06.25
During his campaign, Trump promised to pardon the Jan. 6 convicts “on a case-by-case basis,” except those who “got out of control,” adding, "If somebody was evil and bad, I would look at that differently."
VP Vance said those who assaulted police would not get clemency. "If you committed violence that day, obviously you shouldn't be pardoned.”
But Trump couldn’t be bothered. "You know how many people we're talking about? 1,500 people. It would be very, very cumbersome," Trump said. "Trump just said: 'F--k it: Release 'em all,'" said a Trump adviser.
All those convicted interfered with the peaceful transfer of power, the first time in American history. Trump’s pardon-palooza included nearly 1,600 charged, 1,270 convicted, over 1,000 who pled guilty, 180 who entered the Capitol with weapons, including guns, and hundreds who assaulted police. On Jan. 27, after Trump’s pardon, Matthew Huttle, one of the 169 violent criminals who pled guilty to assaulting police officers, was shot and killed after assaulting a sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Trump, but were outraged. They issued this joint statement: “Crimes against law enforcement are not just attacks on individuals or public safety — they are attacks on society and undermine the rule of law. When perpetrators of crimes, especially serious crimes, are not held fully accountable, it sends a dangerous message that the consequences for attacking law enforcement are not severe, potentially emboldening others to commit similar acts of violence.”
Five officers defending the Capitol later died, including Brian Sicknick, whose mother Gladys said Trump “has blood on his hands.” DC police officer Michael Fanone, who was beaten, tasered and suffered a heart attack, said, “six individuals who assaulted me, as I did my job on Jan. 6, will now walk free. I have been betrayed by my country, and I’ve been betrayed by those that supported Donald Trump.”
Michael Maisel
Sunset Beach
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